Rural women in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh are successfully transforming their financial futures by combining traditional agriculture with the production of millet-based food items. Moving beyond conventional paddy cultivation, these women are actively manufacturing snacks, laddus, sattu, and various nutritious food products. This grass-roots initiative has not only opened up reliable employment avenues for them but has also significantly strengthened their family finances. By turning their inherent skills into profitable ventures, these group members are linking farming directly to commerce, with their prepared goods now reaching local anganwadi centres.
The Journey With Self-Help Groups Began in 2017
Sharing her background, group member Kusum Singh stated that she has been associated with the self-help group since the year 2017. In the initial phase, she rarely stepped outside her home and remained confined to domestic chores. However, associating with the group gradually opened doors for her to learn numerous new skills over time. This exposure boosted her self-confidence and encouraged her to step forward to build her own enterprise from scratch.
Financing and Loans Jumpstarted the Enterprise
According to Kusum Singh, the group initially received a financial boost of 15 thousand rupees to get things off the ground. Subsequently, funds were disbursed through a revolving cycle, followed by a Mudra loan amounting to one lakh rupees. Utilizing these financial resources, they successfully established their business operations. This venture now consistently yields a monthly income ranging between approximately 10 thousand and 15 thousand rupees for the participants.
Women From Five Blocks Formed a Dedicated Company
Elaborating on the organizational growth, Kusum Singh noted that their collective operates under the name 'Mor Seva'. Leveraging this network, women from five different blocks joined hands in the year 2022 to establish the 'Mahila Farmer Producer Company Limited'. Currently, 12 women are working together within this corporate structure, pooling their efforts to manage both farming activities and the manufacturing of food items.
Producing Rice, Pulses, and Ragi Laddus
The women's collective specializes in creating organic and aromatic Jeeraphul rice, pigeon pea dal, sattu, and nutritious ragi-sattu laddus. The supply of these wholesome products extends directly to anganwadi centres under the Women and Child Development Department. This steady institutional demand ensures continuous work for the women and provides substantial momentum to the growth of their enterprise.
Strengthening Livelihoods Through Agriculture and Business
These women of Koriya are carving out a distinct identity for themselves by seamlessly blending farming with food processing. Through community groups, they have secured opportunities to work, acquire modern skills, and generate respectable earnings. Expressing her appreciation, Kusum Singh extended her gratitude to the government for the continuous support provided throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
