Lucknow,

07 March (HS): ‘For all women and girls: Rights, equality, and empowerment,’ is

the theme for this year’s International Women's Day, underscoring the need for

gender parity across all major sectors. In India, an agrarian economy at its

core, one critical area requiring attention is the empowerment of women in

farming. Traditionally, men have handled ploughing and tasks requiring physical

strength, while the immense contributions of women in agriculture often went

unrecognised. However, this is changing. According to the report Gender

Perspective in Agriculture by Krishi Vistar, women farmers play a crucial role

in the agricultural sector and the rural economy. The sector employs 80 per

cent of all economically active women, with women making up 33 percent of the

agricultural labour force and 48 per cent of self-employed farmers.

Recently,

we have also witnessed significant strides by leading NPOs working to

strengthen women’s representation in agriculture. One such initiative is the

Millionaire Farmers Development Programme (MFDP) launched by solution designers

Transform Rural India (TRI). On this International Women’s Day, let us take a

closer look at the inspiring journeys of four millionaire farmers, the

challenges they have overcome, and how MFDP has enabled them to make a lasting

impact in their communities.

Pinki

Kumari from Fadilmarcha, Jharkhand: Fondly called ‘Pinki Didi ’ by her fellow

villagers, Pinki Kumari’s journey to becoming a millionaire farmer is a

testament to her determination and willingness to embrace new technologies.

Born and raised in Fadilmarcha village, Ranchi, Pinki always had a deep

connection with farming. However, despite her family’s hard work, their annual

income was a modest Rs 2.45 lakh, barely enough to cover necessities. One of

the key challenges was low yield due to reliance on traditional farming

methods. After joining the MFDP, Pinki changed her approach to farming. She

mastered techniques such as drip irrigation, intercropping, grafted vegetable

cultivation, mulching, advanced pest management and mixed cropping. “I realised

that adopting techniques like grafting could triple the yield,” she says.

Today, she stands as a millionaire farmer, inspiring not just her village but

also neighbouring communities with her success.

Nikki

Kumari from Nagri, Jharkhand: “Farming, when approached with the right

techniques and sustainability in mind, can yield excellent results. I never

imagined I would be able to buy a scooter. But with hard work and an open mind,

anyone can achieve this,” says Nikki Kumari. Hailing from Purana Pani village

in Ranchi, Nikki owned 6-7 acres of cultivable land. However, her reliance on

traditional farming methods resulted in minimal profits, making it difficult to

make ends meet. However, the MFDP proved to be a turning point in her journey.

Through the programme, she received training in modern agricultural techniques,

including crop selection, land preparation, nursery management and the use of

micronutrients.

She

later adopted multi-tier farming, expanding beyond brinjal and tomatoes to

cultivate French beans, green peas, cabbage, green chillies, trellis crops and

biofortified sweet potatoes. With an investment of Rs six lakh per season, she

now earns Rs 12-13 lakh annually. Today, Nikki is a role model in her village,

with fellow farmers frequently visiting her to learn from her innovative farming

techniques.

Yamuna

Kumari from Bero, Jharkhand: Balancing postgraduate studies with farming is no

easy feat, but for this 23-year-old from Bero, Jharkhand, it was a challenge

worth taking. While pursuing a degree in Geography at KCB College, she remained

deeply committed to agriculture. Her association with TRI proved

transformative, enabling her to establish a Farmer Field School (FFS) and gain

expertise in polyhouse farming, nursery management, mulching, drip irrigation,

and trellis systems.

Equipped

with this knowledge, she expanded her agricultural practices, cultivating mango

orchards, wheat, French beans, potatoes, grafted brinjal, marigold,

cauliflower, green peas, ginger, green chillies and strawberries. This shift

significantly increased her annual income to Rs 10-11 lakh, strengthening her

family’s financial stability. “I realised from the training that adopting new

methods and using the right fertilizers and seeds will help in earning a better

income, says Yamuna. Beyond her achievements, Yamuna has now become a

mentor, particularly for women farmers, guiding them in adopting advanced

techniques and building sustainable livelihoods.

Priyanka

Kumari from Gola, Jharkhand: “Women are not just helpers, we are leaders in

farming and beyond. We can cultivate crops, businesses, and a better future for

ourselves and our families.” These words come from Priyanka Kumari of Lipiya

village, Jharkhand, who grew up in a farming family but faced several

challenges that kept their earnings low. Despite owning five acres of land,

traditional farming methods limited their yield until she joined the MFDP.

Through this initiative, she learned advanced agricultural techniques,

including high-yield seed selection, soil health management, efficient

irrigation, crop diversification and market linkages. She launched multi-crop

farming, growing potatoes, bottle gourd, cauliflower, brinjal, green peas,

green chillies, onions, tomatoes, mango plantations, and trellis crops. This

shift increased her annual income from Rs 2.15 lakh to Rs 10.15 lakh.

For

the villagers, her story is about more than just financial success, it is about

breaking stereotypes and taking leadership initiative in a traditionally

male-dominated rural community.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi