In the drought-prone Sangli district, farmers once believed profit was impossible in such dry soil. Kakasaheb Sawant, a former auto mechanic, changed this by using his technical skills to grow Kesar mangoes on 10 acres. By piping in water and mastering grafting—even growing 22 mango varieties on one tree—he now earns Rs 50 lakhs annually. His nursery provides affordable saplings to others, creating 25 jobs and proving that innovative farming can turn dry land into a goldmine.
