Author: Hiren Kumar Bose

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Maharashtra village morphs into pomegranate haven

Pomegranate growers in Maharashtra have much to thank farmers of Satmane village for their pioneering initiative to make orchards climate-resilient.

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Maharashtra’s fiery Bhiwapuri chilli faces extinction

Bhiwapuri chilli, known for its bright red colour, intense heat and cultural significance, is teetering on brink as farmers face low yields and turn towards growing hybrid varieties.

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Maharashtra village quells drought for a brighter future

The united efforts of the villagers at Konambe in Maharashtra have transformed a drought-prone region into a thriving example of water conservation.

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Bengal farmer on ‘mission mango’ to save the fruit

A passionate farmer is making all efforts to save the disappearing diversity of mangoes in Murshidabad, which once boasted of nearly 200 local varieties.

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Maharashtra village blossoms into green haven

With over 32,000 trees flourishing under its care, and waste management and healthcare upgrades under its belt, Gamewadi village in Maharashtra is now marching towards becoming a tourist hub for nature lovers.

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This Maharashtra village is home to 10 aromatic rice varieties

Murukate village in Maharashtra grows 10 traditional varieties of rice, with organic fertiliser and the mountain streams that irrigate the fields lending each of them a unique fragrance.

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Shingve – the carrot village of Maharashtra

Tired of waiting for years to be paid by sugar mills, farmers of Shingve village switched from water-intensive sugarcane to drip-irrigated carrot, earning Shingve the name ‘carrot village’.

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Sangli’s grape farmers are ‘raisin’ the bar

Farmers harness the suitable climate and grow certain varieties of grapes that can be dried into raisins, elevating Sangli district as India’s raisin hub.

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A juicy outcome for Maharashtra mango farmers

Mango farmers in Maharashtra are reaping the benefits of ultra high-density plantation, which ensures bigger yield on small parcels of land without compromising on the quality of fruit.

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Arecanut goes from yucky paan stains to dandy dye

Much maligned for the paan stains, betelnut juice is now being used as a natural dye by artists and the textile industry, offering a good income source for areca nut farmers of Karnataka

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Strawberry sweetens deal for Maharashtra farmers

The luscious strawberry is moving beyond its comfort zone of Maharashtra’s Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar region, bringing a smile to farmers in other regions of the state as well.

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The Kolhapur rice tipping the scale one grain at a time

Nearly a decade after getting the recognition it deserved – bagging a GI tag in 2015 – Maharashtra’s fragrant and slender Ajara Ghansal rice is now becoming the foodie’s favourite.

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Flower farming is no bed of roses

Welcome to the world of Dutch roses and those who usher brief moments of joy in our lives—the growers.

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Money blooms in India’s ‘flower village’ of Nikamwadi in Maharashtra

Farmers have almost abandoned water-thirsty sugarcane for more colourful, and profitable, crops – marigold and chrysanthemum – which fetch them around Rs 10 lakh a year.

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Rainwater Harvesting: How a parched village catches rain to prosper

Six years ago, farmers of drought-hit Hottal migrated to the cities to earn their livelihood. But thanks to rainwater harvesting, underground aquifers are full and they’re now growing three organic crops a year.

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‘Super Figs’: Why figs from Western Ghats hills in Pune are high in demand

Figs, guavas, custard apples – fresh or preserved into jam – from the Purandar orchards on the rolling hills of Pune find ready customers in big cities and abroad, leveraging the income of farmers.

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Agri-entrepreneurship: Inspiring family story in a cup of lemongrass tea

The signature tea of the popular Saibaba Gavti Tea Centre on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway tells the story of its owner’s journey from odd-job boy to successful agri-entrepreneur.

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Village Economy: How Karnataka quilts stitch comfort and history

Often seen as a side hustle, skilled women quilters in Karnataka keep their heritage alive upcycling colourful scraps of fabric into beautiful patchwork quilts, earning good money too.

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She quit corporate job to conserve native seeds

Enchanted by nature’s variety and the work of conservationists, an idea was planted in Sowmya Balasubramaniam’s mind - compelling her to quit her IT job and take on the challenging role of creating a seed conservation collective with local farmers instead.

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How the patuas sustain their art of storytelling through scrolls

The patua art of storytelling through painted scrolls and songs now flourishes in varied adaptations, putting the art on the world map.