๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐: ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ
In Holsamudra village of Karnatakaโs Bidar district, Sulochana Sonale once spent her days doing household chores and working as a daily wage labourer. With little formal education, no land in her name, and rising costs of farming inputs, her family faced mounting challenges. Her husbandโs small farm barely met their needs, and chemical farming was pushing them deeper into debt.
That changed in late 2024, when Sulochana came in contact with Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP). Inspired by the Women-Led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF) model and the story of Malan Tai from Maharashtra, she decided to reimagine her roleโnot just in her home, but on her land.
Through SSPโs training and exposure visits, she learned to prepare natural inputs like Jeevamrut, Dashparni Ark, and vermi compost. These practices helped her cut farming costs by โน3,000 per acre. She also set up a small vermi compost unit, earning โน8,600 per season by selling compost in nearby villages.
As her confidence grew, she took up tailoring and improved crop planning. Today, through farming, compost sales, and tailoring, Sulochana earns โน10,000 to โน15,000 a monthโa big leap from her earlier struggles.
She reflects, โI realised I donโt have to wait for someone else to help meโI can take the first step,โ and that first step changed everything.
Sulochana began encouraging other women to follow the path of natural farming. Starting with 12 women, she patiently shared her learnings and supported them through their own transitions. With clear resultsโbetter yields, restored soil, and seasonal savings of โน10,000 to โน15,000โher credibility grew. Today, more than 200 women in her area have trained under her guidance.
No longer seen as just a labourer, Sulochana is now a respected farmer, mentor, and leader. Through resilience and support, she has turned hardship into hopeโnot just for herself, but for an entire community of women farmers.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
25th July, 2025