Residents of metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Delhi or Bengaluru often find city life very stressful with long commute times, small home sizes, lack of green spaces and the deteriorating quality of air, water and food produce. These problems were further accentuated during the COVID pandemic when people were confined to their homes for prolonged periods.
The stressful city life has also pushed individuals to question the quality of their lives and find a higher purpose leading to more fulfilling lives that offer a work life balance. Having seen a few of their friends and colleagues experimenting with remote working from beaches and hill-stations as well as their personal experiences of visiting and finding peace at farms and greener pastures, many have expressed an interest in either moving permanently to a farm or at least owning one to visit frequently. A farm life is an ideal solution for many locals who prefer living on the land rather than in cramped apartments.
Owning farmland has seen a rise in popularity across Maharashtra with many being tempted by the idea of living a peaceful life as well as making some income from their own farms. However, most mainstream options are limited only to certain areas and can be quite inaccessible for most people outside those regions.
Most aspiring farm owners are also overwhelmed by the uncertainties involved with owning and running a farm. The challenges range from identifying the right piece of land, the land acquisition process, what and when to grow and eventually being able to monetize the produce to cover costs at the least. This is evident from the number of abandoned farms and poly houses that one sees across the landscape while driving away from these cities.
Many in Mumbai have also had unpleasant experiences with buying property. These have ranged from delays in construction and delivery to flouting of construction rules and regulations, resulting in a loss of capital. Moreover while banks and financial institutions provide loans to purchase a home, there is no such provision for purchasing agricultural land.
There has been a proliferation of agricultural plots and managed farmlands near Mumbai being advertised across the state, including some prime locations along beaches and near hill stations. These offer an opportunity to not only experience life as a farmer, but also enjoy the scenic beauty the location offers, doubling as an alternate vacation home.
These managed farmlands serve a range of interests, based on their offerings ranging from:
- Organic Farms
- Fruit and vegetable farms
- Dairy farms
- Emu and domestic animal farms
- Fish farms
- Fruit orchards e.g. Mango and Cashew plantations along the coast or grape vineyards in interior Maharashtra
- Mixed farming – Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Multi use farm stays among other options
While independent plots still come with most of the challenges mentioned, managed farmlands seem to provide a solution. They take away all these uncertainties and offer certainty through transparency, expertise and support on successful monetization of the ventures.
Companies running managed farmlands usually structure them in a manner that is usually inclusive, allowing owners to participate in the process in a manner they choose to do, thus offering the satisfaction of both owning a farm but also contributing to its growth based on their convenience.
Owning a farm is an opportunity to immerse oneself in nature and see the world from a different lens. Whether you are looking for an organic farm, a low-cost farming option or just a place to escape from city life, managed farms provide the perfect solution; with several advantages over conventional farming like reliable supply and comfortable living conditions. Their farms operations also provide you with the opportunity of using your land as a source of passive income.
Suhail Bagdadi is the Marketing & Communications Head of Beforest Lifestyle Solutions, a company that specializes in offering managed farmlands near Mumbai. He holds an Advanced Permaculture Design Certificate from Aranya Agricultural Alternatives and also runs a 15 acre alphonso mango orchard along the Konkan coast, which he is converting into a food forest.