As a participant of the Prerna Project, Mangalagowri Akka learnt about improved agriculture practices, organic farming practices such as Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management and System of Rice Intensification Techniques.

Prior to the intervention, she was growing only Ragi, Cow Pea and a few vegetables.   

Today, she is growing crops such as Tur, Ragi, Cow Pea and leafy vegetables after realizing the significance of Crop diversification.

As a Champion Woman Farmer, she has encouraged almost 40 other women farmers in her area and has also been honored with the Best Women Farmer at taluka level by the Agriculture Department. 

• Before intervention Income was Rs. 80,000/annum
• After intervention: Income is Rs 1,70,000/annum
• (112.5 % increase in income)

Her livestock assets have also increased from one to 5 cross bred cows. The milk produced (16 litres) is now sold to the milk collection centre of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) in her village. 

Exposure visits to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and to the Agriculture University have motivated her to cultivate BNH 10 fodder in her 10 guntha land.

Digital literacy sessions under Prerna Project have empowered her as a Google and Youtube  surfing expert and in collecting vital information on agriculture and livestock management. 

She also posts plant pathology-related queries to Agriculture experts regularly.

With the boost in her confidence and knowledge, she has also availed benefits in the form of seeds and fertilizers from the Agriculture Department and KVK for other farmers with a desire to help them also benefit from improved agricultural practices and management

Vandana Chaudhari, a housewife from Junglepada ,Jawhar in Palghar district of Maharashtra,  started functioning as an eDost after being trained by BAIF in financial, e-governance and utility services. 

Prior to the intervention, she was a housewife and dependent on her husband for financial support.  Now, as an eDost, she is earning Rs.4000/- per month.  She is happy to financially support her family and also for being financially independent.

She was identified as the Best Performer for January to March 2022 among 70 eDosts for achieving the highest transactions. 

• Income after intervention: 4,000/ month
• Income before intervention: Zero income 
• Impact: 100% increase in income

Represented BAIF at the USAID Women Connect Challenges Awardees online event. 

Digitally empowered and able to use search engines with ease for any kind of digital service sought for by the villagers, her enhanced confidence and knowledge are her strength. She is dealing with transactions to the tune of Rs.3 to 4 lakhs since December 2021.  She is also providing printing, reprographic and scanning services.   

Dhirendrabhai Desai is a progressive farmer from Panetha village in Bharuch district of Gujarat and a beneficiary of the “Krishi Vigyan Kendra” (KVK) at Chaswad. Earlier, he used to cultivate banana crop using traditional methods of cultivation which used to yield one harvest only. However, after hearing about the successful experience of other farmers engaged in banana cultivation using innovative technologies and based on the advise of KVK scientists, he adopted innovative technologies such as Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), drip irrigation and tissue culture. He is the only farmer in the country to obtain three harvests of banana in 26 months. The gross income per ha from three harvests was Rs. 19.12 lakhs while the cost was Rs. 2.50 lakhs. A net income of Rs. 16.70 lakhs was generated per ha in 26 months with an assured net income of Rs. 5.56 lakhs per year.

The demand for his produce has travelled to  the  Middle East.  He  has  also esta bli shed abanana chips manufacturing unit at his village which is generating employment for unemployed youth. There are a lot of areas like Panetha village where water is available in surplus. Hence, banana can be cultivated as a profitable crop in water surplus areas.

To improve the income and quality of life of families in the tribal belt of South Gujarat, 125 families in Kaprada block of Valsad district of Gujarat were identified for the dairy development programme with special focus on women, through the induction of crossbred cattle and critical inputs such as mineral supplements, deworming, vaccination and insurance coverage. To enhance their capacities, the women were trained in various aspects of dairy development. 420 Sex-Sorted Semen Artificial Inseminations were undertaken and calf rearing programme support provided for 48 female calves.

The impact of the “Godaan Project” had to be seen to be believed. The average monthly milk procurement by 121 families recorded 22946 litres and the average monthly income Rs. 6.32 lakhs with an average milk yield of Rs. 28/ litre from November 2019 to October 2021. The average monthly income per participant increased from Rs. 2070 to Rs. 5255 during this period. 95 Gir calves were reported to be born out of sexed semen technology of which, 87 calves ( 91. 5%) were female calves. This programme has given the tribal families a better deal in life, food security and happiness.

