SOLAPUR

The district of Solapur, located in the Paschim Maharashtra region of the state, is situated on the southeast fringe of Maharashtra and lies entirely in the Bhima and Sina basins. There is no important hill system in the district. Only in the north of Barshi Taluka, several spurs of the Balaghat range pass south for a few kilometers. There are also a few scattered hills in Karmala, Madha, and Malshiras Talukas. The district, in general, has flat or undulating terrain. The whole of the district is drained either by the Bhima River or its tributaries, such as the Nira and Sina (refer to the Environment Chapter).

The district lies in the Western Plateau and Hills Region of the Deccan Plateau. The weather is usually hot and semi-arid, and the soil is divided into three major types: Shallow Black soil, Deep Black soil, and Medium Black soil. In addition to this, the district is drained by rivers such as the Bhima, Nira, Sina, and more.

The area is conducive for crops such as Sorghum, Wheat, Chickpea, Sunflower, Pigeonpea, Groundnut, Sugarcane, Cotton, Maize, and Safflower. Horticulture crops such as Pomegranate, Ber, Grape, Custard apple, Banana, Tomato, and Onions are also cultivated. Crops such as Malgalwedha Jowar (famous for its nutritional value and sweet taste) and Solapur Pomegranate have also received a GI tag from the Government of India.

The district Gazetteer (1977) tells about several communities in the region that have strong ties to agriculture. Groups such as the Mudaliars (thought to have migrated from the former Madras state), Kokanastha Brahmins, Karhada Brahmins, and Saraswat Brahmins often own agricultural land. However, they typically do not engage in cultivation themselves, instead leasing their fields to husbandmen under a crop-share arrangement.

Agricultural communities such as the Hatkars, who are found in the whole district, believe their origin to be from Bijapur, and sometimes hold lands or cultivate as husbandmen. Maratha Kunbi is another such community that is involved in cultivation, usually as cultivators, husbandmen, or laborers. Malis are yet another community that is associated with agriculture. They are divided into a few sub-communities, such as Khirsagar Malis and Rant Malis. They earn their living as husbandmen, gardeners, and laborers, and their women and children help in selling vegetables and flowers. With the availability of irrigation facilities, the Malis have progressed economically and have immensely benefited from sugarcane cultivation. They have concurrently gained in their social and political status. A few Muslim communities, such as the Syeds, Bedras, also hold land or work as husbandmen. Some Chaturtha Jains are also involved in cultivation.

The Tirgul Brahmins are recognized in the district for their cultivation of betel leaves, a practice that sets them apart from other Brahmin communities. However, they are sometimes looked down upon by other Brahmins, as it is believed that the process of betel leaf cultivation involves killing insects, which is seen as contrary to traditional Brahminical values of non-violence.

Communities such as the Kamthis, Lodhis, and Raddis (Telugu speakers), Mahar, and Mangs, some of whom are immigrants, usually work as laborers, tillers, or carry out other odd jobs.

This is a festival celebrated by the farming community to honor the bullocks, which are an integral part of agricultural activities. Farmers decorate their bullocks, take them for a ceremonial procession, and offer prayers for their well-being and a bountiful harvest.

This festival is celebrated to worship snakes, which are believed to protect the crops and ensure good rainfall. Farmers perform rituals, offer milk and sweets to the Nag Bhagwan, and organize community feasts.

This festival marks the transition of the sun into the northern hemisphere, ushering in the harvest season. Farmers fly kites, exchange sweets, and participate in traditional community gatherings to celebrate the harvest.

There have been changes in the agricultural pattern of the district; the cultivation of crops such as Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra has gone down, while the cultivation of crops such as Maize, Onions, and other horticulture crops has increased. The cultivation of Horticulture crops such as Pomegranate has also increased, while a few farmers have started breaking away from norms and have started experimenting with the cultivation of fruits such as Dragon fruit.

According to Toni Jordan (2024), the fruit's spread to India may have been due to Arab caravans, which originated in the ancient oasis of Baghdad.  Over the past, there has been a steady increase in the area and production of pomegranates in India. In 2020-21, Maharashtra’s pomegranate production reached 17.48 lakh MT, and Solapur produced about 85 percent of this total.

