Amid the challenges of unemployment and low family income, a tiny interest found itself in the spotlight: bakery business. As Nidaarki Pale, a single mother from Lumtrep Village in the West Jaintia Hills District was struggling to find a stable livelihood to sustain her two children, her small aspiration became the cornerstone of self-reliance and empowerment. This remarkable aspiration not only helped her to upscale but also overcome vulnerability and dependence.

Pale’s bakery business has significantly improved her family’s livelihood, enabling her to support their basic needs and her children’s education. Now she is not far from opening her dream bakery shop in her village. Despite initial challenges of low demand and financial constraints, her business has grown, and demand for her products has increased.

The journey was not smooth. Pale was always interested in making pickles, juice, and cakes but lacked the required knowledge of preparing quality products and packaging. This obstacle was eased by Caritas India’s FARM NE project through its local partner, Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS). The project organized a series of workshops for farmers like Pale on food processing, including baking cakes, pickles, and jam making.

In one of the training sessions in her village, Pale learned to make different items like millet recipes, cake, and baking. Her persistence helped her to practice her skills in baking and food processing in her village. She also participated in training related to piggery and poultry.

After the training, she started baking a variety of biscuits, cookies, and cakes. To expand her food processing business, she took a loan of ₹30,000 from the Village Organization (VO), which she repaid within six months. She began supplying her products to different places as orders increased. The training proved extremely beneficial, providing her with a profitable start in food processing.

Recognizing the success of this initiative, the Jaintia Hills Development Society, under the FARM IV Project, plans to expand this intervention into a micro-enterprise business. They are collaborating with NABARD to support her new shop, which is currently under construction with JHDS FARM IV’s assistance.

“The role of women has increased manifold since the project began,” Pale explains. She has realized that economic self-dependence is achievable through food processing, which has provided a new source of livelihood. She remains confident that more support will come, further improving her family’s quality of life.

Caritas India’s FARM project goes beyond individual success stories like Pale’s. It aims to build resilience among smallholder farmers facing the impacts of climate change by promoting new and potential small-scale enterprises within smallholder institutions and collectives. The program has significantly enhanced the self-confidence of community members, leading to improved living conditions in the areas of economy/income, Panchayati Raj, and health.

The FARM project supports the formation and strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Village Organizations (VOs). These groups provide farmers with access to credit, training, and markets, enabling them to scale up their enterprises and improve their economic stability. The collaborative approach helps in building a strong support network among farmers, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Francis Langlein, Project Field Associate at JHDS, noted that from February 6th to 13th, 2024, Ms. Pale was invited to conduct training on millet food processing for SHGs in Nongstoin through NSSS, another Caritas India partner under FARM. Her journey is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of skill development and community support. By empowering smallholder farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to succeed, the project is building a more resilient and self-reliant farming community. As these initiatives continue to grow and expand, they promise to create a brighter and more sustainable future for farmers across the region.