Jalna, Aug 18: A government livelihood scheme has helped farmer Santaji Bhoite of Antarwala village in Maharashtra’s Jalna district establish a 600-tree sweet lime orchard, creating an additional source of income and encouraging greater investment in his farmland.
Pic Credit: Pexel
Bhoite developed the orchard with assistance under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G). The support helped reduce the initial cost of setting up the orchard and gave him an opportunity to invest in a longer-term agricultural activity.
Under the programme, Bhoite planted 600 sweet lime saplings. Assistance was provided for essential orchard-development activities, including digging pits, planting saplings, applying manure and weeding.
He also received a subsidy of Rs 40 per plant, reducing the financial burden of establishing the plantation.
The investment has already started generating returns. Over the past two years, Bhoite’s orchard has produced around three tonnes of sweet lime annually, providing an additional income alongside his other farming activities.
This year, he expected production to increase to around five to six tonnes. However, excessive rainfall and an unidentified pest attack damaged fruit orchards in the region, affecting the crop and reducing his expected output.
Despite the setback, Bhoite harvested his sweet lime crop before the rains and managed to secure a good price for the produce. The early harvest helped him protect part of his expected earnings during a difficult agricultural season.
Bhoite said the government assistance played an important role in enabling him to establish the orchard on such a large scale. Without the support, the initial investment required for developing the plantation would have been difficult to manage.
He first learned about the scheme and approached the Block Development Officer in Jalna to seek assistance for sweet lime cultivation. He submitted the required documents, including his application, a request for work under the scheme, the Gram Sabha resolution, Aadhaar card and bank account details.
After completing the prescribed process, he received assistance and began developing the orchard on his farmland.
The initiative has helped transform a portion of Bhoite’s land into a productive long-term asset. As the trees mature, the orchard has the potential to increase production and generate higher returns, allowing the farmer to reinvest in his agricultural activities.
For rural families, such investments can provide greater financial stability by reducing dependence on a single seasonal crop. Fruit cultivation can also create opportunities for better use of farmland and encourage farmers to invest in irrigation, crop management and other improvements.
However, the experience also highlights the risks associated with agriculture. Excessive rainfall and pest attacks can quickly affect production and income, making crop protection, timely harvesting and access to government support important for farmers.
Bhoite’s orchard demonstrates how public support can help turn government assistance into a productive farm investment. By helping reduce the initial cost, the scheme has enabled him to build an asset that can continue generating income over several years.
For Bhoite, the orchard is now both a source of income and an investment in the future of his farm. As production increases, it could provide him with greater financial capacity to expand and improve his agricultural activities.
The experience shows that targeted government support can encourage farmers to invest in productive assets, diversify their income and build more resilient livelihoods despite the uncertainties of weather and agriculture.