IAS Ayush Prasad is a 2015 batch officer of Maharashtra cadre and is currently posted as the collector of Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Known for his impactful approach, Prasad has an ambitious vision of transforming district into a key economic hub and become a $25 billion economy in next four years “We want to push our economy forward and ensure that Jalgaon grows very, very fast,” he stated

To achieve this a dedicated District Project and Program Management Unit has been established to oversee development projects and provide structured  support to businesses, particularly in the SME sector. Additionally Prasad’s strategy focuses on identifying sunrise sectors, attracting investments, and driving growth in agriculture, agritech, industry and services sector.

“The goal is to tap into all sectors, engage all stakeholders, and unlock the massive potential. By coordinating these sectors, we aim to create tangible results.” he said

In agriculture , eight large irrigation projects are underway bringing 1.54 lakh hectares under irrigation “This is crucial because it will significantly boost agricultural productivity,” he explained. Along with this ,micro improvements in farming is promoted. Using cotton as an example Prasad highlighted the benefits of intercropping “It can boost productivity by 15-20%, reduce fertilizer dependency, and improve both the yield and quality of cotton.”

Another major initiative under his leadership is the construction of 2,020 farm ponds arranged in clusters and connected through a pipe line network for year-round irrigation. Beyond irrigation, these ponds will also be used for aquaculture and vegetable farming “With this Each farm pond can generate a net income of ₹5.25 lakh per year,” he shared. Additionally his vision extends to integrating fisheries,poultry and farming into the growing pet food industry, further adding value to agricultural produce.

In agritech, Jalgaon is a major banana producer but banana stem waste is often overlooked and thrown away. Prasad saw it as an opportunity “We plan to crush the banana stem, extract the sap for use as a local fertilizer, and utilize the fiber,” he said. The initiative is also designed to empower SHGs and women by encouraging them to craft products from banana fibre “You can create multiple products out of banana fiber, and we aim to build an entire ecosystem around it.”

The district’s industrial sector is being strengthened through recycling initiatives, by supporting waste plastic recycling units with certifications and infrastructure to boost exports.

For the services sector, Prasad envisions “To make Jalgaon as a major logistics hub and fulfillment center”,leveraging its connectivity through highways,railways and an airport.Large scale infrastructure projects,including wide roads and warehousing are in progress to support this transformation.Additionally a solar energy initiative is underway to power agriculture and urban areas “By mid-2025, we are expecting to have around 1,500 megawatts of power generation,” he revealed