CASE STUDY

JAGAT BARIK FARMING: Creating an Identity for Women Farmers

Applying their minds to adopting improved agricultural practices and shifting to vegetable cultivation on a large scale through , the women of Gaudaguda unite to change not only agricultural practices but also show their potential at organizing themselves by bringing the market to their doorsteps, thereby streamlining processes

WHEN I DECIDED TO CULTIVATE earned Rs 80,000 from brinjal cultivation. If I were brinjal in 80 decimals of land that was to add the value of the brinjal I distributed to my earlier used for cotton production, my relatives and consumed, it would cross Rs 1 lakh. husband got very angry with me. He asked My husband and I are very happy. He is not talking me how I would sell such a huge quantity about money any more; it’s now in my hands and I of brinjal and told me that I would have can use it as per my choice,” said Palai Jiraka with to give him Rs 30,000 in case of failure. pride. He did not support me in the any -related activity. I took up the challenge because my Sangha Palai Jiraka, a tribal woman, lives in Gaudaguda “ village in Kolnara block, Rayagada district, Odisha. had decided to bring the market to our doorsteps. I

30 NEWSREACH MAR_APR 2018 “My husband is the decision-maker; I follow what he says. I wish to cultivate vegetables in half an acre of land where we grow cotton, but it’s up to him. If he agrees, only then can I do it. I can’t take decision on my own.”

She cultivated cotton every of every household, followed discussed across SHGs, we found year. After joining a Self-Help by cotton. Men favour cotton that women do not consider Group (SHG), she started cultivation because they get bulk themselves as farmers and see vegetable cultivation. Owing to cash readily in their hands when their contribution only as another the difficulty in marketing her they sell the produce. Cotton is a household task. Initially, most produce, she cultivated in a small labour-intensive crop and women of the participants had a strong piece of land. Every year, she do most of the work. Women view that men are the farmers cultivated cotton in that land and do not favour cotton cultivation and when they were asked to earned around Rs 30000. This because of the drudgery involved; draw a picture of a farmer they year, she earned Rs 80000 from they would rather grow pigeon drew the pictures of men only. the same piece of land because of pea or vegetables, from which We then conducted a work the marketing support provided they can both earn money and get division exercise in farming by her farmers collective. She has food. Men, on the other hand, do (here we consolidated different full control now over the income. not value the labour that women tasks done by men and women do and their contribution remains in paddy cultivation). After the Background unnoticed. Semanti Mandangi exercise, the women were amazed from Pujariguda village says “My to notice the magnitude of their — husband is the decision-maker; contribution. Despite this, they Kolnara block of Rayagada district I follow what he says. I wish to however, said that because they is a tribal-dominated block where cultivate vegetables in half an acre cannot decide what crop to more than 72 per cent of the of land where we grow cotton, cultivate, what inputs need to population is tribal. Of these, a but it’s up to him. If he agrees, be given, they follow what their majority belong to the “kandha” only then can I do it. I can’t take husbands or other male members tribe and speak both Kui and decision on my own.” in their families ask them to do. Telegu languages. They depend Their contribution, although mostly on agriculture, dongar Women seldom get recognition mammoth, is largely limited to (shifting cultivation in the hills) as farmers despite doing most labour work. The discussions cultivation, on non-timber forest of the drudgery ridden work in concluded with the women products (NTFP), livestock and farming. Further, subsequent to arriving at some of these basic wage labour for their livelihood. this, a woman’s position becomes action points: In these five traditional livelihood vulnerable in the farm and family activities, women contribute as well. 1) We, as farmers, will take the major work force; men, decisions about farming, both however, are the lead decision- As long as the self-view of women for balanced food sufficiency makers in the family. Men usually does not develop, we realized and income. plough the land, rear bullocks, that their role as economic buffalos and small ruminants contributors to the family 2) We will develop our skills in and sometimes go to the forest will remain unrecognized. The different and better processes to collect wood. In agriculture, women themselves have to create of agriculture. paddy is the primary focus space for this. When this was

CASE STUDY COLLECTIVE FARMING: CREATING AN IDENTITY FOR WOMEN FARMERS 31 Through collective farming, women would first create respect for themselves as farmers through enhancing their decision-making ability; develop their skills and knowledge; establish linkages with different government programmes and engage in collective input procurement, collective farming and collective marketing.

