Paani Foundation Founder Urges Villages to Accelerate Water Conservation Work Within 15 Days as Rain Challenges Loom
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
MUMBAI, JUNE 29: To realize the dream of a developed India, the nation’s farmers must first become prosperous and self-reliant, stated acclaimed actor and Paani Foundation founder Aamir Khan. Speaking at the grand launch of the ‘Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup 2026’ held at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the Chief Minister, Khan highlighted that the creation of over 18,000 farmer groups across Maharashtra marks a monumental shift toward collective farming.
Emphasizing the mechanics of this transformation, Khan noted that the initiative perfectly blends digital technology with direct public outreach. While digital platforms allow extensive reach at a minimal cost, personal interactions build trust and close relationships. He assigned a critical role to ‘mentors’, comparing them to exceptional teachers who can guide these newly formed groups toward long-term success. Acknowledging that the upcoming monsoon presents rainfall challenges due to weather patterns, Khan urged villagers to accelerate water conservation efforts under the ‘block water, conserve water’ initiative and complete all pending works within the next 15 days.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who presided over the event, echoed Khan’s vision and described the ‘Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup 2026’ as a massive public movement for agricultural transformation rather than a mere competition. Fadnavis announced an ambitious target to bring 50 lakh farmers under the umbrella of group farming, driven by the confidence generated among the existing 18,000 groups. The Chief Minister also formally launched the ‘Smart Sheti App’ to integrate technology into everyday farming and announced that a special Women Farmers Bill will soon be passed in the legislature to grant official farmer status to women who do not hold land titles.
The event, which was joined digitally by thousands of farmers via Zoom, also highlighted the tangible financial benefits of group farming. Last year, participating groups recorded an average 71 percent increase in the production of soybean, cotton, and maize. Collective purchasing saved farmers a staggering ₹1,584 crore on agricultural inputs, while shared labor saved roughly ₹6,000 per acre in wages.
The launch concluded with a direct interaction between Chief Minister Fadnavis and various farmer groups, agricultural officers, and mentors from different districts. Inspiring stories emerged, including that of Chaitrali, who leads a group of 16 women successfully managing 24 acres of collective farming, and the ‘Anndata Farmer Group’ from Nashik, which secured savings of ₹5 lakh at the very start of the initiative. Dignitaries, agricultural scientists, and representatives from various social foundations attended the event, signaling a collaborative five-to-seven-year roadmap to historically transform Maharashtra’s agricultural landscape.
