About Us

Devidas Dhotre and his wife Sau.Vandanatai Dhotre have a "4" acre farm in Vivara village of Patur taluka .Devidas Dhotre started farming with his father since 1986. Farming is medium quality and the farm has a well but it has very little water so firstly the entire four acre farm has been constructed with dams and rainwater recharge management with Drip irrigation for the entire area to conserve water.

Planted 200 lemon trees in 1986 and watered them with buckets. Guava was planted in 1990 and vegetable crops were started from 1991.After the completion of one fruit season, the area is planted with vines using empty fruit trees as a base.Different mixed vegetable crops are being grown in Vapha and Varamba in the same way in vegetable cultivation.

They have planted orchard crops intensively. There are 300 guava trees, 300 lemon trees and 400 lemon trees in it.

To save water, vegetable crops are grown using plastic (mulching) covers as advised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Akola.

Organic farming practices biodynamic methods since 2014 on the entire area. Further in 2016, 40 farmers formed a group and participated in the Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme. All the inputs required for agriculture are produced on the farm using biodynamic methods. Biodynamic CPPs are prepared and used on the farm for seed treatment, composting and crop protection. In order avoid spray any chemical on vegetables and fruit crops. Neem, rui, sitafal , marigold, subabhul, leaves, which are available free of cost in the field, along with gomutra, cow dung, CPP are prepared and used as insect repellants.

Their entire area is organically managed and they have received certificate PGS/NPOP Certification

Before 2014, the organic carbon of his farm was 0.30% now it has improved to 0.81% due to which soil is well draind,and also better percolation of rain water.

He and his wife undertake the organic sorting and packing on the farm and sell at Agricultural exhibitions, festivals, along with sale at byweekly organic outlet at Akola every Thursday and Sunday. They sell to wholesale organic buyers in Pune and Delhi.

They plan for the year to get an average profit of Rs.1000/- per day from farm produce and follow it. (3.5 to 4 lakhs of income per annum).

His innovative chemical-free farming has been discussed in the surrounding villages and districts. So many farmers and officials visit their farms. They also demonstrate low-cost farming to visitors. Power tillers are used for interculture in horticulture crops. Many farmers had saved their crop from blight, wilt by promoting seed treatment.

The District Superintending Agriculture Officer organized an organic workshop at their farm(KRUSHI VANDANA ORGANIC FARM). Also field visits are organised by Agricultural department,Krushi Vidnayan Kendra and Atama as well private institutions,from various districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

His work has been admired by department of agriculture and is nominated for prestigious award (Krushi Bhushan).