Jaywant Wadekar

India is an agricultural nation. It’s easily conceivable that both agriculture and life are in a mutual relationship wherein both rejuvenate each other. So, if agriculture is thriving then life is satisfactory. It’s said in our scriptures that ‘Annaiva Prana’ means food is life. Thus, agriculture became our lifeline. It does not seem logical to imagine life without its development.

Jaywant Wadekar Ji realized adequately that if the quality and fertility of agriculture are increased then half of our problems can be solved. The main business was to manufacture agricultural machinery and tools. Being associated with this profession for a substantial time and being related to the rural environment, he realized that still proper and advanced types of machines have not been developed for agricultural work, nor are they being used a lot. He also realized that the traditional mechanical resources used by the farmer for agriculture are not sufficient. Agricultural work can’t be strengthened by relying on such machines. Thoroughly inspired, he decided that after retirement, he would manufacture advanced mechanical resources for agricultural work. Further, he also determined to develop the existing traditional resources in an innovative form, so that they can be made available to the middle class and lower-class farmers at a cheap rate.

Chemical fertilizers have contaminated our lives. There is a saying in Indian society that “as the food, so the mind”, so when the food is contaminated with chemical fertilizers, then how can the mind remain healthy? Jaywant Ji realized this too and encouraged farmers to use organic fertilizers.

Due to the aspiration and desire to do something for Indian society and life, even today at the age of 80, Jaywant Ji is proving that age is just a number. He is relentlessly promoting organic farming, manufacturing new types of machines which can be available at low cost. To achieve this goal, he has to face many challenges, for example, the availability of materials at economical rates, lack of human resources, etc. to get resources for the manufacture of agricultural machinery. Facing all these challenges, Jaywant Ji has set a new example which is worth learning for the youth.

Due to his untiring efforts and dedication, he has created more than 40 different types of machines which are available in the form of kits for farmers at low cost. These machines have served to ease the demanding and laborious work of the farmers. The resources created by Jaywant Ji have not been ‘patented’. Their technology is accessible to the general public. He also provides training arrangements for new trainees to manufacture these tools.

The availability of agricultural machinery is ensured through the “Jai Agro” organization. Under this, continuous research is also being done for the development and practice of organic agriculture. The programs undertaken by Jaywant Ji are proving to be a milestone for advanced progress and organic agriculture. Today, many types of articles have been written on his works all over India. Many types of seminars have also been organized. Recognizing his works, ‘The Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation’ (MOFF) also published a booklet titled ‘Package of Organic Practices from Maharashtra’ in 2006. It is about recognizing and building on Jaywant Ji’s endeavours.

His aim has been to make the utmost profit by working effectively. That’s why he maintains that “the new inventions I make are not so that they can be patented, but so that this technology can be made available to poor farmers at a low cost and anyone can learn that technology easily.”

The 15 years of his life that Jaywant Ji has spent for the Indian society with this vision and goal, have laid the foundation for the sustainable development of agriculture and life. Taking cognizance of this great work of his, ‘Sant Eshwer Foundation’ has decided to award him ‘Sant Eshwer Sewa Samman” for the year 2019 in the field of rural development. The organization wishes him an extensive and delightful journey.