Mobilise and Support 1000 Female Local Farmers

Dear Donors & Supporters

About four months have passed since our last update on this project, and we could not be more grateful for all the support you have shown to us during this challenging period, which, as you may know, has been marked by a new upsurge of COVID-19 cases in India. With this new report, we want to provide you with some highlights and progress updates in the starting-up of our women-led Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO).  

So far, we have raised $484 thanks to the contributions of our incredible GlobalGiving’s donor community! Amidst the ongoing pandemic, your donations have been fundamental for the continuity of this project. From May to June, the State of Tamil Nadu has implemented strict lockdown measures, with consequent disruption of transport, harvesting, and marketing, notwithstanding week-long market shutdowns, drastically impacting the agri-produce value chain. This situation has added further urgency to building up the economic resilience of female farmers, who rely on agricultural activities for financial and food security. 

Against all odds, at Blossom Trust, we have been able to reassure operations and expand our outreach into the Virudhunagar farming community. This local outreach is the first step to organise female farmers into Interest Groups, reflecting their shared needs and priorities as women - taking up a gender perspective - and stakeholders of the smallholder agricultural sector. 

Over these few months, our incredible Outreach Team has collected data from 1000 women farmers, who have shown enthusiasm for participating and working side by side with Blossom on this project. They belong to our network of self-help groups running for over 20 years, laying solid foundations for the success of our interventions. From the field visits conducted so far, we have first-hand witnessed how the supply chain mechanisms actioned by these groups are crucial for local food security. Through collective savings rolling out monthly, women have invested in agricultural activities, bringing their agri-produce together to support the whole community in these times of hardship. 

The pictures attached are from one of the 50 Farmer Interest Groups we are seeking to form and strengthen. Moving forward, we aim to further build the capacity of these women's clusters by providing comprehensive, cutting-edge training. Our training curriculum includes financial literacy and entrepreneurial skill-building, which will help female farmers better manage their individual and collective finances. Furthermore, we aim to train female farmers on improved and climate-resilient agricultural techniques, introducing new strategies to adapt to the adverse climate and its frequent extremes while boosting agricultural productivity. These training components, combined with confidence-building sessions and gender advocacy among our Interest Groups, will equip women with appropriate knowledge and skills to start their collective business, namely, a female-led Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO).  

To conclude, whilst there is still much work ahead, we are happy with the progress made in mobilising our women and, thanks to your support, we are preparing for the next steps, looking forward to sharing new updates with you soon! 

Thank you and stay safe!

Thank you again for all your kindness, support and generosity in helping our female farmers. We greatly appreciate your joint efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable development for all. Together, we can drive positive, sustainable change in the lives of thousands of women who need and deserve recognition and a fair role in the agricultural value chain. We hope you stay safe, and we will continue sharing information on how we are utilising your donations alongside updates on our women's mobilisation. 

With best wishes and our sincere gratitude,

Mercy Annapoorani & Blossom Trust Team