Savita Amble: For the first time I came to know about soil examination. Earlier, being from a farmers’ family I used to do traditional farming. By knowing the texture, quality of the soil, I could decide the crop pattern vis-a-vis the type of pesticide useful for it.
Minakshi Gadade: I used to help the in-laws in farming. But after taking up the Prerna project, I not only started doing the farming all by myself but also marketed the vegetables. I earned Rs 10,000 from it and I do organic farming.
Archana Khetar: I never rode a bicycle in my life, but now I can plough my farm with the Mahindra tractor. My husband earlier used to hesitate to hand over the keys to me, but now, he encourages me to use the tractor.
Supriya Pawar used to do a job, but when she came to know about this project, she left it and plunged into farming. I was not born in a farming family but married to one. Since I had less knowledge of it, I did not take any interest in it. But when I got involved with Prerna, my interest grew and I started doing organic farming.
These were few of the success stories of Prerna project led by Mahindra and Mahindra Limited (M&M) along with BAIF Development Research Foundation in Ambale and a few of the neighbouring villages in Shirur taluka of Pune district.
“Started in 2017, the project has completed one year. ” said Rajesh Jejurkar, President ,Farm Equipment Sector ,Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
The spokesperson of M&M said “Through Prerna we have had fair participation from all regions and going forward, we hope to further extend the initiative to many more women farmers, taking it to other states too.”
“Women play an important role in farming since ages. But like any other field, they never got recognition of their work,” spokesperson added.
“M&M has a long relationship with Indian farming and its tools and technology and through this project, we not only wanted to empower these women but also recognise their work and contribution in the field,” he said.
“We have designed a few tools useful for women farmers. This helped them while working in the farm as they were suitable for their needs. Generally, when we talk about a farmer, always a male personality emerges before our eyes, but through this project, we want to change that perception,” he said.
Usha Bendre from Ambale village who is the senior-most woman member said, “Initially, we used to attend the meetings conducted by BAIF and M&M, but never gave a serious thought. In one of the meetings when they spoke of what seed to be used, how to select the timing for seeding, how to identify the pesticides, fertilisers which would be matching with the soil, the interest started growing. I attended 10 meetings and then realised that these people seriously want to do something for us. So we decided to shake hands with them.”
She further said, “I am attached to a self-help group. Then the members of this group joined with Prerna. I have a five-acre of land. After meeting them, I not only can fulfil my family’s needs but can also save money.”
Associate program manager of BAIF Prashant Dudhade said, “All these women are good at their work. They have the necessary skills, but there is no one to guide them. Although, many of them follow traditional farming with the help of their in-laws, they were dependent on husbands and in-laws for taking decisions. But with such projects, they got their confidence and were empowered enough to take their own decisions.”
“We have given them the seeds, seedlings, eggs for starting poultry and goats for goat husbandry. This will help them sustain financially. Besides that we have also been telling them about organic farming, taking their products directly to the market, so as to avoid the middlemen. We are also planning of setting up communication centres so as to facilitate the products directly from the farm to consumers,” said Dudhade.
Savita said, “I gained confidence through this project. I also got the opportunity to travel on a plane to Vadodara since I am one of the champions of this project.”
Dudhade said, “We have selected a few of these women as champions and they further take will spread the word about the project.”
“The first phase of Prerna was executed over the last 18 months, in over 40 villages in Odisha. Through the programme, Mahindra has positively affected the lives of over 2,000 women farmers, with the introduction of 14 farm implements, reducing drudgery in farming operations,” explained the spokesperson.
“In phase two, Prerna has further worked in 60 villages across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. reaching out to over 6,000 women farmers. While NGO Pradan was instrumental in kicking off and executing the Prerna initiative in Orissa, BAIF Development Research Foundation is our development partner in the other three states MP, Maharashtra and Karnataka,” the M&M spokesperson added.
The project has been spread over 10 nearby villages. The project not only has kindled a light among the women regarding empowerment and economic independence, but it also has given them the confidence to face life in a new way. Khetar was prompt to say that they were farmers who we never go on strike despite drought or over rainfall.