Pune, Jun 1: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is going to leave behind a void that will be hard to fill, BCCI President and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar remarked today. He said this while addressing a gathering of farmers and other people, at the inauguration of the Nanded City township project of Magarpatta City Developers here.

''I have been receiving SMS's from all over the country and people are asking me about how to spent their evenings after IPL matches are over, as watching these matches have become a part of their routine,'' Mr Pawar said, adding that he had been contacted by some academics from Harvard too, who were eager to study about what made the IPL such a runaway success.

''These academicians are here to study two things -- the success behind the IPL and the success behind the Magarpatta City. It is the good quality of work and the faith of farmers, apart from the confidence of earning that has made Magapatta pattern a success,'' Mr Pawar said.

The Minister said farmers and people must have a positive approach to townships. One member from a farmer's family must opt out to become an entrepreneur or look for a job, to take the load of agriculture, where holdings are getting smaller and smaller.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar and Chairman and Managing Director Magarpatta City, Satish Magar, were also present on the occasion, among others.

UNI