Women Showcase How To Go Organic: Farmers and Entrepreneurs Make Record Sales At Expo

In the fifth edition of ‘Women of India National Organic Festival 2018’, women farmers and entrepreneurs made record sales of over Rs. 2.75 crore. This was significantly higher than last year’s Rs.1.84 crore. The ten day event, which came to a close on 4 November, was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).

In the event, women farmers and entrepreneurs from 26 states, assembled in Delhi to sell a wide variety of organic products, ranging from food and fabrics to wellness and personal care. The Organic Festival, inaugurated by WCD Minister, Union Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, saw footfalls of around twelve lakh visitors this year. To encourage increased participation, the Ministry also provided sellers with food and accommodation at no cost.

The Economic Survey of India (2017-18) noted the ‘feminisation’ of India’s agriculture with 70 per cent of India’s farmers are women. “With growing rural to urban migration by men, there is ‘feminisation’ of the agriculture sector, with increasing number of women in multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs, and labourers,” the Survey stated.

In line with this, the government declared 15 October as Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas in 2017 to promote awareness. Empowerment of women farmers will also be crucial to NDA’s ambitious programme of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

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