In villages across Maharashtra, farming is beginning to look less like a lonely struggle and more like a team sport. The Farmer Cup, launched in 2021, is bringing farmers together to learn, compete, and grow collectively. What started as a grassroots experiment has now spread across 46 talukas, engaging over 50,000 farmers-nearly half of them women.

The idea is simple but powerful. Farmers form groups, adopt better and climate-resilient practices, track results, and participate in friendly competitions that reward collaboration rather than individual gain. This has led to lower input costs, healthier soil, improved yields, and stronger village-level bonds.

Recognising its impact, the Maharashtra government has partnered with Paani Foundation to expand the Satyamev Jayate Farmer Cup statewide. The plan includes forming 15,000 Farmer Producer Groups by 2026–27, promoting natural farming, reducing chemical dependency, and strengthening rural training infrastructure.

For many farmers, especially women’s collectives, the Farmer Cup offers more than prizes. It brings confidence, shared learning, and a sustainable pathway to higher incomes-turning agriculture into a movement driven by unity and innovation.