Once a small farmer Shailaja Popatlal Navandara, who owns a seven-and-a-half hectares in Umbri Balapur village in Maharashtra never thought to make this big in her life. What she had in her hand was her talent and barely with that she does wonders in the field of agriculture. She started farming on her small farm against all oddities but her hard work and zeal to learn in life landed her achieving the world’s prestigious award . She was awarded one of the 'model farmer' at FAO from India

Mrs Shailaja Popatlal Navandara , a model farmer from Maharashtra received an award at FAO for a series of innovative food production practices at World Food Day event in Bangkok . Mrs Navandara  lauded for her success in Organic Farming.

Mrs Shailaja discussed her success story at the event and said, “If my family had not changed the way we farm, we would be in deep debt.  But change they did, thanks to the value they gave to education and followed the trend of that time,” In other words, we focused on one cash crop: wheat. And they did well.

She added that once monocropping began robbing the soil of essential nutrients.  Chemical fertilizers became less and less effective, yields were declinin, debts were rising. Other farmers in their village were also facing a tough time. 

But bold Shailaja took the initiative and approached agricultural extension workers in her area and asked for help. They began teaching her how to grow a variety of crops organically and with good environmental practice and her husband Popatlal, supported her efforts to acquire knowledge.

“They learned how to use natural compost and pesticides, level their land and build irrigation systems. They grow a variety of grains, sugarcane, flowers, fruits and vegetables. With this practise their soil has once again shown fruitful result, the land is now rich and fertile. “Birds and butterflies visit my farm again,’’ she said.

Shailaja is now changing the farming culture in her community through women. She organized thrift groups for women, and teaches them about organic farming methods. She has been appointed to the State Farmers Advisory Committee for Maharashtra.

 Her farm has done so well that she and her husband were able to send their four children for higher studies to University. Her son has however chosen to work on the family farm, and her three daughters are now proud engineers.

“My dream is that women, especially women in farming families, should get the respect and opportunities they deserve,’’ she says.

Without a doubt, this woman farmer from Maharashtra is deeply deserving of everyone’s respect.