• Utthan Team
• 0 Comments

Master Farmer: The Story of Hansaben Kansara

The wind through Bhumbhali village carries more than the scent of soil and the rustle of groundnut leaves—it carries stories of quiet strength, like that of Hansaben Kansara. For years, Hansaben worked her family’s four-acre farm—sowing, harvesting, and weathering each season with grit. From sunrise to dusk, her hands shaped the land. Yet, her labour was taken for granted. The title of “farmer” was reserved for others—mostly men. But like a seed buried in silence, change began to stir. When Hansaben joined Samarthan Mahila Sangathan, supported by Utthan, she found herself among women whose lives mirrored her own—vital to farming, yet rarely recognised. In their company, she began to ask the questions that had long gone unspoken: about land, about livelihood, and about her rightful place in agriculture.

 

In 2018, she enrolled in Utthan’s Master Farmer programme. For the first time, she received more than farming tools—she was equipped with instruments of change. She learned to test soil, choose the right seeds, and prepare natural inputs like Jeevamrut and Brahmastra. She began with a small patch of land—and nature responded. The soil came alive. The crops grew stronger. And so did she. Gradually, Hansaben converted her entire farm to organic practices. Her family, once uncertain, joined her journey. Together, they built a sustainable cycle—using farm waste, nurturing livestock, and relying on local resources. Their fields became self-sufficient, and their confidence grew. Her groundnut oil—fragrant and chemical-free—began fetching nearly of rupees 1,000 more than the market price. “It’s not just oil,” Hansaben once said, smiling. “It’s care.”

 

With support from the District Development Officer, she was linked to ATMA and began selling at weekly farmers’ markets. Utthan guided her through the steps of applying for organic certification from the Gujarat Organic Products Certification Agency. In 2021, Krishi Vigyan Kendra honoured her on International Women’s Day. But Hansaben’s proudest moment wasn’t the award—it was being recognised in her village. Not just as a wife or mother, but as Hansaben—the Master Farmer. Her journey is rooted not only in ecological farming but in deep self-belief. In every seed she sows and every woman she mentors, Hansaben reminds us: that farming is not just about growing food. It is about expanding identity, dignity, and possibility.