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Madhavi Kelu, a farmer from Aneri village in Wayanad, Kerala, has transformed her small 65-cent land into a model of climate resilient farming. Earlier, she practiced monocropping, but with her interest in learning new methods, she changed her farm into a diverse and sustainable model. Today, she grows more than 36 varieties of crops along with mushroom cultivation, dairy farming, beekeeping, and organic fertilizer production.
Madhavi learned sustainable farming techniques from Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) who promote Women Led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF) model in Wayanad since 2022. After learning various aspects of farming, she started preparing bio-fertilizers, soil testing, vermi compost, water conservation, and chemical-free farming methods to improve the soil fertility and reduce the cost.
After gaining confidence, she shared her knowledge with 100+ women farmers in her surrounding area, helping them to adopt WCRF model. As a next step, she started a mushroom and pickle-making enterprise and integrated dairy farming with biogas production. Her efforts created a circular farming system, increasing her earnings from Rs 3,500 to Rs 21,000 in one season.
Today, Madhavi is a respected leader in her village. Her vision is to build a self-reliant farming community where women farmers are empowered with knowledge and skills. She wants to promote climate-smart agriculture, conserve indigenous seeds, and ensure food security for future generations.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
March 12, 2025