Farm Women Empowerment Through Commodity Group Approach

Abstract

In Tamil Nadu, the Pudukkottai district is known for pulse production especially blackgram. A special Front Line Demonstration programme “Blackgram cultivation through commodity group approach” had been sanctioned to Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pudukkottai during 2013 – 2014. With consistent efforts of KVK through focus group discussions, meetings with farmers and other stake holders, five blackgram commodity groups with 20 members per group were evolved. All the groups opened joint savings accounts in their group names in nationalized banks in Alangudi taluk of the district. Among these, four commodity groups were purely women led with farm women as members. All the farmers and farm women gained knowledge through on campus and off campus trainings both in cultivation and marketing. They were able to sell the seeds in bulk at higher rate of Rs. 55/Kg compared to individual sale of Rs. 40/- per kg thereby an increase of 37.5 percent income raise in enhancing all the members’ living standards. The transportation cost and middlemen cost also got reduced in marketing of the produce.