A ‘berry’ good farmer leads the way in Jharkhand
Switching from traditional crops and adopting new techniques, a woman farmer – in addition to being a mother and a college student – tastes sweet success growing strawberries.
Yamuna Kumari Mehta of Kudarkho village is a mother who is pursuing her postgraduation in geography in a college in Bero. But what sets her apart is that she makes time to practise farming too. And she’s not your average farmer.
Embracing innovative farming methods, she cultivates strawberries, a new crop in her region.
Moving away from traditional crops not only boosts her earnings but also sets her as a role model for other women in the farming sector.
From traditional farming to new techniques
Mehta has always been involved in agriculture, working alongside her family. Until recently, their farming methods were confined to traditional practices, focusing on crops like paddy, wheat and vegetables.
Then Mehta learnt about cutting-edge farming techniques that Transform Rural India (TRI), a development design practice, had introduced. The methods promised greater yields and income. Impressed by the farming techniques and their potential to transform her livelihood, she adopted these new methods wholeheartedly.
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Known for her immense capabilities and diligence, she was chosen for the farmer field school (FFS) programme. This programme provided her with an opportunity to learn and experiment with innovative farming methods.
Sweet success with strawberries
In October 2022, she received 1,000 strawberry seedlings. With her husband’s support, she planted these seedlings in a specially designed kheyti – a protected cultivation structure – in an open field.
Although strawberry cultivation wasn’t common in their region, Mehta wasn’t concerned. With her careful monitoring, her plants thrived. Her hard work paid off when she harvested her first strawberry crop in December.
By the end of the season in April 2023, she’d had an impressive yield of 261 kg of strawberries, that earned her a profit of Rs 44,250. Notably, her marketing skills were top-notch; at Rs 400 per kg, it was at a premium price that she sold her produce.
Transformative impact
From picking the perfect spot to offering ongoing advice on crops, fertilisers and pests, Mehta says that TRI’s support proved invaluable.
Also Read: Strawberry sweetens deal for Maharashtra farmers
Thanks to their guidance, Yamuna’s yearly income jumped from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 2.8 lakhs. Plus, she earned an impressive additional amount of Rs 74,550 from her demonstration plot.
Besides the financial transformation, Mehta’s story holds a deeper significance. Creating an identity for herself through her success, she has become a role model in her village.
“Now I’m known as a successful farmer and this has helped me prove the fact that even women can do farming equally well. By cultivating a new crop like strawberry and also managing my household responsibilities, I have been able to carve a reputation for myself and redefine the identity of a woman farmer,” said Mehta.
The lead image shows farmer Yamuna Kumari Mehta with her harvested strawberries in her farm in Bero block (Photo by Gita Devi).
Neha Roba Tirkey is a horticulturist currently working as an associate practitioner with Transform Rural India in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
