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HRDP empowers women farmers in Sehore through sustainable agriculture
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Wednesday, 24 December, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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In the agrarian villages of Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, farming has long been the backbone of rural livelihoods. However, for years, small and marginal farmers remained dependent on mono-cropping of wheat and soybean, facing low productivity, erratic rainfall, and unstable incomes. Women farmers, despite their significant contribution to agriculture, were largely confined to unpaid labour with minimal decision-making authority.
The Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP), supported by HDFC Bank Parivartan and implemented by Arpan Seva Sansthan, has played a transformative role in addressing these challenges. Implemented from January 2022 to December 2024 across 20 villages in Sehore and Nasrullah Ganj tehsils, the programme focused on promoting sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, and women-led livelihood enhancement.
One such success story is that of Sangeeta Bai from Semli Khurd village. Prior to HRDP, she cultivated wheat and soybean on one acre of land, earning an annual income of just Rs 20,000–25,000. Limited income, water scarcity, and dependence on rainfall made farming unsustainable for her family.
Through HRDP’s intervention, Sangeeta Bai received 100 Taiwan Pink Guava saplings, seasonal vegetable seeds, and hands-on training in the Multi-Tier Cropping System. Continuous technical support enabled her to optimise land use, adopt scientific farming practices, and diversify her crops.
The impact was remarkable. By integrating guava orchards with vegetable cultivation, she generated a gross income of Rs 6.13 lakh and a net income of Rs 5.78 lakh. Improved water management practices also led to increased water levels in her well, ensuring long-term farm sustainability.
Today, Sangeeta Bai stands as a symbol of economic self-reliance, inspiring other women farmers to embrace sustainable and diversified farming practices, and showcasing how targeted interventions can transform rural livelihoods.
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