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Towards empowering women
Ready for the market.
THE STATUS of a country, it is said, depends on the role played by women in society. And as first step, the National Commission for Women was set up by an Act in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women.
Consequently, the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001) was an attempt to consolidate the gains of the women's movements across the country. The objective was to create a favourable environment for women, through economic and social policies, equal opportunities in decision-making at local bodies, and setting right the present gender disparity.
Working towards the empowerment of rural women by setting up the `women-friendly' farm and home-based enterprise, are the scientists of the Agricultural Research Station, TNAU, Bhavanisagar, part of the Integrated Village Development Programme.
The programme focuses on various farm-based entrepreneurial ventures to enhance their farm income through the technical guidance provided by the scientists.
Inspecting the yield.
Saraswathy Andavar, one of the progressive woman farmers of Ariyappampalayam, near Sathyamangalam has scaled new heights in mushroom farming in the area. Thanks, to the technical guidance provided by the head of ARS, Bhavanisagar, P. Gnanamurthy, and his team comprising, R. Philip Sridhar, S. Parameshwaran and R. Vijayaraghavan. Saraswathy has undergone several training programmes undertaken by the Agricultural Department. As for the mushroom cultivation, she feel there are several advantage for farmers who take up mushroom farming, since it requires very little care and is resistant to most diseases that affect other cash crops. "However, care must be taken in maintaining hygienic conditions in the places where it is growing, since even slight contamination can ruin the yield."
But what is interesting to note is that, Saraswathy has been an enthusiast promoter of mushroom farming and has in the recent years encouraged several other women in the area to take up the activity. Her wide knowledge of farming and her constant efforts to adopt better techniques to improve the quality and quantity of yield has paid rich dividends.
This is because, mushrooms have a ready market and are widely known for its nutritive and high protein value. "The availability of agricultural and horticultural wastes in abundance, makes it most suited for the cultivation of mushrooms", she said. For instance, oyster mushrooms and straw mushrooms can be grown on the flat plains all through the year. Mushrooms unquestionably remain one of the world's most relatively untapped sources of food to fight malnutrition, she said.
Buoyed by the success, Saraswathy has now planned to take up another entrepreneurial venture — growing sugarcane. "More importantly many in the area are looking forward to emulate her, as she has been a motivating factor for women who are seeking economic independence,'' said an official.
By R. Sundaram
in Erode
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Life
Bangalore
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