Maharashtra Govt recognises Star Majha on new generation agricultural programme

Marathi News channel Star Majha’s new generation agriculture-based programme, ‘Saat Barachya Batyama’, has recently been bestowed the Sheti Mitra award by the Maharashtra Government.

The programme focuses on farmers’ interests and guides them with better methods of farming. People born before the nineties would remember ‘Krishi Darshan’ from the good old DD days, when this agriculture-based TV programme, which had started way back in 1966, carried forward the green revolution.

Since then, the requirements of the nation and farmers have changed. Scientific methods of farming have overtaken traditional ones, while technology-led agriculture has evolved as an industry in itself.

Star Majha had started airing ‘Saat Barachya Batyama’ on June 22, 2007 (with the launch of the channel), with the cause of promoting agricultural development in the Maharashtra region. The programme brings the latest agricultural technological methods of cultivation to the grassroot farmers in their local language. Aired thrice a day at 7:40 am, 10:40 am, and 12:20 pm, the show focuses on intelligent, eye-opening insight into the various methods of increasing crop productivity through the revolutionised directions.

The Sheti Mitra award is the State’s highest recognition of excellence in contribution and development of farmers. The award was given to the channel in Nagpur on July 1, 2009 by Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, and his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal.

The programme is specially recognised because of its special programming during the droughts in 2008 in the Maharashtra region. The programme ‘Dushkalit Pavali’ (Survival from drought) brought various methods to conserve water and harvest the crops in difficult situation. Another recognised initiative is ‘Majhi Baag’ (My Garden), which focuses on various methods to clean environment.