Maharashtra gets its first ‘ Village of Fruits’

-Team VUCCD-

Maharashtra State has recently bestowed its first official title of ‘Village of Fruits’ upon Dhumalwadi village in Satara district, acknowledging the village’s remarkable efforts in horticulture development spanning over three decades.

Dhumalwadi village’s journey to earning this recognition has been one of resilience and progress, marked by the steadfast resolve to overcome challenges such as water scarcity, pest issues, financial hardships, and crop failures. Since the 1980s, the village has transformed into a thriving center for fruit cultivation, boasting an impressive array of over 19 fruit varieties. This transformation has resulted in an annual market turnover of Rs 25 crore. The youth in village don’t migrate to other places in search of jobs, they create jobs for others.   

Going against the grain, numerous villages in western Maharashtra have been engaging in horticultural experimentation. The majority of farmers in the region are inclined to sugarcane cultivation, but Dhumalwadi villagers decided to take a different path.

Fruits of labour

Initially, the Dhumalwadi’s focus was primarily on pomegranate cultivation, starting in 1985. However, a devastating outbreak of Telya disease, also known as Bacterial Blight, in the 1990s prompted local farmers to diversify into various fruit plantations. Today, approximately 90 percent of the village’s population, comprising around 12,00 people, actively engages in horticulture.

The village has successfully cultivated an impressive range of fruits, including mangoes, guava, custard apples, bananas, papayas, grapes, java plums, Indian gooseberries, pomegranates, blackberries, jackfruits, watermelons, tamarinds, and more.

“ Traders from different states visit Dhumalwadi to procure these high-quality fruits. We don’t have to look for a market to sell our produce” say villagers.

Fighting water scarcity

Despite contending with water scarcity, the villagers have demonstrated unwavering dedication to their agricultural endeavours.

With 371 hectares of cultivable land, including an impressive 258 hectares dedicated to horticulture, the village relies on various irrigation sources such as canals, bore wells, and a percolation lake.

Nevertheless, the villagers have not been deterred by water scarcity. Many have adopted micro-irrigation systems and organic fertilizers to maximize available resources. Some farmers are even considering the establishment of processing units for their produce.

In its award citation, the State government acknowledges the village’s distinct identity in horticulture and commends the villagers for their substantial contributions in production, processing, export, and agro-tourism.

The answer

The National Sample Survey (NSS 2018-19) shows that 37 per cent of agricultural household income came from crop production and cultivation, compared to 48 per cent in 2012-13. Today, farmers are earning wages as daily wage workers, and also from animal farming, non-farm business, and leasing of land.

But Dhumalwadi villagers have stayed connected to their land and have found out the way to earn livelihood making farming a profitable venture!

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