Padmini Behera – From Daily Wage Labour to a Confident Farmer

Padmini Behera is a hardworking woman from Begunia village. She lives with her husband, one son, and two daughters — a family of five. Life has not been easy for them. Coming from a poor background, the family mostly depended on daily wage labour to meet their daily needs. Padmini and her husband worked whenever they found work, but the income was never enough to lead a stable life.

Padmini owns 1.6 acres of land. However, only 1 acre of this land was being used for farming — mainly for paddy cultivation during the rainy season. The remaining 0.6 acres had been lying fallow for years because they lacked resources and knowledge to make proper use of it. Apart from farming, Padmini also collected forest produce like leaves, fruits, and wood from nearby forests to sell in the market. That small earning also helped in running the household.

Things began to change in 2023, when Padmini came in contact with Sambandh, a development organization working in her area. Under their Kitchen Garden/Nutrition Garden initiative, Padmini received a seed kit and fencing materials to set up a home garden. She was also given training on organic farming, including how to prepare organic manure and how to manage pests without using chemicals.

Motivated by the training and support, Padmini decided to make good use of the 0.6-acre fallow land. With the help of Sambandh, she received seeds of maize and cowpea and started farming on the previously unused plot. It was the first time she tried something new apart from paddy, and she gave it her full effort. Her hard work paid off — she earned a good income of ₹17,980 from the sale of maize and ridge gourd. This was a big achievement for her and gave her a lot of confidence.

Inspired by the success, Padmini did not stop there. She continued to farm on the same land. Now, she grows tomato, radish, potato, and ridge gourd. She also maintains her kitchen garden regularly, which provides her family with fresh green vegetables like spinach, coriander, and other leafy greens. This has improved the nutrition level of her family, as they now eat vegetables grown in their own backyard.

Along with farming, Padmini still does daily wage work whenever she can, but now she has an additional source of income and food from her land. She has become more confident and aware of how to use organic methods to grow crops and make the best use of the land she has.

Padmini Behera’s story is a strong example of how timely support, training, and a little encouragement can bring a big change in the life of a woman farmer. With the help of Sambandh, she has not only increased her income but also ensured better food for her family. Her journey from a daily wage labourer to a confident farmer is truly inspiring for many other women in her village and beyond.

Success Story of Santus Sinku – From Struggles to Self-Reliance

Santus Sinku, a resident of Noana village, lives with his wife and three children. He owns 3.75 acres of land, out of which 0.75 acre was lying fallow and the rest 3 acres was upland, used only for rainfed paddy cultivation. From paddy farming, he used to earn around ₹35,000–₹40,000 annually, which was not enough to meet his family’s basic needs. Life was full of difficulties.

In 2023, under the Climate Resilient Organic Agriculture Project implemented by Sambandh in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation, awareness programs and trainings were conducted in the village. During this time, Santus approached the Sambandh team for guidance on how to improve his income. After understanding his situation, the team supported him in converting his 0.75-acre fallow land into productive farmland.

With technical support and inputs from Sambandh, Santus started cultivating chilli and chickpea. From chilli, he earned ₹4,450 and from chickpea ₹8,600, making a total profit of ₹13,050. This experience increased his confidence and encouraged him to explore more farming opportunities.

He then consulted the Sambandh team to know how he could make better use of his 3 acres of paddy land. The Sambandh team advised him to cultivate watermelon in the summer after the paddy harvest. With input support from Sambandh, he cultivated watermelon on 1 acre and earned ₹70,000 from its sale.

Through consistent support and expert guidance from Sambandh, Santus adopted improved farming practices. Today, he grows three crops a year and has significantly increased his income. He is now able to take care of his family properly and lives with confidence and dignity. Santus Sinku has become an inspiration for many other farmers in Noana village.

Conclusion:
Santus Sinku’s journey reflects how timely support, technical guidance, and the willingness to adapt can transform a farmer’s life. From a struggling cultivator dependent solely on paddy, he has now become a confident multi-crop farmer practicing sustainable agriculture. His success story serves as a model of hope and motivation for countless small and marginal farmers across the region.

