The members of a mutually aided cooperative society (MACS) have urged the State Government to recognise women farmers by issuing pattas in the name of women who actively take up farming.
Potharaju Kanakavva is a woman farmer from Kanagal village in Toguta mandal. Her husband Kanakaiah had committed suicide by hanging due to losses incurred in farming. Since then Kanakavva has been taking care of her three acres of land and cultivating.
She came in contact with Caring Citizens Collective (CCC) an NGO working with women farmers on food security and rights for women farmers. With their advice, she has stopped using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead she has started practising organic farming and her investment on agriculture got reduced drastically.
“Though there was reduction of crop yield as we are not using chemical fertilizers, we are happy that the yield we are getting is enough to survive. There were no debts and no stress. We are happy with what we are getting,” Kanakavva told The Hindu .
The case of Talari Balamani of Chepyal village was not much different. She also lost her husband Balaraju in 2010 when he had committed suicide by consuming pesticide.
“Initially, I did not know what to do when Balaraju committed suicide, but after coming in contact with CCC Director Sajaya, we found new ways to survive without much investment on farming. We have not only taken up farming here but also started inspiring others in nearby villages,” said Balamani.
The CCC orgainsed Rural Women’s Day and World Food Day at Lakshmapur in Toguta mandal on Monday. Incidentally, Laksmapur is one of the villages under Mallannasagar, which may get partly submerged. The CCC has been working with families of farmers who had committed suicide in Siddipet area for more than seven years.
It has promoted a women farmers’ cooperative with women from distressed families and small and marginal farmer families and trying to improve their lives. Recently, a mutually aided cooperative society (MACS) – Dharni Women Farmers Cooperative - with around 150 members from 17 villages was registered.
They were explained about the advantages of following organic farming.
The meeting was attended by Women Farmers Rights Forum Secretary Asha Latha, Vimala, G. Ravinder and others.
