Pune: Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup Awards Distributed in Presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Balewadi, 23rd March 2025: The prestigious Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup-2024 awards, organized by Paani Foundation, were distributed at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Krida Sankul, Balewadi, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Addressing the gathering, CM Fadnavis assured that the state government would introduce a new policy for group farming to support and expand the ongoing mass movement in Maharashtra.
The event witnessed the participation of Agriculture Minister Adv. Manikrao Kokate, Paani Foundation Founder Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Chief Executive Officer Satyajit Bhatkal, and Chief Guide Dr. Avinash Pol, among other dignitaries.
Speaking at the event, CM Fadnavis emphasized that for sustainable agriculture, villages must become water-secure. He highlighted that 52% of Maharashtra is prone to drought and stressed the importance of water conservation and public participation. He credited Paani Foundation and Naam Foundation for successfully mobilizing 20,000 villages to become water-rich.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Fadnavis mentioned that the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana, launched in 2015, played a crucial role in water conservation, making it a people’s movement. He further stated that the Farmer Cup initiative was started to empower farmers with water management skills.
CM Fadnavis acknowledged that the group farming movement, which provided up to ₹1 crore assistance to farmer groups before 2019, had slowed down but assured its revival through a new state policy. He emphasized that group farming reduces costs, increases productivity, and enhances mechanization, making agriculture more viable for small farmers.
Fadnavis highlighted the success of the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Yojana, which received ₹4,000 crore from the World Bank in its first phase and an additional ₹6,000 crore in the second phase. This initiative has led to significant transformations, including digitization, improved storage, and mechanization in over 10,000 villages.
Furthermore, he announced that all agricultural electricity feeders in Maharashtra will be converted to solar energy by December 2026, ensuring 12-hour power supply throughout the year. A total of 16,000 MW of solar power will be generated under this initiative.
The government also plans to digitize all farms under the Agristack initiative, facilitating e-crop inspection using drones and satellites. To enhance agricultural accuracy and efficiency, ₹500 crore has been allocated for artificial intelligence-based crop monitoring.
Under the Punjab Rao Deshmukh Natural Farming Mission, Maharashtra aims to bring 50 lakh hectares under natural farming to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers. Fadnavis urged farmers to take advantage of this initiative for sustainable agriculture.
In a major announcement, CM Fadnavis declared that each of the 25 finalist farmer groups in the Farmer Cup competition will receive ₹5 lakh from the state government. Additionally, the government will provide free drones to all winning farmer groups, with a strict guideline to avoid chemical pesticide usage.
Paani Foundation Founder Aamir Khan acknowledged the role of group farming in reducing costs, increasing production, and ensuring profitability for small farmers. He thanked CM Fadnavis for his continued support and announced that the foundation would expand its initiatives across Maharashtra.
Kiran Rao, co-founder of Paani Foundation, reflected on the impact of their work since 2016. She highlighted that more than 6,000 villages have benefited from improved soil health and water conservation through Farmer Cup initiatives. She emphasized the need to address climate change challenges by promoting bio-ethanol, solar farming, and agroforestry.
Award-Winning Farmer Groups
During the ceremony, the top-performing farmer groups in the Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup competition were honored:
🏆 First Prize: Bhagyodaya Shetkari Group from Turchi (Tasgaon), Sangli district
🥈 Second Prize: Sarsenapati Prataprao Gujar Women’s Shetkari Group from Bhosare (Khatav), Satara district, and Unch Bharari Women’s Shetkari Group from Sobalgaon (Khultabad), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district
🥉 Third Prize: Jai Birsa Munda Shetkari Group from Kavda (Kalmanuri), Hingoli district, and Mauli Shetkari Group from Nagi (Mangrulpir), Washim district
Distinguished Guests and Attendees
The event saw participation from several key figures, including Principal Secretary of Agriculture Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Nanded District Collector Rahul Kardile, and PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh.
Prominent personalities such as actors Makarand Kulkarni, Sonali Kulkarni, Chhaya Kadam, and Anita Date were also present, along with farmer groups and dignitaries from the agricultural sector.
