Ajanale is a village in the state of Maharashtra, India. Administratively it is under the Sangola Taluka of Solapur District in Maharashtra. The village is known for its export quality anar (pomegranates). 90% of its population is directly or indirectly dependent on pomegranate production. Hence annual income is very high. The village is located 15 km by road west of the town of Sangole, and 8 km by road east of the village of Bombewadi and the bridge over the Man River.
Location
Ajanale is a village in the hot and arid zone of Solapur. The blazing sun and rocky land characterize the landscape of this region. Aside from thorny bushes and that occasional yellow desert flower there is very little that meets the eye on the plains that forms Solapur. Ajanale is one of the most progressive villages in Solapur, especially known for its pomegranates.
History
The gram panchayat of the village Ajanale was established in 1951. Until 1972, the villagers were largely shepherds. Their main income came from an employment guarantee scheme implemented by the government. In 1972, this village was selected for the development scheme entitled ‘Krushi Pandhari’. Under this scheme, certain select villages were given aid in agriculture by helping them conserve water. This was especially needed in a drought prone region like Solapur. Under this scheme, Ajanale saw the construction of several bunds and percolation tanks. "Paani Adwaa, Paani Jirava" (stop water, help water percolate) was the slogan to promote percolation of water in this dry region. This started the process of raising the water tables in this region.
In 1997, the village received the Adarsha Gaav Puraskar (Ideal Village Award). The criteria for the award were: an addiction free environment, clean village with appropriate water facilities for drinking as well as other uses, availability of basic primary health care facilities, implementation of most applicable government schemes, sophisticated farming practices, among others.
There are no rivers in Ajanale. There are some tributary streams that flow south to the Man River, but these only have water during the monsoon season. Percolation tanks provide some water, but not enough to ensure the survival and quality fruiting of pomegranate trees using traditional irrigation techniques. The water table remains as low as 500 – 550 feet, due to ground water pumping from bore wells dug in several places. However, the introduction of the efficient technology of drip irrigation changed the scope of farmers' cultivation. Farmers began experimenting with pomegranate installed drip irrigation systems in the early 1980s. Between 1984 and 94, 50% of the farming population started cultivating pomegranates. Today every family that has land cultivates pomegranates. Those without land work as labourers in pomegranate orchards. So the entire village is dependent on the pomegranate for their livelihood. In short, pomegranates and adequate water management has led this village to prosperity.