๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Onathi Shankaran from Kottathara, Wayanad, Kerala is a woman whose passion for sustainable farming is transforming her family, her community, and beyond. Onathi, from the marginalized Paniya indigenous community, was undeterred by limited space or resources. When Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) introduced a Women-Led Climate-Resilient Farming model in March 2024, she became the first in her village to embrace it.
Using every inch of her small 4-cent plot, Onathi cultivated a chemical-free vegetable and nutrition garden, blending SSPโs sustainable practices with her traditional knowledge. Her garden now produces 12 types of nutritious crops, including spinach, pumpkin, beans, papaya, and yam, ensuring year-round food security for her family.
Through seed exchanges and new techniques, her garden became even more resilient and productive. Inspired by her success, eight other women in her village have now started their own gardens, creating a wave of change. Her efforts save her family 1,000 rupees each month and demonstrate the power of bio-fertilizers, composting, and sustainable water practices.
Her neighbor, Manjula, calls her โour silent inspirer.โ Onathiโs journey is more than just farmingโit’s a testament to resilience, community empowerment, and living in harmony with nature.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
November 21, 2024