Navi Mumbai's Last Paddy Fields Preserve Agrarian Heritage

A small patch of lush paddy fields in Mahape, Navi Mumbai, continues to preserve the city's agrarian heritage, surrounded by towering IT parks and high-rise buildings.

The Mahare family has cultivated their ancestral 1.5-acre farm for four generations, producing around 800 kg to one tonne of paddy annually.

Located along the Mahape–Shilphata Road, the paddy field stands in sharp contrast to the city's image as a technology and business hub.

Family members, including Hemant Mahare and Jagdish Mahare, use a combination of traditional knowledge and modern farming techniques to grow rice.

The farm lies close to the alignment of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, making it one of the last surviving agricultural pockets amid rapid urbanisation.

The sight of green paddy fields flanked by IT parks and biotechnology companies highlights the coexistence of Navi Mumbai's technological progress and its agricultural heritage.

Although the monsoon arrived late this year, adequate rainfall in July has helped retain sufficient water in the fields, allowing transplantation of paddy saplings to gather pace.

The verdant landscape has once again become a visual attraction in the heart of the city.

Residents point out that among Navi Mumbai's original 29 villages, only a handful of agricultural plots remain, largely concentrated around Mahape and the Airoli-Bonkode belt.

As urban development continues to shrink farmland, the Mahare family's determination to preserve its farming legacy has drawn appreciation.

To adapt to changing times, the family has replaced traditional bullock-driven ploughing with mechanised equipment such as rotavators, combining modern technology with age-old farming practices.

The surviving paddy fields are seen not only as a source of food but also as a symbol of Navi Mumbai's rural roots, reflecting the city's enduring connection with nature despite its transformation into one of Maharashtra's leading urban and technology centres.

The preservation of these paddy fields is significant for Navi Mumbai, as it highlights the importance of balancing progress with the preservation of cultural and agricultural heritage.