Agriculture

Jharkhand Women’s Ragi Collective Grows to 1,501 Members, Generating 6–7 Lakh Rupees in Monthly Sales

By TOI Lifestyle Desk

In Gumla district, Jharkhand, a self‑help group (SHG) that began with members saving just Rs 2 each has evolved into a large women‑led agricultural enterprise focused on ragi, or finger millet. The farmer producer organisation (FPO) that emerged from the SHG grew from 381 members in 2022 to 1,501, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The collective supports ragi cultivation, harvest collection and storage, and the preparation of products such as ragi laddoos, thekua and savoury snacks. It reports monthly product sales of about Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh and provides regular employment for more than 150 women, hiring additional workers for larger orders.

Kunwari Barwa, a woman from the village, started the journey when the SHG members pooled their small savings. The group used the fund to take a loan for a cow, which added a new income source. With bank‑linked credit, the women bought vegetable cultivation equipment and began selling produce, helping cover family expenses and children’s education. The collective’s success showed the value of group savings and organised financial support.

In 2022 the women formed the FPO, and membership has since increased to 1,501. The organisation now covers the entire ragi value chain, from cultivation to processing and marketing. Products first reached customers through small stalls in Gumla, and later at fairs and exhibitions in cities such as Delhi and Hyderabad, expanding their market reach.

Barwa noted that the enterprise has enabled women to travel by train and even by plane for business events, a change from a time when some members had never seen a railway line. The FPO’s growth reflects a broader effort to strengthen ragi cultivation and processing in the region. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) profile highlights how collective farming, processing, packaging and marketing can involve rural women in more stages of the agricultural value chain. Bhagwati Devi is the FPO’s chairperson.

Barwa’s story illustrates how a small savings habit can lead to a larger livelihood when women have access to collective support, credit and markets. The ragi collective in Gumla is not only selling food products; it is creating work, building market connections and giving women greater opportunities to participate in their local economy.