The Shramik Shetkari Vigyan Mandal, a farmers’ club from Divshi Budruk village in Satara district won National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)’s ‘best farmers’ club’ award in the state level.

The club was promoted by Marul Haveli Branch of State District Central Cooperative Bank.

Sami Nityanand Shetkari Sangh from Vishwagad village in Thane district, promoted by Awale branch of Union Bank of India, and Prasad farmers’ club from Davangaon village of Ahmednagar, promoted by Krishi Vigyan Hendra were awarded second and third prizes respectively.

Sukhbir Singh, chief general manager of NABARD (Maharashtra regional office) gave away trophies, certificates and cash prizes. He stressed on the need to take to new technology that will help in increasing farmers' income.

There are about 2,706 farmers’ clubs in Maharashtra and the NABARD has a target of forming 2,200 more clubs in the state during 2009-10.

Farmers’ clubs are informal groups formed by progressive farmers in a village that aim at development of small time farmers through technology transfer and awareness generation.