- The sisters of the Ujala Producer Group have gained a new identity through collective farming, earning Rs 6 lakh from direct wholesale sales.
Many farmers, who have moved away from traditional farming and adopted modern and scientific farming of green vegetables, have written new stories of success with their hard work and wisdom, which include inspiring examples like collective farming by women associated with National Rural Livelihood Mission ‘Bihan’ in Gram Panchayat Risora, who once struggled for two meals a day and today are earning lakhs.
In the Risora Gram Panchayat under the Barmkela development block of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district of Chhattisgarh, women associated with the National Rural Livelihood Mission ‘Bihan’ have set a new example of self-reliance through collective farming. Even on small plots of land, farmers are earning many times more profit per bigha or acre by growing vegetables like tomato, brinjal, gourd or bitter gourd, cucumber. By uniting, 35 women farmers associated with the Ujala Producer Group have not only reduced costs, but also earned an income of around Rs 6 lakh by producing a record 600 quintals of vegetables.
- Founded in 2025 with an initial capital of ₹2 lakh,
this group aimed to increase production and find better markets through collective efforts. To promote livelihood activities, the group received a startup amount of ₹50,000 from the cluster, a loan of ₹150,000 from Sakhi Cluster Organization, Budeli, for a total initial capital of ₹2 lakh. With this capital, the women began cultivating gourd, bitter gourd, and cucumber using scientific techniques in their fields. The women’s hard work and the use of modern agricultural techniques resulted
- in a bumper harvest of 600 quintals of vegetables
As savings from vegetable cultivation increased, the women’s morale grew. They also began expanding their cropping range, leading to increased yields. Through collective farming, the women produced 250 quintals of gourd, 250 quintals of bitter gourd, and 100 quintals of cucumber. The total vegetable production reached 600 quintals.
- Freedom from middlemen and direct connection to the wholesale market
were key to the women’s marketing strategy. Instead of relying on middlemen, the women in the group directly brought their produce to the wholesale market. This resulted in a fair price for their produce, resulting in a total income of ₹6 lakh.
- The impact of good governance and on-the-ground monitoring:
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, the state government is continuously working to economically empower rural women and strengthen the rural economy through the Bihan Yojana. With excellent implementation, field guidance, and continuous monitoring by the district administration, the benefits of the schemes are reaching beneficiaries directly, enabling rural women to achieve new heights in self-employment.