Sowing Seeds of Resilience
Shaila Tai from Masla Khurd village in Osmanabad District is a relentless leader who guide and work with fellow women farmers in finding solutions in innovative farming, livelihoods and natural resource management thus taking grassroots women leadership to a new level of resilience. As she put her words ‘every crisis or pandemic gives you opportunities to overcome and find a new way to rebuild the communities’, Shaila Tai demonstrates that how women can achieve new heights of success through collective approach.
When the COVID-19 hit and lockdown started, the farmers faced issues of selling the products in the market. This time, SSP came forward and facilitated to promote kitchen garden in every home for daily intake of nutritious food to prevent COVID. SSP has also given training on seed germination, organic farming practices and agri allied business. This action has prompted Shaila Tai to look beyond kitchen garden. When the market was closed, she decided to collect and preserve locally grown organic seeds and sold to farmers those who were in need for seeds in sowing season. The initiative was successful as they earned Rs 1.5 lakh from selling the seed kits.
Two years later, the agriculture groups from Masla Khurd was on the way to success. They created Seed Bank and added value to the product by branding and quality checking, packing and reaching to the fellow farmers in Osmanabad district and outside. The pesticide free seed kits include 33 varieties of vegetables and pulses grown locally through organic methods by women farmers. The organic seeds mainly consists of coriander, brinjal, carrot, cucumber, mint, spinach, ridge gourd, sorrel, ladys finger, sorgam, radish, chilli, etc.
When they read about a government advertisement for organic seeds supply in a newspaper, the group led by Shaila Tai approached the Collector of Osmanabad district and fetch an order worth of Rs 15 lakh immediately. “We feel very proud as we got the order from government and we have to prepare 1,500 seeds kits for farmers for 8 blocks with utmost care,” says Parvati Tai, member of the Agriculture group. This year, until now, they have received orders of seeds kits worth Rs 16.5 lakhs.
The selection of seeds and packing are done by 10 members group and they are planning to grow more varieties in large amount to serve the seeds of love for more communities. These organic seeds are the solution for local food security, nutrition and income, as it is pesticide free and cost effective and they try to promote kitchen farm in every home.
“We got good support and cooperation from our families and we walk together in achieving better health, income and sustainable environment,” says Shaila Tai.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
18th May, 2022