We often hear that farmers don’t get fair prices for their produce, or that they depend entirely on middlemen to sell their crops. But along the Sangli–Tasgaon Road, near Kavlapur, I witnessed a refreshing and hopeful story. A small vehicle parked by the roadside had drawn a surprising crowd. Curious, I stopped to see what was happening. There stood a young farmer, confidently selling sapota (chikoo) grown on his own farm. His name is Abhay Nalawade. During the harvest season, Abhay follows a disciplined daily routine. His day begins at 6 a.m., harvesting sapota from his orchard, and by 3 p.m. he is on the roadside, directly selling his produce to customers.
He owns 15 acres of ancestral farmland. Around 27 years ago, his father planted a sapota orchard on 2 acres, consisting of nearly 80 trees—some of which have spread well beyond half a guntha due to their strong root systems. Since 2019, Abhay made a bold decision: no traders, no middlemen. He sells 100% of his sapota directly to consumers. The fruit fetches ₹50 per kg or more, ensuring fair value for both farmer and customer. Along with sapota, Abhay has cultivated jowar (sorghum) on 6 acres, achieving an impressive yield of 20 quintals per acre—a remarkable benchmark. This year, he opted to grow wheat on 4 acres instead, and even before harvest, 50% of the produce was already booked by customers. What makes his journey truly inspiring is that he does not rely on hired labor. Every farming activity is personally supervised and executed by him. Sugarcane remains his main crop, from which he consistently gets excellent yields. Thousands of travellers passing along the Sangli–Tasgaon road have enjoyed the natural sweetness of his sapota.
On average, Abhay earns ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 per day during the season, purely from sapota sales. Each tree yields sapota worth nearly ₹5,000 annually. His farming practices are simple yet powerful. The orchard is irrigated solely through drip irrigation. To date, he has never purchased or applied any chemical or organic fertilizers. The result? Naturally sweet, authentic fruit that customers trust and return for. If you ever travel on this route, make it a point to stop and buy sapota from Abhay. By doing so, you directly support the farmer-to-consumer model—one that empowers farmers and delivers honest food to people. Visitors are welcome to see his sapota orchard, understand his farming practices, and purchase fresh produce directly from the source.