Surendra Kushwaha’s Journey: From Traditional Farming to Success
Surendra Kushwaha, a progressive farmer from Chitaiyaa village (Kabrai block) in Mahoba, turned to farming as his livelihood after completing his BA. However, rising costs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, along with declining crop yields, led him into financial difficulty.
In 2023, he attended a training on organic farming organized by Lokpath Charitable Trust. After learning about organic fertilizers and sustainable techniques, Surendra applied these methods on his 1-acre farm. He adopted vermicomposting, improved farming practices, and introduced drip irrigation, which reduced water usage and improved crop yield.
As a result, his farming costs reduced by 20% and his yield increased by 40%. The high-quality vegetables fetched better prices in the local market, boosting his income from ₹60,000 to ₹1,00,000. Surendra’s success earned him recognition as a “progressive vegetable farmer” in Mahoba. His story inspires other farmers in his village to embrace organic and sustainable farming practices.
The Journey from Labor to the Success of a Grocery Store and Farming
Devkunwar’s journey began with working as a laborer to support her family. Coming from an economically weak background, she struggled with a lack of stable income. Despite these challenges, she dreamt of making her family self-reliant and establishing a successful livelihood.
Her life took a turning point when she came across a training program organized by Lokpath Charitable Trust. After gaining knowledge about self-employment and organic farming, she decided to open a grocery store. Starting with a small step, she used local resources and entrepreneurial skills to run her shop successfully, earning a stable income of ₹3,000–₹4,000 per month.
Encouraged by the success of her shop, Devkunwar expanded her efforts into farming. With guidance from the trust, she adopted organic farming methods, using natural fertilizers instead of chemical ones. This not only improved the quality of her produce but also boosted her farm’s productivity. As a result, she now earns ₹30,000–₹40,000 per month from farming. Devkunwar’s journey from labor to the success of her grocery store and farming is a testament to her determination, and it serves as an inspiration for others, particularly women, to overcome challenges and build a better future.
Namrata’s Journey: Empowering Adolescent Girls and Pursuing Education for a Brighter Future
Namrata is the leader of the Ichhapurti Azadi Kisori Group in Fatehpur village, block Charkhari, district Mahoba. She belongs to a family with limited resources, having only two bighas of land. Her parents work as laborers and farmers and occasionally go to Delhi due to a lack of work in the village. Due to financial difficulties, Namrata and her sister’s education stopped, and they started helping their parents with farming and household chores, leaving their dream of studying unfulfilled. She actively participated in meetings and was entrusted with conducting a baseline survey of her village, which she successfully completed with her co-leader, Rani. She was then given the responsibility of surveying the nearby village, Bhaisai, which she also completed. Namrata’s dream is to complete her education and become a social worker, focusing on improving education and health for adolescent girls. She has helped 6 girls get admitted to Inter and BA and feels her journey has just begun, with much more to achieve in the future.