Tell us about your childhood and educational background.

I spent my childhood in this very village. I did BA, then MA in political science. Then I did a second master's in History. After that, I completed a B.Ed. and enrolled in a PhD program at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Vidyapeeth with a Mahajyoti fellowship. I am currently enrolled, but I have returned to the village to farm.

Why did after taking many degrees including enrolling yourself in the Phd, decided to come to farming?

I have always been interested in farming, as I grew up watching my father farm. Now, I am practising natural farming under his guidance. He no longer visits the field but gives advice from home, and I also learn from YouTube and Instagram reels. By combining my father's experience and knowledge from online sources, I enjoy farming.

How do Instagram reels and YouTube help you with farming?

Although chemical farming is common today, I prefer organic farming. This is because the quality of fruit needed for easy market sales and export is best achieved through organic methods. I follow an expert named Acharya on YouTube and Instagram, who produces content on natural farming methods. Their videos cover the essential components of natural farming, and though they hold workshops, I learn from their online content since I cannot attend in person.

Tell us about the kind of crops?

I have about 6 acres of land, with two acres each for chikoo, dates, and mangoes. Growing dates is uncommon in Maharashtra due to the high cost of cultivation, so most farmers avoid it. I first saw date plantations in Jalna and Purbani, which inspired my decision to grow fruit crops.

Why did you select to do fruit cultivation?

My father initially grew bananas, and I noticed their high quality on our farm. However, traditional farming methods yielded lower incomes. Since cotton and soya are common in this area, I wanted to try a different approach that could generate better income with low investment, so I decided to pursue fruit cultivation.

What are your future plans with regard to business?

My plan is to continue fruit cultivation and develop its business. I aim to first sell in local markets and then export abroad. I am also interested in e-commerce, such as delivering fruits directly to homes, with dates being particularly suitable for home delivery.

I used to have allergies and coughs when I lived in Nanded and Sambhaji Nagar, which lasted 2-3 months. Medical tests confirmed it was an allergy. However, since returning to the village, my cough has disappeared. The natural breeze and clean environment here support better health, and people do not fall sick as often.

Do you feel like going to the city again?

No, I do not want to return to the city. I lived there for 15 years and found that the village has stronger community bonds and solidarity, which are lacking in the city. During my studies, I always enjoyed coming back to the village during vacation. I advise my friends to consider farming because it allows us to work on our own land, rather than pursuing city careers.

What kind of support do you look for from the institutions and organisations that are working here?

NGOs that introduced the High Impact Watershed project here have been supportive. They provide guidance to other farmers and me on organic farming. The appeal of organic farming is that it is cost-effective since materials are locally available, reducing expenses and potentially increasing profits.