Newsletters

From the launch of the Woman Farmer Project in March 2026, these newsletters, written by the editors at The Locavore, capture stages of our journey with the Project.

Muka Patil, Projects Editor, The Locavore

‘We’re Launching the Woman Farmer Project!’ | March 2026

Dear Reader,
 
I dislike Women’s Day, just like I do Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Come 8 March, I wait with trepidation for the saccharine WhatsApp forwards about how accommodating women are, just how much we take on, our resilience. And of course there are the buy-one-get-one makeup offers because ‘I deserve to feel beautiful’, and the relentless messaging on how I can, in fact, have it all. 
Continue Reading

Shreya Bansal, Assistant Projects Editor, The Locavore

‘What Makes a Story Last?’ | June 2026

Dear Reader, 
 
A story, once published, has a short shelf life. The moment it enters the public domain, ready to be consumed, its expiration date is already fast approaching. 
 
It takes about 10 minutes to consume a 2,000-word story, another five minutes to share it on social media, and the next two minutes to forget about it. Factors including a 45-second attention span, an urge to scroll and tap on the next best thing, and a constant abundance of choice, ensure a limited lifespan for a story.
Continue Reading

Shreya Bansal, Assistant Projects Editor, The Locavore

‘In the Field, There is Always Food and Tea’ | July 2026

Dear Reader,
 
Early morning on 24 July, Nidhi K., one of our writer-researcher fellows from the Woman Farmer Project, working in Madhya Pradesh, visited the village of Kapot Behra to interview a group of women farmers from the Baiga community who were displaced from the Kanha National Park. When she reached the village, she found that her primary contact was unavailable, and her interviewees were nowhere to be found.
Continue Reading

Shreya Bansal, Assistant Projects Editor, The Locavore

‘Who Makes the Decisions? And Who Gets Impacted?’ | October 2026

Dear Reader, 
 
Since the launch of the Woman Farmer Project in March this year, I have been on the lookout for news relating to women farmers. While there are several pieces floating around, owing to 2026 being the International Year of the Woman Farmer, one specific report stayed with me. 

Three months ago, Maharashtra passed the Women Farmers Empowerment Act 2026. This means that women farmers in the state will now be given ‘Woman Farmer Certificates’ if they are engaged in agricultural activities, irrespective of land ownership and remuneration.
Continue Reading

This curation is part of the Woman Farmer Project, a multimedia storytelling initiative led by The Locavore in partnership with the Doc Society Climate Story Kitchen. It aims to build a roadmap for successful collaborations between institutions and innovative grassroots networks who are committed to amplifying climate stories.

The Doc Society supports climate action across the globe by championing independent filmmakers, audio producers, journalists, and artists working alongside impact producers and movement builders to bring more communities into climate conversations to advance climate just and biodiverse futures.