While her husband was there, Kunta had done very little farming, as she was mostly involved with her stitching work and also teaching stitching to other village women. But after he was gone she had to take care of her land as well. She took up the challenge, came out of the confines of her home and became actively involved in farming. As it is, people were eyeing her land and trying to occupy it illegally. But she faced the world bravely and single-handedly. Very many nights she would sleep in her fields only to protect her wheat/paddy crops. She was also smart enough to give an application in the police station against some persons stating that 'if anything untoward happens to me, the onus would be on them'.
After some time another problem cropped up. Some villagers blocked the path in front of her house, leading to the road, saying that it did not belong to her and that she should find some other path. She told Citizen News Service (CNS): "They were trying to take advantage of my situation--I was illiterate and without any male member in the family to support me. But I was not to be cowed down. I fought and won the case after a long drawn-out legal battle."
Kunta grew wheat, paddy, and grass on her small piece of land. Later when her sons were old enough to help her, she would lease other people's fields to grow crops. "One bigha would yield around 5 quintals grain in a year, out of which I would sell some and keep the rest to feed the family."
Now she also grows some lentils (urad) and has also planted eucalyptus and poplar trees; so cropping area has decreased. But then she is able to earn more by selling the wood of these trees--INR 50,000 at one go. "So I lose some and win more."
Kunta feels that crop productivity has increased due to better farming techniques. "My knowledge about farming techniques has increased thanks to my coming in contact with organizations like the Aaroh Mahila Kisaan Manch ('Aaroh' is a campaign for rights and recognition of women farmers in Uttar Pradesh supported by Oxfam India). By attending their meetings I have come to know of many new things--availability of better seeds, timely planting of the crops, better use of fertilisers and pesticides, and dealing with crop diseases. All this has helped me become more organized."
Kunta is the treasurer of a Kisan Club (Farmers' Club). "We have formed small groups. Usually these clubs are for men farmers, but the clubs under Disha Organization have male as well as female members."
Kunta believes in the power of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and has formed one herself. "We started by taking a contribution of INR 20 per month from each woman member. Initially we would give loans of INR 500 to members in need. But our kitty has grown over the years. The bank has also helped us. We are now able to give/take loans of INR 25,000-50,000. Of course the money is always returned with interest. This has proved to be very helpful for all the members."
Kunta has helped many women in need. One such woman was living in extreme poverty. There were many mouths to feed and very little income. "I helped her to form an SHG and taught her the dignity of labour. I told her--it is better to earn and eat rather than beg to eat. With a small loan from the SHG she helped her husband start door-to-door sale of clothes. She is much better off now. I helped another woman with a loan of INR 50,000 to set up her own business."
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