Today, 38-year-old Usha Devi is a successful farmer and a master trainer in agricultural practices. However, two years ago, she might have had a hard time imagining this achievement. Her family of four used to rely on a modest income from their small plot of land and a buffalo.
Everything changed about a year ago when our Community Based Inclusive Development program reached Usha Devi’s village in Uttarakhand. Seeing this as a chance to increase the yield from their field and increase her family’s income, she enrolled in the initiative. The 14-day training organized through the project reignited her passion for farming. Also, with our program support, she received a polyhouse and a water tank through a state government scheme.
Her first harvest was an impressive bounty: 30 kg of zucchini, 20 kg of beans, 30 kg of onions, 100 kg of peas, 5 kg of tomatoes, and 2 kg of sponge gourd. Usha Devi was elated.
The project provided me with invaluable knowledge, resources, and valuable exposure that greatly improved my farming skills. I received vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and pest control supplies, which increased my crop growth. This is also the first project I’ve seen that includes persons with disabilities.
Recognizing her dedication, Usha was chosen as a master trainer to mentor fellow farmers. “Teaching my peers has been a big boost to my confidence,” she said.
But Usha’s role didn’t stop there. She was instrumental in supporting the project team’s efforts to establish a six-acre community farming plot. To protect the crops from animals, she assisted in installing a chain-link fence around the perimeter.
Usha is now a proud, self-reliant farmer with dreams of expanding her farming ventures.
