Konda Usharani, a member of a farming household from Nutakki village of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, stopped her research after Class 10 on account of poverty. Like all different women within the locality, she was married on the age of 17.
After three years of marriage and birthing two sons, she misplaced her husband to an accident. The monetary burden of the household fell on Usharani’s shoulders in a single day.
“Within the preliminary years, I labored as a home assist and at the same time as a safety individual for an workplace. However, this earned me nothing. This was once I considered farming on the one-acre property owned by my household within the village. In 2013, I started turmeric cultivation within the land,” says 38-year-old Usharani.
On account of a lack of understanding within the area, she used pesticides with a view to get a great harvest. It was solely after three years that she realised the results of utilizing these chemical compounds on the soil in addition to human well being.
“I together with others who labored within the area confronted some well being points. We recognised that it was on account of our common contact with chemical substances. In 2016, I attended just a few lessons about pure farming after which commenced farming actions by renting just a few extra acres of land. Now, I do paddy cultivation on 5 acres of land and turmeric on one acre. I’ve planted guava bushes alongside the borders,” she explains.
Subhash Palekar — a authorities agricultural worker from Guntur — is Usharani’s mentor, who conducts lessons on pure farming. After attending two classes, she gained the boldness to use it.
Together with natural farming, she additionally prepares her personal fertilisers and pesticides, which she sells to different farmers by way of a store arrange within the village. “The foremost elements in my fertilisers are animal excreta, cow urine, neem, bio compost and different pure objects,” she says.
As well as, Usharani additionally assists fellow farmers to arrange natural farms. She says, “I discovered farming by listening to recommendation from skilled farmers and farming professionals. Increasing farmlands is a necessity for any nation; however, it is very important do it organically. In any other case, the outcomes can be adversarial; chemical compounds destroy lands and other people’s well being endlessly. So, I made a decision to share no matter information I’ve gained in pure farming with those that have an interest to be taught.”
Up to now, she has related to greater than 500 farmers in Andhra Pradesh by sharing recommendation, promoting natural merchandise and extra. In case they don’t seem to be in a position to pay me in money, I settle for a portion of their crops in return.
Increasing to the web market
In 2020, with the assistance of two college students from the district, Usharani arrange the ‘Sri Vasavi Durga Natural Merchandise’ web site to promote natural fertilisers, seeds and pesticides on-line.
Commercial
“The scholars, Kalyani and Nithin Krishna had been educated overseas and extremely well being aware. However, Kalyani suffered from most cancers and handed away final yr. Due to her well being situation, they’d change into totally conscious of the ailing results of consuming chemically grown crops. That’s how they turned focused on my enterprise and finally, even helped me construct the web site at no cost,” says Usharani.
The produce of all of the farmers related to Usharani is bought inside 16 villages in Guntur by their web site. She shares that this helps everybody earn a greater revenue as no middlemen are concerned.
Suresh, a farmer who collaborates with Usharani, says, “I’ve been in search of her [Usharani’s] recommendation for the previous two years to do natural farming. Most of my harvest is bought by way of her on-line market which helps me earn higher than the common market. I’ve contacts with many farmers within the space and obtain assist from them once I begin new cultivation or attempt a brand new product.”
Clients may straight purchase the produce from the farmers. None of their harvests is bought in traditional markets due to decrease costs and middlemen.
“My goal is to advertise pure farming everywhere in the nation. As step one in direction of this objective, I need to attain all corners of my state. It is just by wholesome soil that we will maintain ourselves wholesome,” notes Usharani.
She continues, “Monetary independence is a should for ladies. Even in case you are not educated, there are many methods to earn cash like farming. I hope no less than the current and upcoming era will perceive the significance of incomes secure revenue with a view to reside a respectful life.”
Just a few months in the past, Usharani received a possibility to submit a presentation — ‘Stopping air pollution by practising pure farming and offering chemical-free meals to the society’ — at a nationwide stage convention held in New Delhi on the theme ‘Function of Girls in Science and Know-how for Sustainable Improvement of Atmanirbhar Bharat’. She defined the science and know-how behind utilizing cow-based fertilisers which had been appreciated on the occasion.
“It was a terrific alternative, and I really feel so glad that I used to be in a position to talk the importance of natural farming to extra folks. A time when everybody turns to pure farming by ditching chemical compounds isn’t too far; it’s the want of the hour,” she concludes.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Photograph credit: Konda Usharani