In Solapur, a variety of Pomegranates are cultivated, namely Bhagwa known for its deep red arils, sweet-tart taste, and soft seeds, Ganesh which are small to medium-sized fruits with a sweet flavor and light pink arils and is favored for its high juice content, Mridula which are medium-sized fruits with a sweet taste and semi-soft seeds lastly varieties such as Nana and Daru are also cultivated. The National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur, has also developed a few climate-resistant varieties.  

Contract farming plays a crucial role in the pomegranate sector. A survey conducted in the region included 407 pomegranate farmers, comprising 130 contract farmers and 277 independent growers. The study focused on villages across the Pandharpur, Malshiras, and Sangola blocks, areas known for their extensive pomegranate cultivation and concentration of contract farming activities. Contract farmers in these blocks are primarily associated with entities like the Sangola Pomegranate Purchasing and Selling Union (Sangola Dalimb Kharedi Vikri Sangh), a cooperative established in 1992. This cooperative plays a key role in procuring produce from its members, including contract farmers, and distributing it to various markets, particularly in Pune and other parts of India.

Solapur is renowned for its cultivation of pomegranates, custard apples, bananas, and apples, but Mahesh Asabe, an innovative farmer from the dry Akola village in the district, decided to take a different approach. He ventured into dragon fruit cultivation, a crop now earning him Rs 10 lakh per acre. Mahesh, who has a background in Agricultural Engineering and food processing, first learned about dragon fruit farming from a magazine. Recognizing the crop's minimal water and nutrient requirements, its high benefit-to-cost ratio, and its ability to thrive in high summer heat and harsh soil conditions, he saw potential. In 2012, he invested Rs 17 lakh of his family’s savings and procured 9,000 dragon fruit saplings from Bangladesh, even though it was still a largely unknown crop in the region.

Initially, Mahesh faced setbacks when he didn’t see any fruit after a year, which was disheartening. Additionally, selling the fruit proved challenging, as local people were unfamiliar with it. To tackle these obstacles, Mahesh launched a YouTube channel to raise awareness among farmers about the advantages of dragon fruit farming, which led to a rise in local demand and consumption. His channel gained popularity, drawing farmers to his fields to learn more about the crop.

Mahesh’s success has inspired many others in the region. He opened his ‘Rukmini Farms' to serve as demonstration fields, welcoming over 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra. Of those, he has personally trained and helped 500 farmers transition to dragon fruit cultivation. Today, Mahesh has built a strong customer base in nearby markets like Sangli and Kolhapur, where he sells at least 200 tonnes of dragon fruit annually, generating an impressive income of Rs 2 crores from his 20-acre farm.

In recognition of his pioneering work in agriculture, Mahesh has received several prestigious awards, including the National Innovative Agri Youth Award 2021 from the Krishibhushan Maharashtra FPO Startup Federation, the Krishak Samman Award from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, and the Krishithon Innovative Young Farmer Award from Krishithon, India’s premier agriculture trade fair in Nashik.

In Solapur, traditional agriculture was deeply rooted in practices that emphasized sustainability and adaptability to the local climate. Farmers primarily used bullocks to plow their fields, a method that required minimal mechanization and was well-suited to the region's semi-arid conditions. During the summer months, farming activities were typically paused, with the focus shifting to the rest of the year when conditions were more favorable. For irrigation, water was manually drawn from wells, highlighting the labor-intensive nature of traditional farming methods before the advent of modern irrigation systems.

A variety of crops were cultivated, many of which have their own locally recognized varieties. These traditional crop types are not only culturally significant but are also well-adapted to the specific soil and climate conditions of Solapur such as Wheat varieties of Sharbati and Lokwan, which are still favored for their taste and quality, Sorghum (Jowar) varieties of Dagadi Jowar (a reddish-brown variety known for its high nutritional value and taste), Maldandi Jowar (with larger grains and a sweet flavor), and Jyotiba Jowar (drought-tolerant and ideal for Solapur's climate) are noteworthy lastly Bajra varieties such as Deshi Bajra (a small-grained, highly nutritious variety) and Ashta Bajra (known for its longer grains and distinctive flavor) have been cultivated for generations and are valued for their resilience and adaptability. Although Rice is not a major crop in Solapur, traditional rice varieties like Ambemohar, a fragrant, long-grained variety with a unique aroma, are still found in the district and are appreciated for their distinct taste.