Subedar Yadav is a dairy farmer in Maudha village of Gazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, located on the border of Azamgarh district receiving cattle breeding services from BAIF’s Vizapur centre of Lalganj block in Azamgarh district. The livestock in this village is dominated by Murrah buffaloes as farmers have a good market for buffalo milk. Subedar was very fortunate to have a female buffalo calf born out of this programme which has now come into milk production and created a new record in the village by producing 18 litres milk per day in her peak. Recently, a buyer offered Rs. 72,000 for this priced buffalo but Subedar wanted Rs. 90,000 as he felt he could make more money by producing better quality heifers from this buffalo. Indeed! Even with one such buffalo, a farmer is able to attain prosperity.

I am Suresh Gopinath Khaire. During the worst drought in 1972, my parents migrated to Urulikanchan. After studying upto Standard V, I joined BAIF as a farm labourer and started learning about the benefits of crossbred cows I purchased a heifer from my savings and she gave birth to a female calf. In the next 3-4 years, I had 5-6 crossbred cows in milk production. I left my job and concentrated on dairy husbandry. Being landless, for successful dairy husbandry, production of fodder is essential. I negotiated for cropping of fodder with a large holder who had 10 cows. I took up the work of milking his cows at Rs.200 per cow per month. From my savings, I purchased 150 sq. metre land and constructed a house with 5 rooms and a toilet as well as a cattle shed to house 5 cows. Presently, I have 5 cows and 2 heifers. I sell 45-50 litres of milk every day to the local dairy and earn a net income of Rs.7,000-Rs.8,000 per month. In addition, I earn Rs.3,000-Rs.4,000 per month by milking cows belonging to other farmers. I am able to provide education to my children and save for the future.

Sushma Lakda, a woman dairy farmer from Kudu Navatoli, Lohardaga, Jharkhand, narrated her experience in maintaining a herd of 20 cows who yield 80-100 litres of milk every day enabling her to pursue the engineering studies of two of her sons and daughter in the capital city of Ranch and Steel city of Jamshedpur, also proudly stated that her children are proud of their mother’s achievements. Till 2003, Sushma used to sell Hadu (liquor made from rice) on the roadside. Her net income is in the range of Rs. 28000 – 30000 per month. Sushma has received several awards and is considered a role model in the state.

Vijaya Rani, an AI technician, operating a franchised cattle development centre in Chanamuthyreddy Gudern village in Atmakur Mandal, Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh since 2003, was conferred the “Women Achievers’ Award” by the Times Foundation, Delhi, in collaboration with FICCI – Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) for her contribution to community development. She has been providing breed improvement and health care services to farmers of 15 villages. So far, she has performed 5321 AI, of which, 3913 pregnancies have been confirmed and 2552 crossbred calves have been born at the doorsteps of the farmers. She performs 900-1000 AI annually and earns approximately Rs. 6000 per month. She has conducted awareness programmes for dairy farmers 8-10 times in a year and 2 health camps in all the villages. Vijaya Rani has planted subabu on 16 ha o wastelands to ensure regular supply of fodder for cattle. She also functions as a resource person to train youth from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in operating franchise centres. This bold woman who is mother of three, moves from village to village on her motor cycle providing extension services at the doorsteps of farmers.

Jayantibhai Chimanbhai Patel’s farm in Kesargam village in Bharuch district of Gujarat was no different from many others in the vicinity. He grew cotton and pigeon pea with traditional irrigation system. He then heard about the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), at Chaswad in Bharuch. He leant about new high yielding varieties of crops, use of micro nutrients, benefits of balanced fertilisers and water harvesting from KVK. In 2001, he began to make use of drip irrigation and established fruit orchards. He constructed a check dam for water harvesting and on the advice of scientists, diversified into papaya cultivation. These measures increased his net income from Rs.10,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh per ha. He also saved 40% expenses on water, electricity costs and fertilizers and the products showed a marked improvement in quality. Through a Farmers’ club organised by NABARD, he could get access to larger and more lucrative markets like Delhi. The success of Jayantibhai has been featured in the book “’Harvest of Hope” which highlights the success stories of 101 farmers from all over the country.