A delegation of around 60 progressive women farmers from Gariaband District, led by District Child Protection Officer, Chhattisgarh Government, Anil Dwivedi, visited the renowned 'Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Center' in Kondagaon as part of the 'Exposure Visit Program.'
What made this visit truly remarkable was that the group comprised almost 100% women farmers committed to advancing in organic farming, medicinal herbs, and innovative agricultural practices. This unique event, organized under the “Exposure Visit Program” by the Department of Women and Child Development, Chhattisgarh Government, aimed to provide women farmers with valuable insights into high-value medicinal and organic farming techniques.
An Inspiring Journey Towards Profitable Medicinal Farming:
At India’s first certified organic herbal farm, the women farmers observed various medicinal and organic crops. Experts from Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group, including Anurag Kumar, Jasmati Netam, Shankar Nag, Krishna Netam, and Balai Chakravarti, shared detailed knowledge on advanced medicinal plant varieties, organic pop techniques, medicinal properties, and effective marketing strategies.
Dr. Rajaram Tripathi, extending his best wishes to all women farmers entering the field of profitable organic and medicinal farming, assured them of unwavering support from the Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group from cultivation to marketing.
The women farmers were particularly impressed by the following:
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MDBP-16 Black Pepper: An advanced variety of black pepper yielding four times more than traditional varieties, offering an annual income of Rs 5 to Rs 7 lakh per acre.
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Natural Greenhouse Model: A cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to plastic-based polyhouses. This innovative model naturally regulates temperature, retains soil moisture, and enables year-round cultivation at a cost of just Rs 2 lakh per acre, compared to Rs 40 lakh per acre for conventional polyhouses.
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Australian Teak: Renowned for its strength and quality, Australian Teak provides a lucrative return of Rs 60 to Rs 80 lakh per acre within 15 to 18 years.
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Conservation and Cultivation of Rare Medicinal Herbs: High-demand medicinal plants with significant export potential.
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Advanced Medicinal Farming & Processing Techniques: Empowering farmers to enhance the quality of organic products and secure better market prices.
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Value Addition by Tribal Women: Enabling economic empowerment of rural women by providing access to national markets for value-added products.
Enthusiasm and Appreciation from Women Farmers:
The exposure visit left the women farmers deeply inspired as they witnessed firsthand the immense potential of organic and medicinal farming. They expressed keen interest in adopting these innovative practices in their own villages.
The primary objective of this program was to connect women farmers with modern organic farming, herbal agriculture, and self-reliant farming techniques.
For several years, ‘Maa Danteshwari Herbal Farm & Research Center’ has been empowering tribal farmers and women through comprehensive training in organic agriculture, medicinal farming, and entrepreneurship. Here, farmers learn not only the scientific and commercial aspects of medicinal farming but are also encouraged to adopt environmentally sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
A Step Towards Empowerment and Self-Reliance:
This exposure visit marked a significant step towards the economic empowerment of women farmers and the promotion of agricultural innovation. Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group remains committed to organizing more such visits in the future to equip farmers with advanced agricultural techniques and knowledge.
