Access to land is a fundamental challenge, particularly for impoverished women, especially those who are single and often marginalized by society. However, a remarkable transformation is underway in Tripura, where the Yapri Self-Help Group (SHG) of Twikrakma-A, a Women’s Collective, is defying the odds by championing collective farming. Their efforts, supported by Caritas India and Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST) through the FARM NE program not only changing lives but also promoting collective farming for larger benefits and profits.

JUST is one of the implementing partners of the FARM Northeast program with funding from Misereor, Germany to empower communities in the Gomati and West Districts of Tripura to produce enough food for their needs while ensuring high-quality standards. A pivotal part of this initiative revolves around women-led collective farming.

In Gomati District, a group of smallholder farmers from Twikrakma-A village, Amarpur R.D. Block, expressed interest in forming collective farming groups to enhance their agricultural practices and improve their economic status. Through a series of discussions and meetings, certain criteria were identified to promote collective farming effectively:

1. The collective should comprise a maximum of 10 members, including women who are widows, landless, or single.
2. The group should collectively decide on the land size for farming and secure a lease for a minimum of three years.

Motivated and encouraged by the JUST team, Mrs. Jiranbati Reang took the lead in organizing her community to form an SHG, which now consists of 11 members. They secured a 1.19-acre (3 kani) plot from a fellow villager through a five-year lease agreement for their collective farming.

In November 2023, JUST under the FARM program organized a workshop and capacity-building program in Agartala. The workshop instilled motivation and confidence in the farmers to experiment with various crops. Witnessing their enthusiasm, JUST facilitated the procurement of improved Maize and other vegetable seeds from ICAR. Furthermore, JUST provided a water pump for irrigation.

Upon receiving the seeds, the farmers collectively decided to cultivate them, resulting in successful maize and vegetable crop yields that earned them approximately Rs. 16,000 during the first season. Additionally, FARM supported them in cultivating mushrooms after conducting training, generating around Rs. 6,500 in earnings from mushroom sales.

The group’s success story continued with support from KVK and FARM, who provided Foxtail Millet and various vegetable seeds for cultivation on their 1.19-acre plot. They successfully grew 12 crops, including millet, maize, chili, bitter gourd, beans, lady’s finger, pumpkin, bottle gourd, cucumber, brinjal, yam, pigeon pea, and more. Their combined earnings from vegetable and maize sales amounted to approximately Rs. 8,000, with expectations of reaching Rs. 45,000 after the full harvest.

The success of this intervention has inspired FARM to extend this model to other FARM NE project villages, ensuring more women can benefit from collective farming. JUST also intends to forge partnerships with various government departments beyond ICAR and KVK to access additional resources and support for smallholders.

Presently, collective farming is being promoted through four farmer groups in four villages: Rangacherra, Twikrakma-B, Depacherra, and Twikrakma-A.
Training programs have been a vital part of this journey, fostering participatory planning, decision-making, and crop selection. Eminent resource persons like Dr. Ranadir Sharma, KVK head, have contributed their expertise to empower these women with practical skills, including the preparation of bio inputs.
Furthermore, these women’s collectives have found support from neighboring landholding farmers, who provide essential raw materials like cow dung and cow urine needed for bio-input preparation. This collaborative relationship has not only strengthened their farming practices but also led to a fruitful exchange of knowledge and experiences between landless women farmers and those with land.

The story of the Yapri SHG of Twikrakma-A Women Collective stands as a shining example of how collective farming can empower marginalized women, ensuring their access to land, dignity, and a sustainable livelihood. The success of this initiative serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for rural communities and demonstrates the immense potential of collectivization for larger benefits and collective profits. As we celebrate these women’s achievements, let us also recognize the importance of supporting and replicating such empowering models to transform more lives and communities across the nation.