Building Strength through Multiple Livelihoods
Chandrakala Patil, a 44-year-old woman farmer from Balur village in Bidar district, manages her home, farm, and small enterprises with equal dedication. A mother of three, she balances household responsibilities with tailoring, agriculture, and livestock rearing—showing how rural women can build secure livelihoods through multiple income sources.
Her husband works in a gold shop, while Chandrakala contributes to the family’s income through her own efforts. She owns 4 acres and 20 guntas of land, where she grows a mix of crops like sugarcane, soybean, pigeon pea, green gram, and several vegetables. This mix of crops ensures food for the family and regular income throughout the year.
Two years ago, Chandrakala joined Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) after attending a village meeting. She learned about organic farming practices such as preparing Jivamrut, Nimboli arka, and making vermicompost. Although her family was unsure at first, she started using organic fertilizers on 20 guntas of land. The results were clear—healthy crops and a saving of around ₹5,000 on chemical fertilizers. Seeing the benefits, her family began supporting her organic farming efforts.
With guidance from SSP and her Self-Help Group (Yogeshwari Mahila Samuha), Chandrakala expanded her work. She purchased one cow and one buffalo with SHG support and now sells milk locally, adding to her income. She also continues tailoring work from home.
Today, her monthly income ranges between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000 from farming, livestock, and tailoring. She also trains other women farmers—linking 25 women with Krishi Vigyan Kendra for kitchen garden training and supporting 50 women to take leadership roles in SHGs.
Chandrakala’s story reflects how rural women can combine traditional farming knowledge with new ideas to strengthen their livelihoods.
She says, “Diversity in the field is the real insurance against climate change.”
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
06 November, 2025