The Kastoori of Agriculture and it's women

Saturday 22nd June 2019: Agriculture, call it a tradition, an occupation or being part of the nature and our existence with it!!

Just like Kastoori or the musk is within the deer, but it keeps hunting outside, similar is with our Agriculture sector. It had always been our primary resource, but we complicated the same hunting outside, making farmers dependant on complex and manipulative processes.

We all know that various climatic and financial factors with overburdened chemical dependency has made this sector gloomy, turning down into a compounded cyclical process which has now started affecting the urban too; giving the realisation to human race now to bridge the gap between the two. Farmer suicides and pesticides in food chain with increase in cancer cases is just the tip of the iceberg.

Purvi Vyas, Mentor WGWLO & Babita Jain Chair person FLO

With such an initiative Ficci FLO Ahmedabad on 21st June, organised an event Coordinated by Shilpa patel , Kinnery Shah, Rajmati Binaykia, Pinki, Anuja Shah and Vandana Agarwal; at Renaissance hotel, Ahmedabad, dedicated to women in Agriculture. Babita Jain, the Chairperson mentioned, "We are redefining the entire approach of Ahmedabad Chapter. Today's event is a strong message for the entire fraternity of women, that we are ONE and we not restricted to Urban rural or financial boundaries. The entire objective is to get inspired and learn from each, empowerment will automatically be the output." 

It was about Farmer - Food Industry Connect. FLO Ahmedabad with Food Entrepreneurs Alliance under able leadership of Anil Mulchandani and other organisations created a platform where restaurateurs, hoteliers, cafe owners, food processors,  food wholesalers, food retailers , grocers etc met farmers mainly women from villages in Ahmedabad district and neighbouring districts. It was intended to get fresh produce that is organic, near organic or naturally grown like bhaliya wheat, millets, fruits and veggies, encourage growing of ingredients in short supply, and support marginalised farming communities.

Gender parity was another topic where it came to light that 70% of the contribution is done by women farmers in the sector. Day long they not only toil at the fields but take care of home and children as well, whereas they cannot actively participate in the mandi markets or have the land rights.

Shilpa Vasavada, representative of women Sangathan, WGWLO (working group of women land ownership); a network of women who got together in 2002 to give land ownership in rural areas. Land is the only productive resource which is a source of livelihood, cause of the lack of recognition they don't have access to loans, financial support from bankers as they have never been the face of farmers or the sector.

Shilpa along with team of women spread awareness about knowing the legalities related to land rights, women have to be taken seriously when they approach the tehseel officers, cause of the mindset, as they don't have an identity of a farmer. The patriarchal society doesn't accept a woman going to an office and speaking to top authorities.

Switching to organic, sustainable Agriculture practices increases work load of women as they need to be educated and have access to markets of biofertilizers etc.

They are now also part of E-sessions where they get overall training on various aspects of agriculture. A bunch of women own tablets and technology has enabled them to bridge the urban rural divide. They now know the market updates, prices therefore can Act accordingly.

Shilpa Vasavada leads 37 NGOS and CBOs and over 3000 women farmers are part of entire network. They are on a mission of washing out the image of a man when we think of a farmer.  

Rita is a paralegal worker for women and land. She gets regular training at Ahmedabad imparted by officers to get abreast of the land related laws and it's amendments.

All these crusaders till date have been successful in building a group of 15 Mahila Kisan Sakhis who with help of technology canand access to information can guide other women farmers for sustainable Agriculture. They are also on the road of reviving traditional millets like Ragi. Besides the other developments, it is extremely essential for a farmer to get qualified with the scientific knowledge in order to change their approach towards farming as per the current climatic changes.

WGWLO under leadership of Purvi Vyas, have tied up with Kasturi, an initiative of TCSRD ( Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development) where they are educating and empowering women to become an Agriprenuer. 

The objective is to get the guidance to walk the path and make the best of what they already have, and it's high time we  have to give them the due recognition and rights.

That's the Kasturi!! Rediscovered!!