Farmer Turns 40 Acres Into Mango Paradise With 2,000 Trees

When Ganesh Ashok Ranade finished his commerce degree, everyone expected him to chase corporate jobs. Instead, he joined his father on their family farm in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and together they've built something extraordinary.

The 42-year-old now oversees 2,000 Alphonso mango trees spread across 40 acres between Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. What started as his father planting 1,000 saplings in 1978 during harsh climate conditions has blossomed into a thriving organic farm and popular agro-tourism destination.

Back in 2002, Ganesh dove deep into organic farming despite knowing the challenges. He watched his father climb trees to water them during droughts and persist through power cuts and undeveloped roads. That dedication inspired him to plant another 1,000 mango saplings using completely organic methods.

The farm naturally attracted curious visitors who wanted to understand how the father-son team created their yellow oasis without chemicals. Ganesh showed them how they made organic fertilizers from cow dung (they kept 35 cows), created pesticides from neem, and grew thriving mangoes naturally.

In 2008, everything clicked when Ganesh visited Saguna Baug, India's first agro-tourism initiative near Mumbai. The guided tour through the transformed landscape confirmed his vision: he could combine tourism with agriculture.

The Ripple Effect

Ganesh converted his father's old packing unit into Ganesh Agro Tourism homestay, where guests now experience real farm life. His wife Varada prepares hearty meals featuring mango as the star ingredient, while Ganesh guides visitors through the entire mango journey from seed to fruit.

The homestay offers authentic accommodations including a mud room without air conditioning for those wanting the full farm experience. Guests spend their days wandering through miles of mango trees, learning sustainable farming techniques, and understanding exactly what they're consuming.

Located just 30 km from the Mumbai-Goa National Highway, the farm has become a model for combining conservation with tourism. The success proves that sustainable farming can be both profitable and educational, inspiring other farmers to consider similar ventures.

What makes this story special isn't just about growing fruit. It's about a family preserving traditional farming wisdom while making it accessible to urban visitors craving connection with nature and authentic food sources.

Today, those 2,000 mango trees stand as proof that patience and organic methods create lasting abundance.