A journey of a woman farm: From the farm to agripreneurship...
Veenaben Bhoya is a 40 years old woman farmer from the village of Pipalkhed. She has two children, a girl and one boy, both of whom are studying. She is a very strong woman farmer and since last 4 years, in the district level CBO of “Ujas Mahila Khedut Sangh”. She is currently the President of the Women Farmer’s Federation promoted by Cohesion. She has completed her studies until the 10th class. Unfortunately, due to her father’s poor condition and his disability, she was not able to study further. She saw her father struggling being disabled and learned from him to be strong and move ahead. She got married, after which she constructed her house.
Veenaben didn’t have support from her husband, so she herself had to take the lead role in order to earn money. After learning about her property rights, and also demanded name in the land of her father’s property. Slowly, she began attending different training programmes, organised by Cohesion. She went to Ranchi and for the first time in her life, took a flight and attended the meeting of Mahila Kisaan Adhikar Manch (Makaam). This was the first time she left her village. She became a role model and was awarded as sustainable farming practices by gram panchayat of Pipalkhed. Veenaben is doing organic farming and also promoting the same within other groups.
Veenaben learned a lot on women’s land ownership with Cohesion and Working Group for Women and Land Ownership ( WGWLO). She also understood the rights of women as farmers and joined Mahila Kisaan Adhikar Manch (Makaam). She travelled to Jagriti Yatra and learned agripreneurship and now has oriented other women farmers groups of Ujas mahila khedut sangh and now planned to facilitate small businesses of amla and mahuda. Also she has planned to attend the entire consumer meet.
Veenaben first time sat in train and went like this for 20 days in Jagriti yatra. She learned a lot and has now interacted with many different organizations. She has also visited most of India and has learned enterpreneurship. Veenaben made business plans during yatra and has planned to implement it with the Ujas Federation. “I was so happy that my birthday was celebrated by 700 Yatris in the train and it was the first time I cut a cake “she had never thought to get such an opportunity in her life. Now she has planned in detail to attend all the consumer meetings organised by Kasturi.
Veenaben says “If Cohesion had not come to our village, I too would never have understood land rights and farming rights. I can now proudly say that I am a women farmer”
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Story contributed by Cohesion Foundation
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