Umerkote,Aug 18 [UDN}: A once modest homestead has now been transformed into a lush green and productive garden. By cultivating high-value fruit crops and planting long-term income-generating trees on a small plot of land, a woman farmer has successfully created a sustainable source of livelihood for herself and her family. She is 35-year-old Mili Biswas of Badakumari village under Umerkote block. Despite facing several hardships, Mili did not give up. Through determination, hard work and a strong desire to become financially independent, she turned her half-acre homestead into a productive agricultural enterprise. Her efforts have now become an inspiration for other women in the area.
Mili lives with her mother, husband and two children. She has faced struggles since childhood. Her mother has been mute and deaf since birth, and there was no other family member to take responsibility for her. Therefore, even after marriage, Mili continued to live at her parental home along with her husband so that she could look after her mother.
Her husband earns a livelihood by travelling to local markets and selling vegetables. However, the income from his small-scale business was not enough to meet the family’s daily needs. The family’s financial condition remained difficult for a long time. Even in such circumstances, Mili refused to give up or depend on others. Instead of seeking help from others, she decided to turn her own half-acre homestead into a source of income.
She began planting various commercially valuable crops and trees, including turmeric, exotic guava, lemon, Ganga-Godavari variety coconut, areca nut and farm-grown ber. Gradually, the barren-looking homestead was transformed into a vibrant green garden filled with different crops and fruit-bearing plants.
Her hard work has already begun to yield results. The turmeric produced in her garden every year is sufficient to meet the family’s requirements throughout the year. She also earns additional income by selling fresh turmeric. Her litchi and ber cultivation generates around ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 annually.
Last year, Mili planted around 80 coconut and areca nut saplings. She expects these long-term crops to begin producing commercially within the next five years. Once the trees start bearing fruit, she hopes to earn between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000 every month, which would significantly improve her family’s financial condition.
Mili believes that the entire financial responsibility of a family should not rest solely on men. According to her, women must also contribute to household income if families are to become financially secure and self-reliant. Her own journey demonstrates how women can create livelihood opportunities even with limited land and resources.
Although her mother has received housing assistance under a government housing scheme, Mili says her own family has not yet been included in the scheme. She hopes that government assistance, technical guidance and encouragement will help her expand her agricultural activities further.
Mili’s goal is not only to improve the economic condition of her own family but also to inspire and guide other women towards self-employment. She believes that if the district administration and the horticulture department provide quality saplings, technical advice and financial assistance, many more women in the region can take up horticulture and become economically independent.
Her success story is a strong example of how determination, proper utilisation of available land and women’s participation in agriculture can create sustainable livelihoods and bring about meaningful economic change in rural communities.
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