(Story by Outreach for Development team)
Champawat, an unexplored city of Uttarakhand, is a few steps from becoming a commercialized tourist site. This township is known for its rich biodiversity and temples of high artistic value. But why Champawat?
People here have managed to balance the culture while progressing with the times. The gender roles aren’t entirely traditional here; the patriarchs help equally with house chores as much as women work in fields. The district has about 65 percent of forest land, but only 9 percent is agriculture-irrigated.
Champawat has much potential in agriculture, but certain limitations hinder the growth of farmers from creating a sustainable livelihood.
Challenges in the Agriculture Sector
Crop depredation by animals like wild boars is the most common problem farmers face here. Wild boars have emerged as severe vertebrate pests in India. The impact of wild boar damage is particularly pronounced in fields located near forested areas. Though many measures are available for managing wild boars and keeping them away from the crops, the measures aren’t economical.
More irrigation systems, updated farming techniques, adequate utilization of fertilizers, availability of high-yielding crops, and more awareness among farmers regarding modern technology and optimal practices in the field are needed. These needs have constrained their capacity to plunge into innovative farming techniques for increased productivity and a constant source of adequate income.
Gradual Change
Kolidhek, a small village of Champawat, witnessed the start of an Agriculture Input Resource Center, of the people, for the people. Under a CSR-supported project, S M Sehgal Foundation formed a company for the farmers named Champawat Monal Farmer Producer Company.
This initiative allows the farmers associated with Sehgal Foundation, especially women, to avail of high-yielding seeds at a subsidized rate.
The concept of FPC is to nurture small and marginal farmers and provide them with the necessary skills and information to improve the farm output.
Cutting through the social communication gap, the first approach was mobilizing the farmers through community and village meetings, where the needs for the project and plausible solutions were shared. With support from the interested farmers, a Farmer Interest Group (FIG) was created, one in each village, consisting of small and marginal farmers. The group meets on the 15th every month, and people present their issues and concerns. The project is currently being run in fifty villages across the district. These regular meetings help identify the gaps in attaining a sustainable livelihood.
To manage these fifty FIGs, a Farmer Producer Company was formed, as mentioned. The primary purpose of the FPC is to create market linkages for the farmers, build the capacities of the members, and provide them with the needed support to manage the company for their further development.
Best Farming Practices for the Enterprise
A Modern Nursery was established as one of the business entities of Champawat Monal FPC. The nursery has the necessary facilities, such as a shade net, farm pond, and irrigation systems for effective plant cultivation through constructed ponds. Additionally, to support the production of high-value horticultural plants, the nursery supplies farmers with high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and essential tools. The S M Sehgal Foundation team regularly monitors the nursery for evaluation or support.
Good quality seeds are provided to farmers to ensure that crops can withstand adverse climatic conditions, the seedlings produced are fast-growing and resistant to pest and disease incidence. Moreover, the crops have uniformity in their growth and maturity, which makes it easier for the farmers to get reasonable prices for their produce.
Women’s Enterprise
A wholesome angle to establishing this FPC is that the company has 528 female shareholders, furthering the growth independently. Most women associated with the company have struggled to juggle education, work, and home, but have balanced it quite well.
Godavari Kaloni, a shareholder and beneficiary of Monal FPC, says, “I belong to Khedikot gram panchayat of the Lohaghat block. I learned about Monal FPC through one of the meetings, which tweaked my interest. Being associated with Sehgal Foundation team has been a great learning for me; earlier, I would only recognize myself as a homemaker. Today, I can travel to villages and help many farmers understand the need for different varieties of seasonal crops to meet the demands, how to prevent insect damage to the crops, the right use of fertilizers, and many other good farming practices. I want to set an example and empower more women like me.”
Another shareholder, Geeta Devi, says, “Having worked on a tea farm, I understand farmers’ many challenges. No doubt, there have been lots of support and assistance from Sehgal Foundation for on-the-ground implementation; but for me, a major change has been emerging into a new Geeta. Through these regular meetings, I have overcome my fear of speaking in front of a crowd; now I am participating in group meetings and spreading awareness among farmers to shift to sustainable agriculture practices.”
Pushpa Chaubey works in four villages of Champawat: Kheskandi, Kolideh, Pahu, and Phurti. She is associated with Sehgal Foundation as a vocal advocator, mobilizing the women farmers as shareholders in the formed company. Pushpa talks about the change she noticed in herself and many women like her, “I have always been proud of the fact that my husband is in the army, but the sense of freedom truly lies in oneself. My dream of becoming socially and financially independent is now a work in progress, which has been possible through this project. I am taking care of my family too. I travel around the villages, meeting farmers, listening to their challenges and how we can address the issues, but most importantly for the female farmers to come forward and speak in the group meetings and voice their opinions. The real-time impact is slow but becomes visible when the participation is mutual. Good quality seeds and water availability are solving the farming challenges. Still, the regular meetings with the farmer interest groups allow women to share their concerns and participate in decision-making. We learn as we do.”
Many more hidden stories are yet to be unfolded as this project diversifies. Geeta Devi and Godavari Kaloni are not just names here; they are women putting the “e” in equality by carrying sacks of potatoes one steep hill at a time.
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