The Journey of Raju Kada Towards Self-Reliance through a Kitchen Garden

Introduction:
Raju Kada, a resident of Baria village under Jashipur block, is a smallholder farmer with a family of four, including his son, daughter-in-law, and daughter. He owns 1.5 acres of land, which he previously used only for paddy cultivation. Other than that, the land remained underutilized. To meet the daily vegetable needs of the household, his family relied entirely on the local market. This not only led to increased household expenses but also exposed the family to the risks of consuming chemically grown vegetables.

Turning Point:

community mobilizer (Didi) from Sambandh met Raju and discussed the concept and benefits of a kitchen garden. She explained the health hazards of market-bought vegetables and highlighted the nutritional and economic advantages of growing vegetables at home. Seeing the small patch of 0.1 acre near his house, she encouraged Raju to convert it into a kitchen garden.

With the support of Sambandh, Raju received assistance in the form of seeds, saplings, fencing materials, and training on preparing organic compost and using organic methods. This motivated him to begin work on his own kitchen garden.

Progress and Expansion:

After the training, Raju initiated his kitchen garden on the land adjacent to his house. He began growing a variety of seasonal vegetables based on the climate and cropping pattern. Over time, his garden flourished and started providing enough vegetables to meet his family’s daily needs. This reduced his dependency on market-purchased vegetables and significantly saved household expenses.

Moreover, the surplus vegetables were sold in the nearby market, earning him an additional monthly income of ₹1500–₹2000. This income became a crucial financial support for the family.

Diversity and Sustainability:

Raju grows at least 15 varieties of vegetables every season. He also planted fruit-bearing trees like papaya, lemon, moringa (drumstick), and fig around the garden. To ensure year-round availability of produce, he also cultivated climbers like ridge gourd and beans using bamboo support structures. His use of organic compost and sustainable practices has further improved the soil health and productivity of the land.

Community Impact:

Raju’s kitchen garden has become a model for others in the village. Many neighbors visit his garden, appreciate his efforts, and are inspired to replicate the same in their own homes. His initiative has triggered awareness in the community regarding health, nutrition, and self-reliance.

Conclusion:
Raju Kada’s journey from a mono-crop farmer to a self-reliant grower of diverse vegetables is a powerful example of how small initiatives, supported by proper guidance and training, can bring long-term benefits. His kitchen garden not only provides nutritious food for his family but also generates regular income, empowers him financially, and inspires the community towards sustainable living. His story proves that with determination and the right support, even a small piece of land can transform lives.

Transforming Lives through Kitchen Gardening and Livestock – The Journey of Kapura Tudu

Name: Kapura Tudu

Village: Kathithikana

Family Members: 3 (Husband, Wife, and a 5-year-old son)

Land Ownership: Landless

Occupation: Daily wage labour and collection of forest produce

Kapura Tudu, a resilient woman from Kathithikana, lives with her husband and young son. Her family does not own any agricultural land. mainly depends on her husband’s daily wage work and the seasonal collection and sale of forest produce. With limited income, the family was dependent on the local market for vegetables, spending around ₹210 every week—amounting to nearly ₹10,000 annually—just to meet their basic dietary vegetable needs.

To grow some food of their own, Kapura had taken 0.5 acres of land on lease where they should cultivate paddy during the rainy season. However, the production was limited, and the family continued to face food and nutritional insecurity.

In 2023, with support from Sambandh, Kapura received two goats and  kitchen garden inputs like a variety of seasonal vegetable seeds, fencing nets. She also underwent training on compost preparation, organic farming techniques, and effective management of kitchen gardens and livestock.

As a result of these interventions, Kapura began cultivating vegetables throughout the year—successfully growing three seasonal crops using only organic manure and pest control methods. She established a kitchen garden that now not only meets her family’s daily nutritional needs but also produces surplus vegetables which she sells in the local market, generating additional income.

Moreover, the goats she received have become another steady source of income and ensuring a more stable livelihood. Today, through integrated farming and kitchen gardening, Kapura is not only food secure but also economically empowered. Her family’s dependency on market-purchased vegetables has drastically reduced, saving them money while also improving their nutrition.

Kapura Tudu’s story is a powerful example of how small but strategic interventions—like livestock support, organic farming training, and kitchen garden setup—can significantly transform the lives of landless and marginalized rural families.