Bitter Harvest
Chavhan’s sons, Sagar (26) and Mayur (24), both have diplomas in mechanics but when neither could find a job for months, they decided to join farming. “It’s not just the case with my sons, many young people here can’t find jobs. Therefore, they get into farming,” says Chavhan.
“We started with this crop of sugar cane in the middle of July. Most of the work now has been done. All we need to do through the next months is water the crop and fertilise it every month,” says Chavhan. After breakfast, Chavhan and his sons head out to the farm at 7.30 a.m. to water the crop. “In these months, it gets really difficult because it’s really cold in the morning,” says Sagar. On reaching the farm, which is a few kilometres away from their home, they check the pump to make sure water is flowing properly. “Many a time, due to voltage fluctuation, a pipe bursts or the pump malfunctions. That’s why one person has to be present throughout the watering process,” Chavhan says. When the electricity schedule changes, the watering duties shift from morning to 10:30 at night. “That happens every few weeks, and
