Pradan

From Lohardaga to Dubai: A milestone for women farmers and collectives

A consignment of 1.5 tonnes of premium Grade-A Amrapali mangoes from Lohardaga district in Jharkhand has been exported to Dubai through APEDA, opening new market opportunities for local farmers and demonstrating the power of collective action.

The export was undertaken through Senem Nirem Farmer Producer Company Limited (FPCL), an FPO facilitated by PRADAN. The consignment was sourced from a single 27-acre mango plantation cluster managed by 30 women farmers from Rocho-Barwatoli village in Kuru Block. Through the export, farmers received ₹43 per kilogram for their produce, securing access to a high-value market.

Marking the occasion, the District Administration, Lohardaga, officially flagged off the consignment. The ceremony was led by Shri Sandeep Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Lohardaga. During the
online flag-off ceremony, Shri Raj Maheshwaram, Deputy Development Commissioner, Lohardaga, congratulated all stakeholders involved and highlighted the district's vision for scaling up mango exports in the years ahead.

Supported by PRADAN, Rocho has emerged as a model organic village, known for its large-scale mango plantations developed in contiguous patches. This achievement reflects years of investment in farmer collectivisation, sustainable agriculture, and market linkages.

The export also highlights the immense potential of Lohardaga as a mango-producing region. Across the district, more than 8,500 acres of mango plantations have been developed under various schemes. Under the Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY) alone, over 6,500 acres of mango plantations have been established, creating the potential to produce more than 2,500 metric tonnes of premium-quality mangoes annually.

As efforts continue to strengthen FPOs, promote organic certification, and expand access to international markets, this milestone offers a glimpse of what is possible when farmers, institutions, and local administration work together to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Story credit: Md Fahad Khan



and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

The history of Bastar lives not only in historical records but also in its songs, traditions, art forms, and collective memory.

History of Bastar, authored by Kuntal Mukherjee, Integrator, PRADAN, and Rameshwar Baghel, social worker, brings together these diverse threads to trace the region’s historical journey, cultural heritage, and evolving identity.

Supported by Rainmatter Foundation, the book draws on extensive research, field experiences, and community knowledge to offer a deeper understanding of the people, traditions, and values that continue to shape Bastar today.

Originally written in Hindi, this publication is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the rich cultural legacy of Bastar.

Read and download the book here:
https://www.pradan.net/sampark/repository/history-of-bastar/

PRADAN, with the support of Axis Bank Limited, organised Micro Production Cluster (MPC) Melas in the Katoria and Chandan blocks of Banka district, Bihar.

The primary objective of the melas was to promote cluster-based vegetable cultivation and raise awareness about the benefits of collective farming. Around 1,200 women farmers participated in the events, sharing their experiences, agricultural challenges, and aspirations for improving their livelihoods and strengthening their villages.

The melas also served as a platform to demonstrate crop-specific Packages of Practices (PoPs) and regenerative agricultural techniques for selected vegetable crops. Participants were introduced to improved cultivation practices for crops such as brinjal, grafted tomato, and chilli, and were encouraged to cultivate vegetables on at least 0.1 acres of land.

A key focus of the programme was supporting farmers across the entire value chain; from quality seed procurement to market linkages, highlighting opportunities to enhance productivity and increase incomes. Farmers who had already adopted vegetable cultivation shared their success stories, inspiring others to explore the practice. A comparative analysis of returns from traditional crops such as paddy and maize versus vegetable cultivation further demonstrated the higher income potential of diversified farming systems.

The events generated significant interest among participants, with many women expressing their willingness to adopt vegetable cultivation and become members of the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).

The MPC Melas emerged as an effective platform for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and community mobilisation. By combining technical demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer learning, and awareness on market-oriented agriculture, the initiative encouraged women farmers to adopt collective farming approaches and vegetable-based livelihoods. In doing so, it laid the foundation for more resilient livelihoods, higher farm incomes, and sustainable agricultural development.

Story credit: Parul Kashyap and Saroj Kumar