Until the age of 25, Rekha Ramesh Rayate had never even stepped into a farm. Today, from just 40 gunthas of land, she has increased her farming income from ₹1.63 lakh to ₹11.96 lakh. It is a remarkable journey that began with no farming experience and limited land.

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Rekha, who had lived in Mumbai, moved to Khadak Malegaon after her marriage in 1997. Highly educated but completely new to farming, she entered a family whose main sources of income were one acre of farmland and a grocery shop. Instead of staying away from an unfamiliar situation, she gradually accepted it and began learning farming.

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Over time, she started cultivating grapes. But she faced a major limitation—she had only 40 gunthas of land. Producing grapes on a small area and finding the right market was not easy. With such a limited quantity, accessing large markets was difficult.

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Rekha found a practical solution through collective strength. Through Sahyadri Farms, many small farmers came together and their produce was collectively aggregated. This gave small farmers access to larger markets. Her grapes also began reaching international markets.

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As Rekha says, even when the area is small, farmers can achieve much more when they work together.

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She also continued improving her grape farming. Last year, heavy rainfall created unfavourable conditions for grape cultivation. However, she had planted the new R-36 grape variety, which helped reduce the impact of the adverse weather and contributed to better production.

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Her production and income grew steadily:

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• 2024: 2.8 metric tonnes – ₹1.63 lakh

• 2025: 4.7 metric tonnes – ₹5.60 lakh

• 2026: 8.9 metric tonnes – ₹11.96 lakh

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The numbers clearly show the transformation—from ₹1.63 lakh in 2024 to ₹11.96 lakh in 2026.

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But for Rekha, this success means more than increased farm income. The earnings from farming have helped support the higher education of both her children. In 2021, she also fulfilled her dream of building a bungalow.

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Today, her husband looks after the grocery shop, while Rekha manages the household and farming. She actively participates in vineyard maintenance, farm planning and agricultural decisions.

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Her journey is not simply about what can be produced on 40 gunthas. It is about learning something new, overcoming the limitations of small landholdings through collective marketing and using farming income to build a stronger future for her family.

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Watch the video: Navdurgas of the Farm — Rekha Rayate

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