Mobilise and Support 1000 Female Local Farmers

Dear Donors & Supporters

On behalf of Blossom Trust, we would extend a warm thank you for all the kindness, support and generosity that you have shown us. To update you on our progress of mobilising our women farmers initiative, we want to share a report covering a few highlights and updates.

So far on this project, we have raised a total of $454.94 due to the support of our amazing donors here at GlobalGiving! For over 28 years Blossom Trust has had firsthand experience working with women in our local communities. Particularly, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic we are still facing continuous effects here in India especially in rural communities. For the majority, accessibility to health services is minimal and communities rely on their agriculture as financial and food security. Women in India make up 60% of our agriculture sector, despite this, women are positioned at the lower strata of the social and economic pyramid resulting in a large gender wage gap and inequitable labour. 

Our current project is aimed at boosting the economic and social capacity of our female farmers through the organisation and strengthening of our Women’s Farmers Groups network. Our outreach team have been working hard to map out the women’s farmers group across the Virudhunagar. This process is essential in ensuring that we have included all the surrounding local women’s communities into this network and through this, can also fully distinguish the needs of each farmer’s group. Collecting and verifying details about the female farmers who will also be the shareholders in the establishment of the women-led community-owned Farmer’s Producers Organisation (FPO) will give us a better idea as to how the training and skill-building will be implemented. 

Moreover, we hope to collectivise the efforts of smallholder female farmers into a network for a two commodity FPO, goat and millet, as a sustainable response. Goats are an asset for smallholder farmers with lower economic means and are manageable livestock making it a low-risk investment. Whereas millet is the primary crop harvested in the local area. It is highly adaptable to diverse agro-climatic conditions making it a high demand and low cost enabling opportunities for farmers with low resources. This is a long term and sustainable approach that will allow female farmers to not only take ownership of their work but strengthen their financial security and recognition within the agricultural sector. 

Thank you and stay safe!

Thank you again for your support - there are no words to express the gratitude we feel. With your generosity, it makes an incredible impact on our beneficiaries. It is only together that we can support community development that is equitable and inclusive for all. We hope you are all safe, and we will continue to keep you informed on how your money is being used along with the progress of mobilising our fabulous female farmers. 

With best wishes and our sincere gratitude,

 Mercy Annapoorani & Blossom Trust Team