3) We will collectively develop of the collectivization in vegetables and managed a good a relationship with different agriculture. Through collective yield. However, they were still stakeholders such as farming, women would first apprehensive of cultivating the market, agriculture create respect for themselves as vegetables on a large scale and department and bank. farmers through enhancing their the average cultivable area decision-making ability; develop remained below 10 decimals. 4) We will together open their skills and knowledge; When we explored the causes individual accounts in the bank establish linkages with different of this stagnation in different and save money in our own government programmes forums such as farmer learning accounts. and engage in collective input consolidation meetings, CRP procurement, collective farming reflection meetings and cluster 5) We will reduce our drudgery and collective marketing. meetings, the marketing issue in agriculture through came up first. They said, “We are mechanization and take Women collectively decided to not able to sell our vegetables required rest cultivate vegetables for a cash for a better price; if we cultivate income, and paddy and pulses in big patches, who will buy the Looking at these realities and for food. It was not easy for the vegetables from us?” They sold issues, attempts have been made women to negotiate with their their produce in the local market to get recognition for women husbands about their choice of or in the village but were not able farmers through collective crops. However, because the to fetch a good price. A few who farming. With the support of women were collectively involved, were adept at negotiating were the Mahila Kisan Sashatikaran they convinced their husbands able to get good returns but most Pariyojana (MKSP), producer to allow them to cultivate a small of the women were unequipped. groups were formed in 51 . part of their land as per their That they had to carry vegetables These village-level producer choice. The women then procured and stay in the market for groups were further collectivized input material; they were given the whole day increased in three production clusters technical training on the package their drudgery. Therefore, in Kolnara block. All the SHG of practices for different crops they restricted themselves members were members of the and were provided handholding to smaller plots, cultivating producer group. Some landless support by trained community vegetables mainly for household families were also included in resource persons (CRPs). Forums consumption. agricultural activity through such as the farmer learning social arrangement and the land school, the producer groups in Taking these factors into leasing system. the village and the clusters at the consideration, we explored block level became the platform some places where farmers had Several rounds of visioning for sharing, learning and earned a substantial income exercises were conducted, both decision-making, for the women. from this agricultural activity. at the village level and at the Women representatives and cluster level, covering the entire Many women farmers started PRADAN visited Bandapipili block to define the objectives intensive cultivation of village in Kandhamal district to

32 NEWSREACH MAR_APR 2018 We saw farmers cultivating brinjal in more than 2 acres and earning around 2 lakhs per annum in rain-fed situations. There were systems of assured forward and backward linkages at their doorsteps

see farmers doing large-scale service providers or community average of 20 farmers per vegetable cultivation. Bandapipili entrepreneurs to support them village, in a contiguous patch in had people from different in the marketing system. They 8 to 10 villages. communities farming collectively. also consulted different local The visit was an eye-opener for traders, to select those varieties c) Vegetable cultivation to be the women farmers and for us. of major crops that have a better initiated early, to benefit from We saw farmers cultivating brinjal market demand. Having done the maximum market price. in more than 2 acres and earning the background work, they The farmers’ decided around 2 lakhs per annum in organized a general body meeting a specific time for each cluster, rain-fed situations. There were of all farmers of their farmers’ to complete the preparation of systems of assured forward collective, to prepare the roadmap the nursery. and backward linkages at their for a new way of agriculture with doorsteps. This experience has the slogan, “Chinta hateiba, rojgar d) The general body of the strengthened our resolve more badheiba (Eliminate tension, farmers’ collectives defined to focus on creating a sustainable increase income).” The farmers the role of different cadres, to system in our area. openly discussed their challenges support women farmers. and arrived at the following few On returning, the representatives consensual decisions: Initiatives by the Collectives in the of the farmers’ collective Pre-Production Stage discussed the drawbacks of the a) Cultivate one or two crops — present mode of agriculture and intensively, suitable for the tried to generate different options area, so that these could be Input at the doorstep: Women for improving the situation. produced in volume for the farmers got quality agriculture Women discussed establishing market. inputs such as seeds and some a marketing system so that medicines at their doorstep they could sell their vegetables b) The farmers will cultivate without any tension or at their doorsteps easily. They vegetables in at least 20 transportation cost. Women’s thought about selecting some decimals of land, with an collectives help prepare the crop

