Bajirao Zende, a progressive and innovative farmer from Talakonkan in Maharashtra, has achieved financial success through successful cultivation on his ancestral land of 214 acres. He has been honored with the 'Shetinist' award for his adaptive skills in facing the climatic and geographical challenges of the Konkan region. Residing in the village of "Hiralok" in the Sindhudurg district, Bajirao Zende experimented with various crops to preserve biodiversity. He successfully cultivated crops such as cashews, mangoes, bamboo (mango), amla (Indian gooseberry), coconuts, and chikoo, achieving economic prosperity.
Bajirao Zende is renowned as a progressive and innovative farmer. Originally from Kolhapur district, his father, a retired teacher, purchased land in Hiralok village some years ago. Bajirao Zende built a small house on that land and engaged in the cultivation of mangoes and coconuts. Bajirao spent his childhood in Konkan, pursued his Bachelor's degree in agriculture from Dapoli, and took charge of farming during his father's retirement. Focusing on crops like mangoes, oil palms, cashews, and bamboo, Bajirao highlighted the importance of diversification. While various crops can be grown in Konkan, there is a lack of a substantial market. This challenge always concerns him.
Currently, he cultivates oil palm crops for twelve months without market-related issues. Goa provides a market for oil palm crops, while bamboo is locally sold at market rates. Coconuts are a risky crop due to threats from wild animals, but guaranteed prices are available. Bajirao Zende explains that due to the disparity between production costs and market returns, farmers cannot bear the burden. The lack of profitability, combined with unmet desires, creates a gap between production costs and market returns, making it challenging for farmers to sustain themselves.
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