In a bid to empower women farmers in Gujarat, UK firm Rajah Spices has joined hands with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). The project will boost the income of women farmers who grow cumin, jeera, turmeric, and other spices in the state.
As part of the joint venture, 5 pence from every promotional pack of Rajah Spices sold in the UK is contributed to SEWA in order to empower the lives of 2,400 cumin farmers in Gujarat. Participating packs include Rajah Chilli Powder 100g, Rajah Jeera Ground Cumin 100g, Rajah Dhaniya Ground Coriander 100g, Rajah Haldi Ground Turmeric 100g, and Rajah Garam Masala 100g.
Rajah Spices began to support SEWA in 2018 and has been running the initiative for more than three years. The initiative is not only supporting the farmers to get sustainability in their livelihoods, but also it helps their families as well.
Training on How To Increase Yields, Open Bank Accounts and Managing Finances
The firm hopes that the fund will provide essential financial and agricultural training to help double farmers’ income.
They also planned to observe the project by giving a visit to the communities once a year. The woman farmers will be trained on the usage of natural pesticides, applying fertilizers effectively along with financial training.
The venture will train them to increase crop yields, whilst deducting production costs. The financial training will make them able to open bank accounts, manage their finances, and partake in micro-enterprise schemes. It will also provide coaching on reliable market access to ensure reasonable prices for its products.
In other terms, the initiative is to give them a backing if their crops fail due to poor weather or bad harvest. The state has a majority of female farmers with low earnings. The practical skills acquired through the initiative will help the farmers to be self-reliant, which ultimately creates a positive difference from their present scenario.
