Farmers in Maharashtra's rural Nanded are taking matters into their own hands. To save their farms from being urbanised, the farmers have hit upon a unique idea - they are going to do it themselves.

Problems like high labour and fertiliser costs and rising pollution are now old hat. Farmers living near the urban areas are facing a new one: saving their farms from being being developed into an urban area. Around 150 farmers of Nanded village near Pune have hit upon a long-term solution to this problem.

They have submitted an urbanisation plan to the State Urban Development Ministry. They have sought permission to urbanise their 700 acres of farm-land on their own. The farmers will get a share of the overall profit that the township would make by leasing office space to IT centres and residential areas.

Vikram Jadhavrao, a farmer from Nanded Village, says, “Today, the value in the market is Rs 5, which will reach Rs 25-30 in five years. We will be partners in this throughout. If we sell it for Rs 10 today, then it is all gone. This way, as partners, we get a share in the profits when the value of land rises after construction.”

Helping them is Satish Magar, a farmer who is now the Managing Director of Magarpatta IT city. Seven years ago, farmers at Magarpatta village did almost a similar thing - they are now builders and contractors on their own land - a feat they are now trying to emulate at Nanded.

Satish Magar, Managing Director, Magarpatta Township Development Company, “We are looking at becoming a part of the development process; so we are creating entrepreneurs. Once they get in to business, forward integration will happen.”

The farmers of Nanded village are sure their plan will get the state government's nod very soon. Once approved, the Magarpatta Township Development and Construction Company will hold a 51% stake in it. The balance will be divided among the farmers who invest in their land.