8 months ago
Jharkhand Farmer Turns Climate Risk Into Rs 15 Lakh Livelihood
Priyanka Kumari is a farmer from Jharkhand who used to worry a lot about the weather affecting her crops.
She and her family worked very hard but didn't always earn much because of unpredictable rain and market prices.
Then, she learned about a new way to farm using special structures called polyhouses and net houses.
These structures help control the environment for the plants, making them grow better and healthier.
With the help of an organization called Transform Rural India (TRI), Priyanka and her family started using these new methods.
They now grow vegetables like bottle gourd, tomatoes, and brinjal even in off-seasons and sell them for better prices.
Their income has increased from Rs 2-2.5 lakh to Rs 13-15 lakh per year.
Priyanka also shares her knowledge with other farmers, helping them improve their farming practices.
She was even recognized as a Millionaire Farmer of India by ICAR.
Now, Priyanka feels more confident and in control of her farming, and she no longer fears the weather as much.
Priyanka Kumari transformed her farming practices using protected cultivation to increase income and reduce climate risks.
She and her family now earn Rs 13-15 lakh annually, up from Rs 2-2.5 lakh, by growing off-season vegetables like bottle gourd, tomatoes, and brinjal.
Transform Rural India (TRI) provided training and support to help Priyanka implement polyhouse and net house farming techniques.
The family's income improved significantly within three to four months of installing the net house, with better quality and quantity of produce.
Priyanka was nominated for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) Millionaire Farmer recognition and now shares her knowledge with other farmers.
- Who
- Priyanka Kumari, a farmer from Jharkhand’s Gola block
- What
- Transformed her farming practices using protected cultivation to increase income and reduce climate risks
- Where
- Jharkhand’s Gola block, India
- When
- Began full-time farming seven years ago, implemented changes in 2022
- Why
- To mitigate climate risks and improve income stability through controlled farming environments
Key facts
- Name
- Priyanka Kumari
- Location
- Jharkhand’s Gola block
- Initial Annual Income
- Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh
- Current Annual Income
- Rs 13 to 15 lakh
- Farming Area
- 12 to 15 acres
- Protected Cultivation Area
- 10 decimals
- Key Crops
- Bottle gourd, tomatoes, brinjal
- Training Provider
- Transform Rural India (TRI)
Quotes
Priyanka Kumari
A 27-year-old farmer from Jharkhand's Gola block who has successfully adopted protected cultivation methods.
“For us, farming always came with fear. We worked hard, but we never knew what the outcome would be.”
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“We used to invest a lot, but the results were very less.”
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Reena Kumari
A practitioner with Transform Rural India (TRI) who has worked with farmers in Jharkhand.
“People were using old techniques, wasting water, and using pesticides carelessly. They got production, but not the right price.”
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“When all the produce reached the market together, rates fell sharply. People were producing, but they weren’t earning.”
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Bapi Gorai
A specialist (farm prosperity) at Transform Rural India (TRI) who has worked with Priyanka Kumari.
“She wanted to learn. She was ready to plan.”
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“We sat with the family and mapped everything. What land they have, which crop suits which plot, when to sow, when to harvest, what the expenses will be, and what the market demand looks like.”
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