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Pune: Farmers’ efforts yield pride and glory at Paani Foundation awards

Over 4,300 farmer collectives took part in competition

4 min readPuneUpdated: Mar 23, 2025 10:40 PM IST

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and Paani Foundation founders Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao presented the Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup (X/@CMOMaharashtra)

Bhagyoday Shetkari Gat from Tasgaon taluka in Sangli district Sunday won the first prize at Paani Foundation Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup awards organised by the Paani Foundation.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and Paani Foundation founders Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao presented the Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup to the winning farmer’s collectives at Balewadi Stadium, packed with more than 4,000 farmers,

The farmer cup is a competition between farmer collectives in Maharashtra to do the best work in sustainable agriculture. This year, 4,300 farmer collectives, including 2,000 women’s groups, participated in the competition.

Bhagyoday Shetkari Gat clinched the first prize at the state level, winning a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.

Speaking to The Indian Express after lifting the trophy, Vijay Galanda of the Bhagyoday Shetkari Gat said that there would be a rally in their village this evening.

Galanda said that farmers in the region were facing massive challenges related to climate change. In one year, they might be low rainfall while there would be extreme rainfall the following year. As maize growers, the farmers did not have a steady source of income. “Our profits used to be low. We had to take debts an loans as we depend only on farming,” said Galanda.

He said that Paani Foundation encouraged them to form a collective and learn new techniques.

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“When we work as a collective, we pool in our resources and help one another do better. Forming a collective is always challenging. Even now, we have arguments but we solve them peacefully,” said Galanda.

Each collective needed 11 farmers and at least 15 acres to grow a single crop. As a result of working as a collective, the farmers saw an increase in yield and, consequently, profits. “My family is very supportive. My mother is here to see me win the award,” said Galanda.

Among the other winners are the Annadata Mahila Shetkari Gat from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar which won the award for the best all-women’s group.

Varsha Wadekar, of the Annadata Mahila Shetkari Gat, said that she had many ambitions when she was in school.

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“I had a lot of dreams but my mother and father did not have money. So, after getting married, I became involved in farming in the five acres that belong to my husband’s family. We grew soya bean, wheat and cotton, among others,” she said.

In 2024, she was among the audience at the Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup in Balewadi Stadium. She saw teams going up on stage to receive awards from actor and Paani Foundation founder Aamir Khan. Wadekar had a new dream — to be on stage and receive an award from Khan.

On Sunday, Wadekar led a women the farmer’s group to receive the prize.

She said that her life changed after Paani Foundation experts came to their village and she attended a training session in Jalgaon. “They got a group of us women together and urged us to form a collective and farm together. We were to have one acre of our own and grow a single crop based on the training provided by Paani,” she said.

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Initially, there was resistance from her family. Many women in the group also dropped out because of family pressure.

“My mother-in-law was not in favour of my being in a women’s collective and farming with them. My husband said that I hadn’ achieved anything in farming till now, what could I achieve now?” she said.

But, the family allowed her to use one acre for farming as part of the collective. “Jhagar ke liya. She fought hard for the land,” said Rajendra Wadekar, her husband.

Now, as he accompanies the women’s team at Balewadi Stadium, Rajendra said that he is proud. Her group grew cotton and was judged the best performer among all women’s groups.

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“Many women of the collective say that their families are telling them, ‘you took one acre and did so well. Take all the land now’,” she said.

Even the neighbours, who would mock her and the other women of the collective, are proud. They saw the event livestream at the village. “Today, we will have a party with a DJ,” said Rajendra.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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