Women-centric sustainable initiatives as hilly communities embrace new economic life
Nowadays, a growing focus on sustainability and health is driving demand for eco-friendly and organic products in India. This shift has sparked a surge in the organic industry, inspiring farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt sustainable practices and offering consumers a wider range of healthy choices
New Delhi: Living in the mountains comes with a unique set of difficulties. Residents constantly face threats from unpredictable weather, forest fires, landslides, and floods. Among them, women bear a disproportionate burden, shouldering heavy loads and managing their households and farms.
A stroll through the mountains reveals stunning vistas and a crisp, cold climate. However, it also uncovers a deeper reality: women dominate the agricultural landscape. With tourism and agriculture being the primary income sources, many men migrate to cities for better opportunities, leaving the agricultural responsibilities to women. Those who remain are either engaged in farming or, unfortunately, succumb to alcohol addiction, making women the backbone of mountain farming.
Challenges Faced by Mountain Women
Mountain women work tirelessly for 15 hours a day, managing crops, livestock, and household duties. Despite their hard work, their needs often go unmet. Abandoned in many cases by husbands and unsupported by society, these women struggle with financial instability, lack of ownership rights, and the impacts of natural disasters and human-animal conflicts. To combat these challenges, they have formed self-help groups, supported each other, and utilized local markets to sell their produce. Yet, limited access to education and market knowledge hampers their progress, preventing them from leveraging social media and e-commerce platforms effectively.
Organic Farming: Transformative Impact
Uttarakhand’s agricultural plots are small, with only 13% of the land under cultivation. Farmers here rely on traditional, chemical-free farming methods, but the region’s challenging topography, climate, and environmental conditions make farming difficult. Climate change further exacerbates these issues, impacting crop yields in the Himalayan region.
In response to these circumstances, residents are striving to bring about positive change. The distinct taste and purity of Himalayan products have gained national popularity, prompting the establishment of numerous small and large enterprises. This initiative has provided local employment, halted migration, and significantly improved the region’s economic conditions. Consequently, the income of local women farmers has increased, and Himalayan organic food has earned a unique identity across the country.
Social enterprises like Nirvana Organic are paving the way in a modest way for a better life by blending village traditions with innovation. At Nirvana Organic, in collaboration with OCS Foundation, the vision is to deliver nature’s finest from the Himalayas to your home. It is an effort that holds promise for the women led mountain economy. It is a mission and not an enterprise as such.
Efforts are now focused on educating the community about sustainable farming methods, organic fertilizers, and soil conservation. The reach of hill products has expanded beyond national borders, entering foreign markets as well. But there is so much more that can be achieved by aligning all the stakeholders.
Source: https://www.news9live.com/opinion-analysis/women-centric-sustainable-initiatives-as-hilly-communities-embrace-new-economic-life-2684844
