Spending Sowing Day with Elubai and Govind Bhaiyya

This article follows the work Elubai, a woman farmer, undertakes with her husband Govind in Devasiya village, Madhya Pradesh. As the Kharif sowing season approaches, she readies organic manure, mixing it with the seeds to assist soil fertility and yield, and then along with Govind, sows a diverse range of crops, from jowar and maize to pulses, sesame, and gourds. Her work extends beyond the immediate tasks of planting: she prepares organic pest-control mixtures and uses the NADEP method to make compost from biodegradable materials. Each of these practices requires skilled labour and agricultural knowledge, built through experience and training. Elubai is attentive not only to the health of the soil but also to the household’s food security. She sows food crops first to ensure that there is enough to eat throughout the year. Their move away from chemical-intensive farming was precipitated by the financial strain of buying hybrid seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides, and the risks of crop disease and debt. Through training and the support of the Genda Pragati Samooh constituted by the Samaj Pragati Sahyog Sansthan, she has been able to develop the skills to farm organically while also accessing affordable and easy credit.

The article foregrounds the often overlooked involvement of women farmers in pre-sowing activities such as seed preparation and maintenance of soil health while also planning for household food needs. As she engages in agroecological practices on her farm, the article highlights how it is support and extension services provided by a community of women farmers that enables it.