A journey from landless farmer to entrepreneur

Urmila Devi and Baban Yadav took a calculated risk by taking land on lease by paying Rs. 10,000/- but only manage to get one crop due to drought. Their dreams to produce potatoes and pulses from the second crop has failed with huge economic loss.

“Every year we used to take a small piece of land on lease and cultivate for our daily necessities, but the economic situation of the family was very hostile”, says Urmila. The family was also engaged in labour work in the nearby filed to fullfil the family expenses.

When Boska village of Buxar was taken by Caritas India Saksham program and farmers group was formed to assist in capacity building and livelihood support, Urmila joined the group and became an active member. The programme team facilitated various training on Proper Land Management, Seed Selection, Vegetable cultivation, Organic farming, SHG formation, and allied agriculture activities like Mushroom cultivation, Livestock mgt. Poultry etc. with the help of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Bihar Agriculture Department.

Motivated with the gradual trainings and interactions, Urmila took 2.5 Bigha of land on lease and started grain and lentil cultivation in 2 Bighas and vegetables in the rest of the land. She gained a profit of Rs. 29,000/- from the crop this time. The profit has helped her get additional Rs. 5,000/- from the newly started poultry farm from 300 chicks within two months.

Through the revolving fund provided from the SHG, Urmila took a loan and bought the harvester in subsidized rate from Government. This has not only generated additional Rs. 20,000/- profit but employment for her other family members. The training given to her, made her gain confidence and she purchased buffalo through the livestock management training and started earning Rs. 120/- per day from selling milk.

Through her dedicated hard work and initiatives, Urmila has elevated her family to a respectable status. While asking her about the change, she obliges with a deep smile about the knowledge, expertise , nd input from the Saksham programme that changes her life drastically.