Dangi Adivasi Mahila Khedut Utpadak Company, an FPO based in Ahwa and Waghai towns in the Dang district of Gujarat, was set up in 2019. It is the first of its kind all-women organisation, inspiring all the female farmers of the country.
This FPO is a part of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, a developmental non-profit organisation that works for the upliftment of rural agricultural and livestock rearing communities in multiple countries. In addition to that, they also work for the development of the region’s youth and over-all increase in life standard of the people.
In India, the NGO functions in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat. As one of its objectives, AKRSP is setting up FPOs in these states, covering 21 districts and more than 2000 villages. Taking an example from the DAMK Company, AKRSP has planned to set up another all-women FPO in Gujarat itself.
From earning trust to earning Independence
Sitaben, a director in the all-women-run company, expressed her gratitude for the existence of the FPO as it “gives the decision-making power to the small and marginal farmers.” The way how the farmers, especially women, are being empowered is phenomenal. This happens because of the collective efforts of the FPO members as well as that of the AKRSP: providing modern technology to all their members, giving them a bigger market and power to have a say in how their produce is used are what makes it possible. The ten-member Board of Directors and five Promoters of the FPO have monthly meetings, at times joined by Dhannalal, a co-ordinator between AKRSP and DAMK FPO, to keep track of their aims, review their actions, and plan the next step.
Dhannalal tells us that, “Reaching this position was not easy for the ‘Bens’ (sisters) as people thought they are here to steal money in the name of capital.” Consistently working responsibly is what has brought this group of women so far, “growing from a couple of dreamers to a company of 1018 share-holders from across 52 villages”, says a director, Sumatiben.
However, the trust of many other women was to be won before the FPO became a successfully run business. Tired of being robbed by the chit-fund companies and other scamsters, the innocent tribal farmers were reluctant to give a share-capital of Rs. 520 to the Directors there. After communicating with those villagers, aided by the SHGs already present there, the Bens at DAMK FPO were able to convince them that they are not here just for the money, but rather a greater agenda of growth and union.
An all-organic heaven for the health-conscious
The Mahila Khedut company produces paddy and millets, all organic. Rejecting any company that tries to make them switch to chemicals, this FPO focuses on the quality of their grains, lately focusing on growing hybrid varieties of paddy.
“Importance is also given to the indigenous varieties like Lal Kada, Indrani, and Ambamore; bought at lower prices from villages and sold in the markets after value addition and grading them” says Gitaben, a lady working passionately for this organisation. A signature crop of the Dang district, millets are also grown here. Variants like Ragi and Varai are common, which are also sent for sale to Nasik and Bombay.
To help their organic cause, they also produce and use organic fertilisers like vermi-compost, organic pesticides like Brahmastra and Jivamrut. The company also procures organic inputs like sticky-traps, micronutrients, and Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria from private companies.
For the promotion of organic farming, the FPO members talk about these inputs in the villages, market and sell them. This helps popularise this idea that produces healthier food for the consumers and safer working environment for the farmers.
Apart from the cultivation of rice and millets, the members are trained in poultry farming after a big market for poultry was seen in Dang. They were given the exposure and infrastructure needed, with machines exported from abroad. This is a self-sustaining business that has reached a level where they even have tie-ups with massive brands.
Miles to go
Possessing the Incorporation Certificate, Seed Certificate, and GST Certificate, this FPO hopes to hit the milestone of 3000 shareholders in the days to come. For the year 2022-23, the goal is to set up a processing unit for Varai, called Bhagar after the processing is complete.
The BoDs in the FPO believe that the creation of these organisations throughout the nation has brought a sense of unity among the farmers. This gives them a footing to make sure they can quote a fair price for their produce, suffering minimal/zero losses, solve any problem they face with the support of people in the same trade as them, connecting to big buyers and earning their profits after bargaining independently.
The journey till 2020 was smooth until the global pandemic hit. Iraben, a member recalled the tough days during the pandemic when “all the villages were sealed along with the district borders, restricting the movement of vehicles. The villages suffered a shortage of vegetables and other essential foods, and expecting the FPO to help them, they started calling us.”
They connected to the Collector in order to request the authorities to allow their vehicles into the villages, with a letter from the government officials stating they are essential items. The board meetings and meetings with buyers shifted to calls and conferences. Bargaining and rate finalisations too were done via phone calls and their work resumed, growing every-day.
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