Transforming Lives: Women Farmers in Yavatmal Reclaim Financial Freedom with Natural Farming | Nagpur News

Yavatmal farmer Fulabai Khangare is content. She earned good money this year after selling her cotton yield. And the earnings remain with her without having to cough up a penny to the local ‘sahukar’ (loan shark).
In the neighbouring shanty, Masaram (name changed) sits alone in the shadows, staring at a sputtering ‘diya’ flame as a gentle breeze threatens to blow it away. “That woman (Fulabai) got just 9 quintals of cotton from 3 acres of land. I got 20 quintals from 2 acres,” he says with pride, but his frail frame and shrunk face betrays a deep anxiety. So how much profit did he make? Masaram meekly asks, “Me? None. About the sahukar, I won’t speak.”
The two contrasting tales play out in a ‘pod’ (hamlet where Kolam tribes live) — Ghubadheti in Yavatmal’s Ralegaon taluka, 150km off Nagpur.
Yavatmal — infamously called Maharashtra’s suicide capital because of distressed farmers ending lives every year — is witnessing a silent agriculture revolution in some pockets.
Women like Fulabai, who had never known profits in farming, have smashed the ‘sahukar’ shackles and set out on a path of financial freedom, however small the profits may be. “Till two years ago, we would spend at least Rs 35,000 a season to buy fertilizers and pesticides from the farm-input store, whose owner would double up as a ‘sahukar’. Whatever money we made after selling cotton at prevailing market rates after three months of hard labour, would go into paying up the ‘sahukar’.” At times, if cotton rates fall or pink bollworm (a dominant pest) attack intensifies, the income shrinks and Fulabai would be compelled to sell even her belongings to pay up loan sharks. To take care of household expenses, she and her husband would toil as labourers in other farms after the cotton harvest.
Things have, however, changed in the last couple of years. “I haven’t put any urea or DAP in my farm. Nor have I sprayed expensive pesticides. The money saved has been ploughed into profit. Nobody has any stake in it,” says Fulabai with a broad smile.
The woman’s success can be attributed to adoption of natural farming practices, as suggested by Econet, Pune. “Initially, people dissuaded us from solely depending on vermicompost, cow dung and cow urine for growing a mixed crop of cotton and toor. They would say natural farming cuts yield. I realized that my yield could be lower than others, but the money I make is mine. I am no longer dependent on the moneylender,” says Sugandhabai, another woman farmer from the hamlet, who is ready to buy 5 more acres of land with the money she saves each season. She has already multiplied the number of goats from 5 to 50 and is growing a second crop of wheat and jowar because of a well that irrigates the farm after monsoon exits.
Fulabai Khangare says she is happy now because she focuses only on her own farm and does not have to till other farms as a contract labourer. “I eat nutritious food, that too on time and spend more time with my son and husband,” she adds with a radiant smile.
She bought an LIC policy a few years back and the bonus earned was used to start a small-time grocery shop for her son in the same hamlet. “Oh! I forgot to say we also purchased a two-wheeler. The shop too has expanded and we sell sugar, oil and pulses as well,” Fulabai says.
The Khangare couple got a ‘pucca’ house made under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and put some money from savings to buy robust furniture.
There are more women farmers like Fulabai and Sugandha who have realized the futility of running after more yield and instead focus on improving soil fertility, which results in more production. “We do not wait for govt help. Instead, we help ourselves by making our own manure and pesticides from naturally occurring resources like farm stubble, cow dung and urine,” they said.
Swapnil Newale of Econet, which supports empowerment of the marginalized through socio-enviro-legal approach, said, “Initially, it was tough convincing them to migrate to natural methods of farming. We told them to go step by step. Test the results on small land parcels and then emulate them on complete holdings. Patience and perseverance are finally paying off after years of follow-up.”
At least 24 of 55 households of Ghubadheti have switched to natural farming. “Twelve more women have shown eagerness to join us. Development is happening in the real sense of the word,” said Madhuri, who does the job of motivating the womenfolk.