A woman farmer’s path to climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods

By Bharat Dogra 

Adopting climate-resilient farming is often portrayed as a difficult or burdensome task. Yet Saroj Kushwaha, a small farmer from Pathari village in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, is practising it with remarkable enthusiasm and creativity. She has reduced the use of fossil-fuel-based inputs, planted numerous trees, improved soil health and diversified her crops. In doing so, she has adapted well to the uncertainties of climate change while also increasing her net income. All this has been achieved on a small landholding, alongside improvements in family nutrition, health and the ability to support the college education of both her daughter and daughter-in-law.

Saroj’s satisfaction comes from the creative nature of her work, which never feels like drudgery despite the hard labour it involves. This creativity has also influenced her son, who had earlier been confused and directionless. He has now reformed himself and works full-time on the farm. During my recent visit, both mother and son were working together happily.

Her happiness, however, should not be mistaken for a life without challenges. Erratic weather patterns frequently cause losses, such as the heavy rains that damaged the previous kharif crop. At such times she requires support, and her courage and commitment to climate-resilient farming should be recognised and assisted through climate justice and climate response funds. Extending such generous support to all farmers making similar efforts can help many more transition to climate-resilient and ecologically protective farming while safeguarding or even improving their livelihoods.

The family has about four acres of farmland scattered in different locations. Around three years ago, influenced by a campaign on natural farming and farm biodiversity initiated by the voluntary organisation SRIJAN, Saroj and her family began introducing significant changes to their farming practices.

First, they shifted from chemical fertilizers to organic manures prepared on their own farm using cow dung, cow urine and other local ingredients. They also replaced chemical pesticides with local organic materials. This sharply reduced their expenses and lowered the fossil-fuel footprint of their farming.

Second, they allocated a small portion of the land to vegetables and fruits. A multi-layer vegetable garden now enables them to grow about 15 vegetables on a small plot. They have also planted about 100 fruit trees, including 80 guava, 12 mango, 4 amla, 4 lemon, 2 litchi and 2 ber trees.

Third, Saroj has started a nursery to supply fruit saplings to others.

Alongside these changes, they continue to cultivate cereals, legumes, oilseeds and millets. Saroj keeps one cow, one buffalo and seven goats, with plans to add more. These livestock provide the foundation for natural farming and enhance both family nutrition and income, while building resilience for meeting sudden expenses.

Saroj has thus created a carefully balanced package of changes that has reduced her costs by decreasing dependence on external inputs and simultaneously increased her income through crop diversification (particularly vegetables) and livelihood diversification (such as the nursery).

She now offers a compelling model of climate-resilient farming achieved with limited resources but with thoughtful and highly creative planning, supported by SRIJAN’s guidance.

A major source of satisfaction for the family is the improved nutrition from food grown through natural farming. They also take pride in providing healthy produce to others. Saroj regularly takes vegetables to the local market. “Traders and customers know that I bring very healthy vegetables, so they compete to buy my produce. I am able to sell quickly,” she says with a broad smile. She is also a member and shareholder of the Ken-Betwa Women Farmer Producer Company, from which she obtains good-quality seeds and sells her produce at fair prices.

Saroj notes with happiness that her soil is showing clear signs of improvement. Through soil enhancement (and its increased carbon-absorption capacity), tree planting and the elimination of fossil-fuel-based inputs, she contributes significantly to climate-change mitigation.

Her contribution to climate adaptation is even more visible. Diversification enables her to save at least some crops during adverse weather conditions, while reduced dependence on external inputs helps her lower costs and avoid debt. Properly constructed field bunds contribute to water and soil conservation.

If Saroj can make such an important contribution while strengthening her livelihood, why shouldn’t millions of other farmers achieve similar results? Why then are so many trapped in severe distress?

While acknowledging Saroj’s achievements, it is important to remember that she works with a very small resource base. When small farmers become dependent on unsuitable and expensive technologies promoted by powerful interests, they struggle to recover, often entering cycles of debt and repeated crises. This is why the government must provide far greater attention, funding and institutional support for sustainable and ecologically protective farming.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include India's Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food, Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071