Women farmers of Maharashtra converged in Mumbai to celebrate their successes in fighting the challenges of climate change and socio-economic marginalisation. Caritas India and her partners in Maharashtra organised the two-day women farmers festival ‘Mahila Shetkari Utsav’ to create an exchange platform for women farmers to share their farming wisdom. Eighty small and marginal holder women farmers from twelve districts of Maharashtra participated in the two-day festival organised at Sarvodaya Mumbai on 29 and 30 October 2021.

Auxiliary Bishop Allwyn Dsilva of the Mumbai archdiocese congratulated the women farmers in his presidential address for demonstrating courage in times of climatic and social hostilities. “Women farmers form the mainstay of the farming system. Women farmers have been the custodians of farming knowledge and they do most of the farming works silently. Unfortunately, women farmers do not get recognition for managing homes and farming. Society needs to respect women farmers more and provide to them what is their due”, Bishop Allwin said.

He appreciated Caritas India and her partners for empowering women farmers and providing them with a platform to express themselves. Bishop Allwin expressed confidence that the greater empowerment of women farmers will contribute to the realisation of the dream of zero hunger.

Mr. Kapil Patil, Member of Legislative Assembly, addressed women farmers and said that women have always demonstrated courage, patience and resilience. “Farming requires patience, care and love which women give more than men. Women farmers give due consideration to the needs of family and environment; hence, their style of farming is more resilient and environment friendly. The country which is going through a farming crisis requires a women-led farming system because the women-led farming system will help the farming system of the country to become more efficient, sustainable, climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive”, Mr. Kapil Patil said. He urged women farmers to identify more locally viable and sustainable options for increasing the productivity of farms and to diversify farm-based livelihoods. Mr. Patil also said that farming is the natural expression of women and there is no surprise that farming as a system of growing food was invented by women.

During the Mahila Shetkari Utsav women, farmer leaders shared their experiences, demonstrated models and showcased innovations. During the festival, women farmers presented the narratives of their success in identifying local solutions to the farming challenges. More than 24 lead women farmers presented their experiences during the farmers festival. Mahila Shetkari Utsav also gave a glimpse of the cultural heritage of women farmers including folk songs, folk dances and other art forms.

One of the notable speakers was Ms. Mamtabai Bhangare widely known as the ‘food mother’ who diversified food systems by preserving and popularising local food. “When I started working on reviving local food systems, there were numerous challenges and many questioned my abilities. Now people realise that there is merit in what I proposed. I now work with local communities in reviving local food systems using local food materials. Self-reliance of food helps us save our incomes and prevent several illnesses. Because our health depends on what we eat”, Ms. Mamtabai said. She urged women farmers to cultivate everything that their family requires for food.

Several women farmers including Durga Nirgude, Vaishali Ghughe, Archanatai Barabde, Purnimatai Sawai, Archana Mahadule and others addressed the conference. Archanatai Barabde, a progressive farmer from Amravati described her innovative farming practices and how she has started horticulture for increasing incomes from farming. She also said her experience of training men and women farmers and how she overcame the traditional mindset of patriarchal societies in her pursuit to become an active farmer. Vaishali Ghughe, another progressive farmer from Pune illustrated with her own experience how a determined woman can become not only an active farmer but a farmer leader. Vaishali Ghughe diversified her farming so much so that she provides work to a dozen women workers.

During the two-day women farmers’ festival, women also presented several cultural programmes which included folk songs and dances.

Ms. Rose Joseph, Governing Body member of Caritas India, while addressing the concluding session highlighted the loving nature of women and how women express their love in farming too. “Farming is a noble work of growing food which sustains humanity. Since farming is a virtuous act, farming should be done with a prayerful heart”, Ms. Rose said.

Mr. Melvin Pangya, Caritas India state officer for Maharashtra, facilitated the sessions.