From a simple farmer to Company Director and now Sarpanch of her village.

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Sanjeevani Somnath Padol, a remarkable woman from Sonewadi in Nashik, started her journey in grape farming. She became a director of a farmer-producer company and is now the village Sarpanch (head). Her story is a testament that hard work always reaps success. 

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Sanjeevani arrived in Sonewadi in 2002 at the young age of 19. Her in-laws owned 14 acres of land, but only 3 acres had a grape vineyard with limited irrigation. With no prior farming experience, she took on the challenge. She became an integral part of the family, dedicating herself completely to them. She diligently learned every aspect of grape farming, from pruning to spraying pesticides. Working alongside her husband day and night, their relentless efforts and careful planning gradually brought financial prosperity. They developed an irrigation system for all 14 acres, transforming the entire property into lush green vineyards.

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In 2017, a hailstorm severely damaged their vineyard, wiping out years of hard work. But the family didn't lose hope. They rebuilt the vineyard with renewed determination. Sanjeevani also showed great courage during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. She played a key role in arranging the marriages of her two brothers-in-law to highly educated women who shared a passion for farming, which strengthened the family. Thanks to their collective hard work and unity, the family bought an additional 2.5 acres of land in 2020, continuing their progress.

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In 2021, Sanjeevani's leadership qualities earned her a directorship at the Sahyadri Sonewadi Farmer Producer Company. She made the most of this opportunity, encouraging more women farmers to join the female-led company. Today, the company has 434 farmer members, with 70% being women. The company's president is also a woman. In its first year, the company accumulated a share capital of ₹1.37 crore. Over the past three years, the company's turnover has been impressive, reaching ₹4 crore in the first year, ₹5.5 crore in the second, and ₹6 crore in the third. The company has acquired a 2-acre plot in the MIDC area of Vinchur, where they plan to build a 500-ton capacity pack house. Sanjeevani is focused on strengthening farming by cultivating new grape varieties that are resistant to climate change.

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In 2021, the Sarpanch position of Sonewadi village was reserved for a woman. The villagers and her family, impressed by Sanjeevani’s management skills at home and on the farm, put their trust in her. With everyone's support, she was elected as the Sarpanch by a majority vote. Having successfully managed her family, Sanjeevani has now left her mark as a village leader. Villagers proudly state that development work has been accomplished under her leadership that hasn't been seen in the last 50 years. This includes providing water to every home, building homes for 200 families, and establishing 25 women's self-help groups to empower women financially.

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Through all these responsibilities, she has never neglected her family or farm. She proudly shares that her eldest son is studying medicine in Punjab. Her grape farm's income figures are also very encouraging. In 2022, she earned ₹28.87 lakh from 54.71 tons of grape exports. In 2023, the income was ₹16.40 lakh from 54.71 tons, and in 2024, it was ₹16.92 lakh from 26.10 tons. In 2025, she earned a significant income of ₹40.17 lakh from 46.40 tons of grapes. New grape varieties, particularly ARA-15 and ARA-36, have contributed significantly to this success. She mentions that the ARA-36 variety fetched a good price of ₹140 per kilogram.

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Sarpanch Sanjeevani Tai Padol is a living example of how a woman, with her determination, hard work, and excellent planning skills, can successfully manage both her home and her village. Her story is a source of inspiration for countless women and the youth.

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