Table 1: Production Clusters at a Glance

Name of the Number of Number of Average Area Crops Cultivated Date for Nursery Cluster Villages Families (in Acres) Dumuriguda 10 170 Brinjal, Chilli 30 2nd week of June Mukundpur 11 198 Brinjal, Chilli, Beans 32.2 1st week of June Suri 4 52 Brinjal, Chilli 7.7 2nd week of June Gadesiskal 5 115 Brinjal, Chilli 14 2nd week of June Total 30 535 84

CASE STUDY COLLECTIVE FARMING: CREATING AN IDENTITY FOR WOMEN FARMERS 33 Women farmers adopted different integrated pest management (IPM) practices of mixed cropping, broader cropping and organic pesticides, to protect their plants from diseases and pests. Because farmers are cultivating crops in big patches, they collectively initiated preventive measures on their plan for each member, based on seedlings were available for the IPM practices: Women farmers the season, farmer suitability farmers at particular times. It adopted different integrated pest and market attractiveness, and also ensured proper monitoring management (IPM) practices of also make a collective plan for of nurseries by members and mixed cropping, broader cropping their cluster. Accordingly, the CRPs. To maximize their profit, and organic pesticides, to protect collectives engage community the farmers are cultivating their plants from diseases and entrepreneurs, to purchase early crops. With timely inputs pests. Because farmers are quality inputs in bulk and and community nurseries, cultivating crops in big patches, supply these to farmers at their farmers ensured that they start they collectively initiated doorstep. harvesting crops 20 days prior to preventive measures on their the usual time. farms. For plant growth, timely Increase in the area of cultivation: weeding and ridging operations Once input supply and marketing Use of farm implements: When along with fertilizer applications at the doorsteps was assured, farmers started cultivating are ensured. women farmers increased their on large areas of land and in area of vegetable cultivation from contiguous patches, they needed Organic medicine selling: Farmers the average 15 decimals to 25 to use farm implements such as found it difficult for all farmers decimals. Some producer groups power weeders, power sprayers, to prepare different organic and village organizations (VOs) and battery sprayers. medicines on their own. Some arranged land for the landless community entrepreneurs through some social arrangement Initiatives by the Collectives in the prepared organic medicines such or the seasonal leasing system. Production Stage as Agniastra, Mahulastra and Mahaphal and sold it at affordable Kami Patika and Usha Patika — prices at the village level. of Bandhaguda village of CRP system: CRPs are selected Mukundpur cluster are landless from SHGs and groomed on Initiatives by the Collectives in the widow farmers. Earlier, they were different better practices of Marketing Stage cultivating vegetables in 5-10 agriculture through the practical decimals; this time, they took 1 use of information, education and — acre of land on lease jointly by communication (IEC) material. Market exploration: Women paying Rs 2000, and cultivated Being the resource persons farmer representatives and brinjal and chilli. or experts of their villages, village-level community they helped other farmers on entrepreneurs visited different Community nursery and early a voluntary basis to build the markets and tried to understand initiation of agriculture activity: capacity of other farmers. Their the system and rules of the The collectives raised community efforts in the field with farmers market. They compared the nurseries at the village level, helped ensure different practices suitability of different traders and which ensured that good quality in agriculture. shared in community meetings.

34 NEWSREACH MAR_APR 2018 Representatives of the women’s collectives have become the drivers of this process, taking decisions at every level. Co-ordination meetings were held regularly between representatives and the villagers to take stock of the whole process. It includes timely vehicle arrivals, and deciding on different markets, based on the volume of production, demand and market rate

This process helped farmers to intervention, produce of different Monitoring and evaluation of broaden their knowledge about quality is packed separately and the process: Representatives of the price difference between retail sold in the market. This has the women’s collectives have selling and collective marketing. created a reputation of reliability become the drivers of this about the women farmers of the process, taking decisions at every General body meeting of farmers’ area. In Nandpur village, farmers level. Co-ordination meetings collectives: A general body meeting earlier sold tomato in bamboo were held regularly between of women farmers was conducted, baskets of different sizes; this has representatives and the villagers to finalize the system and process now been replaced with baskets to take stock of the whole marketing in their cluster. All of uniform size. process. It includes timely vehicle the entrepreneurs and traders arrivals, and deciding on different were called to these meetings, Record-keeping: Records are markets, based on the volume of to discuss potential production, maintained meticulously at production, demand and market collection centre, packing the village for input supply, rate. systems, payment mechanism, production and the amount etc. received after the sale of crops. Bandhaguda: Journey of Women Farmers are given receipts for Farmers Sorting, grading and packing: the payments they make. Along A high-quality product has its with this, electronic weighing — own demand in the market. machines have been introduced Bandhaguda is a tribal village The farmers and village-level for accurate measurement of the comprising 40 households. It has entrepreneurs, therefore, took produce. Payment against the sale around 60 per cent widows, and the responsibility to ensure of the produce is recorded and barring eight families, others quality packing of different handed directly to the women are landless. The villagers were crops. The farmers sorted, graded farmers, thus establishing their dependent on wage labour work and packed the products at the identity. for their livelihood. In 2009, two village level. Because of this SHGs were formed in the village

