Sustainable Farming: Building the Identity of Women as Farmers
Introducing sustainable organic farming and power-operated implements, holding training programmes and exposure visits for women farmers, thereby enhancing their knowledge and decision-making abilities has been a rewarding investment of the PRADAN team in some villages of Odisha, creating the path to self-sufficiency and food sufficiency
“In the last three years, I have been able to harvest more in paddy and vegetable cultivation by using organic fertilizers and nutrients. The duration of fruiting has also become longer. There is high demand for organic vegetables in the market; therefore, the consumers mostly buy from me. I know that recognition for me as a farmer has increased—in the family as well as in the village. I think that this is a big change for me.” Manjulata Mohanta says proudly.
M anjulata is a resident of Khireitangiri village, in Patna block (Keonjhar district), and is a member-cum-secretary of the Jhansirani Self Help Group (SHG). Manjulata got married in 1998 into a very poor family. She joined the SHG in 2003 and found a platform where she could share her problems and receive support. She has seven members in her family, including her three daughters and one son. She has about 3.5 acres of agricultural land.
Earlier, the family was only cultivated kharif paddy in their land, as per the traditional practice. They grew some vegetables on their homestead for their personal consumption. They also used chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Largely, the family planted paddy and vegetables in the kharif season and potatoes, onions in the rabi season. Additionally, they cultivated cauliflower in 5 decimals of their land and earned Rs 4,000–5000 per season.
They have a well in their homestead as irrigation support. They used to lift water manually from the well until they installed a pump-set. In 2014, Manjulata did the agricultural planning for the first time and decided to opt for organic farming in her field. She started sustainable practices in half an acre of land where she planted vegetables. She prepared vermi-compost, handikhaata (preventive pesticide, agniastra (organic insecticide), etc., for organic farming in the up-land and for the homestead creepers (mostly cow-pea, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, cauliflower) during the first year.