I Am, Because We Are
Have you ever heard of Kudna? No? What about the Ajodhya Hills in Purulia? Aah, see, I knew you must have heard of this place, but you might not have got a chance to visit yet, right? The Ajodhya Hills and the areas around them are as beautiful as paradise, with green meadows and water flowing from the Baghmundi Dam! No, I am not exaggerating, nor am I praising it just because I live in Kudna, a small village near the Ajodhya Hills. If you ever get a chance to plan a holiday in this part of the country, do pay a visit, and you will see what I mean.
Oh, look at me—I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Anima, and I am a farmer. But life here has long been a stark contrast to Kudna’s beauty. For years, we struggled to earn enough from farming, and most of us, especially women, had little say in how things were run.
Farming was hard. The money we made was barely enough. In 2021-22, a family here earned about Rs. 77,000 a year – which meant roughly Rs.6,500 a month! We spent a lot on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and when it was time to sell, we had to travel 26 kilometers to Balarampur mandi. Sometimes, I sat in the market all day, hoping for a good price, only to return home with barely anything. Women like me, who had no extra hands to help, found it even harder. We often found ourselves at the mercy of the market intermediaries as we barely knew what prices prevailed in the market – whatever they said, we believed and sold our produce to them.
A new beginning on the cards
Things started to change when a group of women, including me, formed a Farmer Producer Company (FPC) in December 2020. Although, along with all the members I joined the initiative, but I was in a fix. To be truthful, I was afraid, that how would women like us, who barely had any say about anything at home, suddenly take charge of our produce and income and run a business? Of course, the path in front wasn’t smooth but yes, we learned, slowly. With help from a project supported by Walmart Foundation, we got training, guidance, and support from PRADAN. I started to know the nitty-gritties of business.
By November 2022, we formed the Kudna Mahila Producer Group (PG), with 30 women. That year, 47 of us sold tomatoes worth Rs. 550,000. The next year, our chili and tomato sales reached Rs. 800,000. Working together made all the difference. We planned before the season started, bought seeds in bulk, and sold our produce at better prices. Farming was no longer just about surviving—it was about thriving.
Now, before every season, we sit together and decide what to grow. We discuss pests, seeds, and the best places to sell our crops. Women who once had no choice but to sell at whatever price the middlemen gave them now have control over their work. And for those of us with fewer family members to help, the FPC makes sure we are not left behind.
I struggled. I succeeded. I inspired.
I started commercial farming in 2022. I own 5.07 hectares of land, where I grow paddy, vegetables, and pulses. There were days when I doubted myself, wondering if I could manage it all. But every harvest season, every sale, and every meeting with my fellow women farmers has given me strength. Last year, I earned Rs. 86,600 by growing chili, tomatoes, horse gram and black gram.
Besides farming, I help manage funds as a Sangha CSP and lead Kudna PG. These responsibilities give me purpose. They remind me that I am not alone—many women in my village face the same struggles, and together, we can find solutions. Let me share one example with you today. In 2024 I had typhoid and found it extremely difficult to stand and walk. It was cropping time, and making it to the fields seemed nearly impossible. But did I have a choice? Could I afford to forego the season? So, I took the challenge head on and continued farming on my1.5-hectare land. I planted high-yielding paddy, indigenous paddy, tomatoes, and chili. And any guess who instilled the courage in me to fight this situation by supporting me at every step? None other than my FPC members.
I never thought a day will come when people will look up to me as their leader. But today, I see myself differently. I am not just a farmer. I am also a leader in my community. And yes, needless to say that I also take care of my five children, my spouse, my mother-in-law, and even my great-grandmother-in-law, all while managing my other responsibilities. Yet, it has never felt burdensome.
No progress is progress, until it includes all
Kudna Mahila PG has changed our lives, but there is still more to do. Every season, we learn something new. I encouraged 15 more women to join us, and now we have started a new PG in a nearby hamlet. This is no longer just about farming—it is about shaping our future.
With the money I make, I send my children to school. I want them to have a better life than I did. Life still throws challenges at me, but I no longer feel helpless. I am a farmer, a mother, and a woman who has found her strength.
Kudna’s fields are no longer just places of hard work and struggle. They are places of hope, determination, and change. As we walk this path together, we know we are ready for whatever comes next.
And yes, if you come to Ajodhya Hills on a vacation, do come to our Kudna. Along with the lush meadows surrounding Baghmundi dam, you will be able to see my farm bustling with activities and crops. I, along with the spirited members of our PG, will be eager to welcome you!
Edited by: Souparno Chatterjee, New Delhi
24th March 20