Table 2: Production and Income Earned by Two Clusters in Kolnara Block

Name of the No. of Brinjal Aver- Amo- 1) Chilli Av- Total Beans Aver- Total Grand Agriculture Wom- Pro- age unt (in Produc- er- Amo- Pro- age Amo- Total Production en duction Rate/ Lakhs) tion (in age unt duc- Rate/ unt in Cluster Pro- (in Kg Quin- Rate tion Kg in Lakhs ducers Quin- tals) /Kg (in Ru- tals) Quin- pees tals) Mukundpur 140 400 9.5 3.8 20 28 0.56 83 26 2.158 6.5 Dumuriguda 120 450 9.5 4.3 28 28 0.78 5.1

CASE STUDY COLLECTIVE FARMING: CREATING AN IDENTITY FOR WOMEN FARMERS 35 In 2017, they produced 40 tons of vegetables and generated an income of more than 5 lakhs besides having adequate vegetables for their own consumption and distribution to relatives. This successful demonstration of collective farming has given the village the identity of a model village in the area and eventually nine members and beans in 1 acre of land. TV for my house for Rs 15,000. initiated vegetable cultivation They ensured early initiation I now enjoy watching television and earned Rs 7–10,000. That of nursery, community nursery with my husband in my leisure influenced other SHG members and IPM practices. Through time. to take up vegetable cultivation. the efforts of the villagers and After the initiation of the the support of the village- Through collective farming, women’s identity as farmers level entrepreneur, a pick-up women are finding new energy training in the village, 30 women started coming to the village to and confidence to do farming on SHG members were motivated collect vegetables. In 2017, they their own. This has changed the to do farming and formed a produced 40 tons of vegetables identity of small and marginal producer group. They have been and generated an income of women farmers from being cultivating tomato, chilli and more than 5 lakhs besides having domestic labour to producers beans for consumption and cash adequate vegetables for their own in the family and the area. income purposes. This continued consumption and distribution Furthermore, the efforts of for some years; however, to relatives. This successful women farmers to bring the gradually the income they were demonstration of collective market to their doorsteps has getting from agriculture was not farming has given the village the reestablished agriculture as a sufficient to meet the needs and identity of a model village in the viable source of livelihood. It has aspirations of the family. In 2016, area. demonstrated the strength of seven women representatives of unity through the self-operated the village visited Bandapipili Kumari Kadraka, a women system of collective farming village in the same block to see farmer of the village, speaks and marketing. Moreover, it how collective farming operates about her experience: “I was has demonstrated a path to and what system had been involved in agriculture for long get substantial income from established. but due to the fear of marketing agriculture. However, there and landlessness, I had always is scope for adding value to On their return, the villagers took done farming in a small area various stages in the future. The on the lead role and influenced and was earning Rs 10,000 at process of collective farming other villages to change the best. This year, however, due to has the potential to grow as agriculture scenario. After the efforts of the collective, we an Agriculture Production discussions about the backward have cultivated vegetables in big Cluster. However, the collective and forward marketing system, plots by taking the land on lease. needs to ensure more linkages the villagers planned kharif I earned Rs 50,000 from selling network with the market and vegetables in big patches of land. vegetables. My husband never also converge with different They included 38 women farmers used to help me in agriculture; government programmes and out of 40 families of the village this time, however, after seeing departments, to access different in vegetable cultivation through the plot, he has reduced alcohol schemes for its women farmers. land social arrangement and consumption and started helping leasing system. They cultivated me. With the money earned from — Jagat Barik is based in Rayagada district, brinjal in 9 acres, chilli in 2 acres vegetables, I purchased an LED Odisha

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