Empowering Rural Women: Asmita Patel's Journey to Success
A Remarkable Rural Enterprise
Asmita Patel, hailing from Soldhara village in Chikhli Taluka of Navsari district, has successfully established a thriving rural business that generates an impressive annual income of ₹10.20 lakh while providing jobs for ten women in her community.
Her enterprise encompasses honey production, pickles, ragi-based items, baked goods, and natural food products, showcasing the potential for rural self-sufficiency and the empowerment of women.
Growing up in a farming family, Asmita gained knowledge in agriculture and animal husbandry early on. After losing her father while pursuing an Art Teacher Diploma, she persevered with the support of her progressive in-laws.
Determined to continue her education, she eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, believing that knowledge and self-improvement could lead to new opportunities even in challenging times.
Confronted with limited farming income, Asmita explored alternative livelihoods. In 2010-11, she completed a beekeeping course and began producing honey for local markets.
In 2014, she further diversified her skills by completing a bakery course at Navsari Agricultural University.
In 2015, with assistance from rural development officials, Asmita established the ‘Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal’ with ten women, initially focusing on producing mango, lemon, and karonda pickles, along with seasonal items.
Funding from the Mission Mangalam scheme, which provided a revolving fund of ₹15,000, allowed them to expand their production to include ragi-based products, papad, biscuits, and flour.
Later, a business loan of ₹2,00,000 facilitated the purchase of machinery for turmeric processing and grinding, enabling the production of organic turmeric powder.
Currently, members of the Sahyadri Sakhi Mandal divide tasks based on their skills, with some managing honey packaging and processing at home, while others create pickles, amla candy, ragi wafers, and bamboo crafts. Their products are sold locally and showcased at agricultural fairs at both state and national levels.
Reflecting on her journey, Asmita remarked, "Just as a tree's strength lies in its roots, our group has flourished when given opportunities."
She attributes the success of her self-help group to the integration of traditional knowledge, natural resources, and community collaboration, earning national recognition for her achievements.
Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Asmita has been praised for her efforts in promoting rural self-reliance and empowering women.
She has had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi three times and has received the Krushi Ratna Award from the Gujarat government.
In 2015, she was also honored with the Atma Award from the District Agricultural Technology Management Agency.
The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Surat this April aims to connect local women's self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs with larger markets, providing a platform for women like Asmita to showcase their talents and explore new business opportunities.
Today, Asmita is recognized as a respected leader in her village and community, crediting her success to the support from Mission Mangalam and government initiatives aimed at benefiting women in rural areas.