In Amarthoon village of Banswara district, Rajasthan, a transformation is underway that is not only changing the face of the fields but also bringing a new wave of prosperity into the lives of women farmers. This is the story of those courageous women who stepped out of the confines of traditional farming, ventured into vegetable cultivation, and are now reaping the sweet fruits of their hard work.

Brinjal and cluster beansthese two seemingly ordinary vegetables have today become a symbol of economic freedom for the women farmers of Amarthoon. Where earlier a mere ₹10,000 could be earned from 2 bighas of land, these same women are now earning up to ₹1,50,000 from the same piece of land. This is not just a matter of numbers; it is a true story of transformation.

Banswara is a tribal district in Rajasthan where 80 percent of the population belongs to the tribal community. Agriculture is the primary livelihood here, but this farming is surrounded by numerous challenges. Around 85 percent of farmers in the region have less than one hectare of land, placing them in the category of small and marginal farmers.

The biggest problem is the lack of irrigation facilities. Most farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture, which is risky due to the uncertainty of monsoons. Amarthoon village, located in Ghatol block, has long faced these challenges. Farmers here traditionally grew crops like maize and soybean during the Kharif season, earning only ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 annually.

Due to financial hardship and limited means of livelihood, farming families of Amarthoon had to migrate every year. After the farming season, these families would go to Gujarat to work as labourers. This migration not only tore families apart, but also affected children’s education, the social fabric, and ties to cultural roots.

Pari Magan Charpota, a woman farmer from Amarthoon, shares her experience:

“There was no permanent source of income in our village. We were unemployed and had to go to Ahmedabad in Gujarat for construction work. The conditions there were tough and it was difficult to be away from family.”

In 2022, Vaagdhara organisation initiated a new effort in Amarthoon village. This organisation aimed to improve farmers’ livelihoods through agricultural diversification. They identified that vegetables could be a high-value crop capable of yielding good profits even on small pieces of land.

Vaagdhara’s strategy was multi-pronged. First, Women Empowerment Groups were formed in the village. This step was crucial because women are not only active participants in farming but also play an important role in family nutrition and economic decision-making. Through these groups, women were organised and made aware of their collective strength.

Each participating woman farmer was provided with improved vegetable seeds. Brinjal and cluster beans were chosen because they have good market demand, grow well in the local climate, and yield good profits. Providing seeds was just the beginning. The real transformation came when farmers were given comprehensive training.

Source: Global Research