Malati Bankar: Harvesting Growth, Drying Dreams: An Agripreneur’s Journey

‍

What started as a one-acre plot has today blossomed into a sprawling 22-acre agricultural enterprise. The secret behind this incredible journey is a combination of meticulous planning, a willingness to take risks, and a determination that refuses to accept defeat. It is with these qualities that Malati Ramesh Bankar transformed traditional farming into a modern business. Now, she's pioneered a new opportunity in the fruit and vegetable processing industry with the help of a solar dryer.

‍

Born into a family with no ties to agriculture—her father was a government employee—Malati's life took a new direction when she married Ramesh Bankar in 1986 at the age of 17. She moved to Pimpalgaon Baswant near Nashik, where her in-laws owned a single acre of farmland. Her husband had a steady job at the Nashik People’s Bank and a local Gram Panchayat office, but farming was completely new to her.

‍

"I didn't know any of the work at first," she recalls. "But I realized that if I wanted to manage laborers, I had to know how to do the work myself."

With this resolve, she began to learn every aspect of farming, working alongside her husband, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law.

‍

The early days were filled with immense challenges. She expertly juggled raising two daughters and a son, caring for her mother-in-law during a decade-long illness, and the ever-growing demands of the farm. The family faced their most difficult crisis when her husband was put on bed rest due to a serious illness. During this period, Malati single-handedly managed the farm and steered her family through the hardship.

‍

The journey from one acre to 21 acres was anything but easy. She and her husband poured their hearts and souls into the land. They faced numerous setbacks and losses, but they always stood tall and persevered. With every new plot of land they acquired, Malati implemented a clever strategy: she would first plant cash crops like tomatoes, onions, or wheat, and use the profits to establish a high-value grape vineyard. This foresight and careful financial planning became the key to their success.

‍

When her younger brother-in-law got married, his wife took over the household responsibilities, allowing Malati to fully dedicate herself to farming. Her hard work paid off in a big way. The Bankar family, who once lived in a rented house, now resides in a luxurious bungalow—a monument not just of bricks and cement, but of their sweat and dedication.

‍

Today, her family is thriving: her son holds an MBA and a senior position at a company, her daughter-in-law has a job, one daughter is a professor, and the other runs her own business in the USA. One of her sister-in-law's son has gone abroad to pursue an MBA, while the other has embraced farming after completing his degree. With her family well-established, Malati no longer needs to work in the fields. But an enduring desire to "do something different" wouldn't let her rest. 

‍

She always regretted not fully utilizing her education.Last year, a new opportunity presented itself in the form of a solar dryer. She installed it in January 2025, and in just four months, she successfully processed 2,228 kg of ginger, tomatoes, and raisins, generating a turnover of ₹3.99 lakh and a net profit of ₹96,000. She explains that the solar dryer provides a much-needed alternative when prices for fruits and vegetables drop due to overproduction, giving farmers a crucial secondary income source.

‍

With quiet confidence, Malati states, "If you have proper planning, hard work, and willpower, nothing is impossible."

‍

Her inspiring journey is a testament to the fact that dedication and grit can lead to success in any field. She has shown that with sheer will and unwavering commitment, one can turn a life of struggle into a legacy of prosperity.

‍