Vinita Bai, from Jhirmithi village about 20 kilometres from Burhanpur district in Madhya Pradesh, failed class 7 in school, but she now earns lakhs of rupees every year through natural farming. Her journey shows how the right training can change fortunes even after an early setback in education.
From homemaker to trained farmer
Vinita Bai was earlier a full time homemaker who did not step out for work and spent most of her time at home. Her family already grew bananas on their land. Things changed after she joined a self help group, through which she received training in natural farming, her very first formal training of any kind. That training reshaped the course of her life.
Turning her husband's banana farm around
The family owns a total of 10 acres of farmland. Her husband, Shivprasad, used to grow bananas on this land. After completing her training, Vinita introduced changes to the farming practices and began natural farming. The district administration has since honoured her for this work. "I was earlier a homemaker, I had no work, I used to just stay at home," she says, describing how far she has come.
One acre of natural farming, nine acres of mixed farming
Of the family's 10 acres, Vinita farms 1 acre entirely through natural methods, while the remaining 9 acres are used for mixed farming. On this mixed farmland she grows cotton and vegetables alongside soybean. This combination earns her 2 to 3 lakh rupees every year. Her husband Shivprasad supports her fully in the mixed farming work, and together the couple now earns lakhs of rupees through agriculture.
Giving employment to 8 to 10 women
Before she took up farming, Vinita stayed at home, but she now provides employment to 8 to 10 people. Women get work on her farm every day. "My goal and my objective is to provide employment to women," she says. That commitment is what sets her apart from other farmers in the area.
Plans to bring in more women
Vinita currently employs 8 to 10 people, but she is preparing to expand further. She plans to lease land from other farmers as well and use it for natural farming. This would create employment for more women while also increasing her own income, and she says she is working steadily towards that goal.