These traditional food grain varieties possess unique characteristics in terms of taste, nutritional value, and their ability to thrive in local conditions. However, many of them are facing a decline as farmers increasingly shift towards more commercially viable and high-yielding modern varieties. This transition reflects broader changes in agricultural practices driven by market demands and the need for increased productivity, but it also risks the erosion of the cultural heritage and biodiversity inherent in these traditional crops.

In Solapur district, the adoption of technology and mechanization in agriculture, particularly the use of tractors, presents a mixed scenario. While many farmers have embraced the advantages of modern technology, a significant number, especially small and marginal farmers, continue to rely on traditional methods due to various constraints.

A major factor influencing this is the small landholdings of many farmers in the district, with a significant proportion owning less than a few acres. For these small-scale farmers, the cost of purchasing and maintaining a tractor is often not economically viable. The cost-benefit ratio does not favor such an investment, as the small size of their fields may not justify the use of larger machinery like tractors. As a result, many of these farmers continue to find manual or animal-powered farming more feasible, with bullocks being a more affordable option for them.

In addition to the gradual adoption of modern farming techniques, irrigation infrastructure in the Solapur district has seen improvements, particularly in areas like the Sangola block. A canal project has been implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), with an estimated irrigation potential of about 6,883 hectares (ha) and a total project cost of ₹32.45 crore. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to enhance irrigation facilities in the region, aiming to boost agricultural productivity.

By improving access to reliable water sources, the project also seeks to reduce farmers' dependence on groundwater resources, which is crucial for sustainable water management in the drought-prone areas of Sangola. This development is particularly important as it complements the broader modernization efforts, such as the increasing use of drip irrigation in horticulture, enabling more efficient water use and helping farmers improve their yields despite challenging environmental conditions.

Traditionally, sunflower is said to have been a major crop in the Solapur district, along with crops like urad and flowers. However, over the years, their cultivation has significantly declined; additionally, groundnut cultivation has also witnessed a sharp decrease. These shifts in crop choices are partly driven by changing environmental conditions and the need for more efficient farming practices.

The unpredictable rainfall patterns in Solapur have pushed farmers to adapt their agricultural practices to cope with the changing climate. To optimize water use, there has been a notable increase in the adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip and sprinkler systems. Farmers are also implementing soil and water conservation measures, like building farm ponds and practicing no-till farming, which help in water harvesting and reduce soil erosion. Additionally, the cultivation of short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties has become more common, as these crops are better suited to withstand erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.

As a result of these climate challenges, there have been noticeable shifts in the crop varieties and patterns in the Solapur district. Traditional crops like jowar (sorghum) and bajra (pearl millet), once well-suited to the region's climate, have faced difficulties due to the increased variability in rainfall and temperature. Farmers have gradually moved towards cultivating more resilient crops. Onion, for instance, has become a major crop in the district due to its relative tolerance to water stress and high temperatures. Maize cultivation has also increased, as it is more heat-tolerant and drought-resistant compared to traditional cereals. Additionally, fruits and vegetables like grapes, pomegranates, and various other vegetables have gained prominence, as they can better withstand the shifting climate conditions.

In addition to this, farmers in Solapur have adopted diversified cropping systems and incorporated agroforestry practices. Intercropping and mixed cropping have become more common, as these methods help spread the risk and enhance resilience to climate variability. The integration of trees and shrubs within agricultural landscapes, known as agroforestry, has also gained traction. Agroforestry improves soil fertility, provides shade, and contributes to microclimate regulation, offering farmers a more sustainable and climate-resilient approach to agriculture.

Solapur has a somewhat developed agricultural infrastructure, including 11 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), 178 godowns, 22 cold storage facilities, 22 soil testing centers, 40 plantation nurseries, and approximately 74,000 fertilizer, seed, and pesticide outlets. Additionally, there are two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) supporting agricultural extension services in the region.

The ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (ICAR-NRCP), Solapur, was established on June 16, 2005, by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, to enhance research and development efforts in pomegranate cultivation. It is the only institute in India exclusively dedicated to this fruit. The center was created to meet the growing demand for pomegranates in both domestic and export markets by leveraging the country's immense production potential.

ICAR-NRCP has made significant contributions to improving the pomegranate industry in India. Its key achievements include developing effective technologies to combat major diseases and pests, introducing new varieties like 'Solapur Lal' and 'Solapur Anaradana,' providing high-quality planting material, and identifying suitable pomegranate-growing regions across the country. The center has also developed comprehensive cultivation practices, established a large germplasm repository for crop improvement, and standardized technologies for the full utilization of the fruit.

