Organised visit, at last.....

The farmland visit on 20 September was quite tiering, none the less, it was equally satisfying. Perhaps for the first time we had been able to adhere to the schedule and complete the work. We had picked up about 80 plants comprising of Jackfruit, Cashews, Mango and Amla, at 8.30 am. To my surprise, Arun Dal, the nursery head, was ready with his ware. He took us around the half acre nursery that housed about 120,000 seplings.

Earlier, we had halted at Khandala over night and set off for Bhor at 6.15am. Malini and Hansa had cooked and packed enough food for 6 people. On the way, we picked up some more food for the farm workers. The agenda was quite hectic:

• Demonstration of planting method.
• Selection of the nursery site.
• Malini taking Sarita's interview.
• Meeting Dhumal for new land deal.

The distance between BHOR and SANGVI took the just required time... 75 minutes. As we aet off for Sangvi, Parshuram phoned to confirm our visit. Poor chap must have walked a couple of kms to be in the cell range. By the time we reached, he had transported the villegers across the river and parked the roe boat near the school. The walk to boat was very little and almost comfortable. All the plants and the food were shifted from my vehicle into the boat. The usual four, Parshuram, Kisan, Jadhav and the last one(?) were quite co-operative. For Malini, it was the first ever boat ride to farmland. The sky was clear and sunny. The river was full. It has rained above avrage in this part of Maharashtra. Come elections, and Sharad Pawar will 'snatch' all the water from Bhatghar Dam for his 'Sugar Lobby'. The villagers were quite unawar of this political compulsion. The were quite certain that the river wont dry up till mid February. Dal, the nursery head, had different view. He's quite certain about Sharad Pawar's political compulsion. bagu... (Let's see....), Kisan spitted, and said without any trace of concern. It took us 45 minutes upstream. We were npw at the land. What a sight under the sun. As enchanting, if not any more, as the earlier foggy boat ride experience.

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