Operating across 18 villages, the Shiv Swarajya Farmer Producer Company empowers local cultivators through collective marketing and an all-women Board of Directors. The enterprise partners with Larsen & Toubro’s Unnati programme and the Watershed Organisation Trust to enhance agricultural resilience. Along with commercial crop aggregation, the initiative introduces critical water conservation infrastructure and improved irrigation techniques. These sustainable methods help cultivators mitigate irregular rainfall, manage seasonal shortages, and improve overall farm productivity.
Key points
Moving from individual cultivation to a shared business model significantly enhances the…: Moving from individual cultivation to a shared business model significantly enhances the bargaining power of women farmers.
Development partnerships with Larsen & Toubro's Unnati programme and the Watershed Organi…: Development partnerships with Larsen & Toubro's Unnati programme and the Watershed Organisation Trust provide essential organizational backing.
Implementing water conservation and improved irrigation practices enables cultivators to…: Implementing water conservation and improved irrigation practices enables cultivators to better manage severe rainfall variability and shortages.
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What began as a small group of 20 women farmers in
Maharashtra's Jalna district has grown into a farmer-owned enterprise with 803 members across 18 villages. Through collective farming, better access to markets and support from development organisations, the women have built the Shiv Swarajya Farmer Producer Company, an all-women-led agricultural business that reports an annual turnover of Rs 68 lakh.
The growth of the collective is not just about increasing membership or business revenue. It reflects how women farmers can take a more active role in decisions about cultivation, marketing and income generation when they come together as an organised group.
With support from Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) Unnati programme and the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), the women have worked towards moving beyond individual farming activities to a shared business model. Their collective effort has helped them market agricultural produce together, explore additional income opportunities and benefit from improved water availability for farming.
From 20 women to a collective of 803 farmers
Agriculture has long been a major source of livelihood in rural Maharashtra. However, small and marginal farmers…
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