Gangamma earning her livelihood

Gangamma w/o puttappa, residing at Nimbegondi Mathikote grama panchayat Shikaripura taluk Shimoga district. I was a daily wage earner and with difficulty maintaining my family along with my husband with small income. I have 3 children and to meet the basic need of the family it was very difficult. Five years back SMSSS animators visited our village and briefed us about the concept of self help group. (SHG) We formed a group consists of 15 members for the purpose of enabling members to obtain socio economic benefits out of mutual help and named as Shivashakthi SHG. Every month I was saving in the SHG and I obtained loan from SHG and bought a cow and gained income through selling of milk.

I attended the training on vermin compost conducted in the SHG meeting and learned to prepare vermin compost. I constructed vermin compost pit through the contribution of SMSSS and agriculture department and started to prepare vermin compost. I dug bore well in my land through the Ganga Kalyana scheme availed from agriculture dept. Later started cultivating organic vegetables and used only vermin compost and jeevamritha for cultivation. Earlier I was using chemical fertilizers and had no proper irrigation so did not have sufficient income. Now I am using organic manure and these organic products were sold for higher rate and thus increased my family income. I extended my business by selling vermin compost, bought two more cows, fowl farming, Sheep and rearing of rabbits.

In the SHG meeting I was told to participate in the competition held for successful organic farming organized by Shimoga, Davanagere, Chitradurga districts along with regional organic farmers’ federation. Among the participants of three districts my work was recognized and I was chosen for second prize. That was an auspicious moment for me. I am truly obliged for this great honour and recognition

Being honest, the journey towards this achievement and subsequently towards this award was not easy; in fact it was very long. Right from the moment when the idea of organic farming was conceived and was initiated later on, a lot of work has been done. Transforming the idea to the real output required a good deal of efforts and various challenges came in the way. I was always supported by SMSSS who walked along with me and provided unconditional support to me. I am thankful to my organization that showed so much of trust and faith in me, which was the constant energy boost for me.

The entire journey was a learning experience for me and with this success I am more energized and charged up to take up new challenges which would work in the benefit of my organization and the environment.

Sl. NoSource of incomeNet profit

1Vermicompost - 30,000

2Animal husbandry - 40,000

3Sheep rearing - 25,000

4Fowl farming - 05,000

5Rabbit rearing- 15,000

6Organic vegetables- 80,000

Total -1,95,000