Shardaben Jhala, a SEWA member for 12 years, cultivates wheat and bajri on 2-3 bighas of land. She also grows vegetables, which she sells in the market at competitive rates. Recently, she sold brinjal at INR 250-300 (USD 3-3.5) per 20 kilograms.

Through SEWA’s training, she started making homemade organic pesticides, reducing her dependence on chemical products. This transition saved money and improved crop quality. Additionally, she uses biogas plant slurry as a natural fertilizer, replacing costly chemical fertilizers like urea and DAP, further cutting expenses.

Beyond agriculture, Shardaben also benefited from SEWA’s Aarogya health program, which provides affordable healthcare services to farmers. Due to climate-related health issues, many farmers struggled to afford medical care or lacked awareness of health check-ups. Through this initiative, she received proper diagnosis and medical attention, improving her well-being.

The wheat cluster initiative in Paato village has empowered women farmers by helping them reduce costs, improve yields, and adopt sustainable farming techniques. With support from SEWA and APFP-FO4A, farmers have enhanced their agricultural knowledge, financial stability, and overall well-being.