Thousands of women farmers in Bengal profit from growing organic indigenous rice
Over 4,500 women farmers in West Bengal’s Jhargram District are profiting from cultivating indigenous rice varieties organically.
Among the indigenous rice varieties cultivated in the area are Kalabhat (black rice), Mallifullo (brown rice), Kerala Sundari (aromatic rice), and Sathia (red rice). The price of these indigenous varieties is three times higher than other varieties.
PRADAN, a non-government organization, has been training women in the cultivation, processing, and marketing of their harvests.
The importance of seed systems to empower women has so far been neglected. Applying gender analysis to improve seed systems and reduce/overcome existing biases in access to and availability and use of quality seed of local and improved varieties is an essential first step toward empowering women.