By Atul Lekhra | Programme Incharge
Dear Friend,
Rohit (name changed), a farmer from the Medi village, lives with his parents, wife and children in a small but proud house situated on their modestly sized land. The surrounding region is inhabited by tribal people living in extreme poverty, earning on average less than $0.35 a day. One of the main crops here is lentils, which is what Rohit and his family have grown for generations on a small piece of land.
Compared with many others in his community, Rohit managed his finances well and he always tried to invest in good quality seeds and regular irrigation. However, despite his best efforts, his hard work never paid off; his family income remained low as he had nowhere to store the crops safely, leaving them open to encroaching animals, and he had no means of transportation.
Every time he wanted to sell some of his harvest, Rohit had three choices; he could travel to the market using local transport, which raised his costs; he could walk across arduous and difficult terrain for several miles; or he could sell his lentils through middle-men, in which case he would not receive a fair price.
Over time, the financial position of his family worsened until some were forced to leave the village in search of daily-wage labour work in the far away towns and cities. But even this radical step didn’t protect them from hunger.
Several years ago, the solution for his family's increasingly precarious situation came when Seva Mandir’ agriculture programme reached Rohit’s area. Rohit, along with 86 others from his community were given professional support and proper training to become co-owners of a dal mill.
The principal aims of the project are to operate along ethical lines, guarantee proper storage for the harvests and ensure fair prices to the farmers by cutting out the middle-men. The farmers who are part of the cooperative are now able to control the process of dal making and selling, they are guaranteed a fair market price for their crops and they receive a share of any future profits.
Thanks to the generosity of Seva Mandir's supporters who made this project possible, the economic situation of Rohit's family continues to improve. As one of the farmers participating in the dal mill cooperative, he is able to support his family and provide them with a decent standard of living.
His initial contribution to the project was 100 rupees (£1.09 or $1.40). This investment, and the support of Seva Mandir in enabling the farmers to realise the scheme, has given Rohit the assurance that his efforts will bring him appropriate rewards. Indeed, with time he will be able to cultivate a little more of the land and further ensure that his large family's finances are stable. The future is now brighter for them all.
We would like to thank you for letting us meet our commitments at the field. Every small bit, no matter how small helps us reach closer to these farmers. We do hope that you will continue to support our project.
We have been able to benefit hundreds of farmers and their families through this intervention.
Best Wishes,
Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir team
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By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Resource Mobilization
By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Resource Mobilization
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