To further support farmers and stakeholders, ICAR-NRCP has developed and popularized mobile applications like Solapur Anar and digital platforms such as Dalimb Mitra for knowledge sharing. The center also offers on-site and in-house training programs. Through various government initiatives, such as Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG), the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), and the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP), the center has introduced pomegranate cultivation in different states. This has been achieved through demonstrations, distribution of agricultural inputs and soil health cards, and providing technical guidance to farmers.

Aaisaheb Women Farmer Producer Company, based in Akluj Town, Solapur district, Maharashtra, was established ten years ago as a third-party exporter of organic bananas. Over time, the company has evolved into an independent enterprise led by a dedicated group of women farmers. Today, their primary focus is on producing high-quality fresh bananas and pomegranates for export to countries such as Dubai, Iran, Iraq, and other Gulf nations, with production volumes tailored to meet the specific demands of their buyers.

Their skilled team of women farmers oversees the entire process, from planting and cultivating organic bananas and pomegranates to preparing them for export. Since officially specializing in organic banana farming in 2022, Aaisaheb Women Farmer Producer Company has continued to expand its expertise and grow its presence in the global market.

There are APMCs at Akkalkot, Akluj, Barshi, Dudhani, Karmali, Kurdwadi, Mangalwedha, Mohol, Pandharpur, Sangola, and Solapur. The Pandharpur APMC is the oldest. It was established in 1947. Farm produce such as Wheat-Husked, Cotton, Jowar, Black Gram, Maize, etc, are important commodities that are sold at these markets. 

Solapur district, traditionally characterized by a semi-arid climate with moderate rainfall primarily during the southwest monsoon season, has seen significant changes in recent years due to climate change. The once-predictable monsoon patterns have become erratic and unpredictable, with frequent instances of delayed or inconsistent rainfall. These changes have led to prolonged dry spells, water scarcity, and increased reliance on irrigation for successful crop cultivation.

Parineeta Dandekar, in her 2016 article, writes about how water scarcity is a major issue for farmers in Solapur, given the district's location in a semi-arid region with limited and erratic rainfall. The average annual rainfall in Solapur is around 545 mm, significantly below the national average, and this amount is not evenly distributed. In recent years, rainfall has often been either too little or too late, leading to prolonged droughts and declining groundwater levels. For instance, between 2012 and 2016, Solapur experienced consecutive years of drought, severely affecting agriculture. This shortage of water has resulted in reduced crop yields and higher irrigation costs, making farmers more vulnerable to climate variability. In response, many have shifted towards water-efficient practices such as drip irrigation, but these measures are not enough to fully counter the effects of the ongoing water crisis.

Crop failures are becoming increasingly common due to erratic weather conditions, pest infestations, and diseases. Unpredictable rainfall, combined with high temperatures and long dry periods, weakens crops, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases. Infestations by insects, weeds, and rodents often cause significant crop damage, leading to substantial yield losses and financial setbacks for farmers. Additionally, pest infestations, such as those from whiteflies and aphids, have grown in frequency and intensity, further harming crops like jowar, bajra, and pomegranates.

The economic strain caused by crop failures, droughts, and pest outbreaks has led to a rise in farmer suicides in Solapur. Solapur has witnessed farmer suicides, with drought being a major contributing factor. Many farmers, already burdened by debt, find themselves unable to cope with repeated crop losses and the mounting costs of irrigation, pest control, and other inputs, leading to tragic outcomes. Without substantial improvements in water management, pest control, and financial support, the district's agriculture remains under severe threat from the growing impacts of climate change.

In Solapur, many farmers face the challenge of small and fragmented landholdings. These smaller parcels of land make it difficult to achieve economies of scale, limiting the feasibility of adopting mechanized farming practices. The constrained land size also restricts investments in inefficient irrigation systems, improved agricultural inputs, and modern farming technologies. This fragmentation further reduces farmers' bargaining power and access to essential agricultural services and markets.

Another pressing issue is the lack of access to credit and financial services. Farmers often encounter significant difficulties in obtaining institutional credit, crop insurance, and subsidies. Instead, they are forced to rely on informal moneylenders, which often leads to high interest rates and debt traps. This financial strain severely limits their capacity to invest in better agricultural practices and technologies, further hindering productivity and growth.