“I would like to start a business with other women from my group, and sell our organic vegetables in city markets”, says Malan.
Aspiring to a better life, Malan Kasre, from Matewadi village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra successfully adapted one acre model farming. Malan used to work with her husband on their 4 acres of land, growing grains and pulses, as well as stitching clothes for villagers to earn extra money.
High input costs and an unstable income convinced Malan that she should try to grow crops organically on her farm. In 2019, she attended a training organized by SSP and learnt about organic farming methods. To persuade her husband of this, she grew a part of their crop organically, while the other part was cultivated using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Over the growing season, they found that the organically grown crop was of better quality and required less resource. Through continuous trainings, Malan learnt about making bio pesticides and composting and her crops grew so well after using these natural methods.Leveraging her success in organic farming, Malan was able to secure a loan of Rs.15,000 from the bank to build vermi compost beds and also able to avail a scheme from the government to get fruit trees. Today Malan grows vegetables like chillies, dill (shepu), ladi finger (bhindi), brinjal (baingan), pumpkin, cucumber and carrots, as well as fruits like banana, custard apple (sitaphal) and orange, in addition to the usual grains and pulses.
“I would like to start a business with other women from my group, and sell our organic vegetables in city markets like Pune”, says Malan.
There has been a noticeable change in household health according to Malan, as her family is now able to eat organically grown, nutritious food.
Additionally, they are also saving money by growing their own vegetables. Due to her success, Malan has acquired the status of a leader, and this has also changed the way her family and the community look at her.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
03 December, 2021