๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐
In the remote village of Khatgoan in the Bidar district of Karnataka, Premala Panchal is proving that sustainable farming can transform lives. With one acre of land, she and her husband have long relied on traditional farming methods. But in November 2024, inspired by training from Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), she decided to adopt the Women-Led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF) model on half an acre.
Her husband, a carpenter earning โน15,000 per month, fully supported her transition. While her son works in Pune and her daughters are married, Premala and her husband tend to their land with dedication. They had always believed in natural farming but lacked the knowledge to implement it properly. Previously, they used cow dung and cow urine in an unstructured way, combining it with chemical fertilizers and pesticides for crops like soybean, chana, and jowar.
After adopting the WCRF model, Premala learned to make and use organic pesticides systematically. This not only improved her vegetable yield but also reduced expenses on chemical inputs. Seeing the benefits, she planted a second round of vegetables in the same season, maximizing her landโs potential.
“We always knew natural farming was beneficial, but we didnโt know how to start. Training gave me the confidence to apply it properly,” she says.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
14th April, 2025ย