Under the Axis Bank Foundation project, another milestone was achieved in Shelu Khadse village, Risod block, Washim district, Maharashtra, with the inauguration of a new Input Shop by Agri-Entrepreneur (AE) Shubham Vijay Khadse. The event, held on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, brought together community members and project officials, celebrating a shared step toward agricultural self-reliance and rural prosperity.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Tehsildar Ms. Pratiksha and Yashwant Goswami, Founder of Shiv National Trust and AEGF team, including Bhushan Kosurkar and Ashok Kadam. The shop represents a significant move toward ensuring easy and timely access to quality seeds, fertilizers, tools, and advisory services for local farmers, eliminating the need to travel to distant markets.
AE Shubham Khadse shared his vision of serving farmers directly at the village level through dependable agri-services and personalized guidance. He emphasized how this initiative will help farmers make informed decisions, adopt modern farming techniques, and enhance overall productivity.
The project coordinators elaborated on the Vidarbha ABF Project’s objectives, highlighting the Agri-Entrepreneur (AE) model as a key driver for self-employment, innovation, and community-based service delivery. They also encouraged local youth to explore diverse income-generating avenues such as poultry, goat farming, nursery development, and organic farming, supported by government and market linkage initiatives.
The newly opened input shop has already begun transforming agricultural accessibility for farmers in Shelu Khadse and neighboring villages. Earlier, villagers had to travel long distances to purchase input. Now, they can access quality seeds, fertilizers, and expert advice right in their village, saving both time and cost while improving crop management practices.
This initiative not only strengthens the rural economy but also demonstrates how youth-led entrepreneurship can bridge last-mile gaps and promote inclusive agricultural growth across Vidarbha.