Varju Bail ives in (Limbavali) Bovas village of Udaipur District. Her family earning came out of food grains and vegetable. However, as cultivation was dependent on monsoon, there was no work for 6 months in a year, and the income was meagre. She had to borrow money on high interest rate for her children’s marriage. She also gave her field on mortgage to farmer. She didn’t have enough money for medical expenses.

Udyogini came into the picture in 2010, and started with its intervention. Varju Bai along with other producers received assistance from Udyogini to purchase agri inputs in bulk which cost her 50% less than the price in the open market. She also took Skill & enterprise management training from Udyogini. She went to Gujarat and Maharana Pratap Agriculture University & KVK Udaipur for training and exposure visit to learn about scientific cultivation of vegetable. Varju bai also purchased seed and crates with Udyogini’s help to earn higher profits.

Two years since training from Udyogini, Varju Bai is successfully doing vegetable cultivation. She is also working as social leader in her village, well respected by her family and community. She has a comfortable life with a steady income (Rs 70000 to 1 lakh per season) from vegetable cultivation. She is also serving as the Director of Udyogini’s supported “Jaisamand Agro Producer Company Limited” in which she is working to mobilize other women involved with Udyogini and also invested Rs. 5000/- as a share capital in the JAPCL. She has paid off her debt, and also recovered her land. She has purchased a floor mill and earning extra income from this.

Varju Bai regularly organizes SHG/ Farmers club group meetings at community hall. She motivates other women farmers to use scientific cultivation of vegetables. She helps farmers select good variety of seeds and other inputs, and helps them purchase agri inputs from producer companies on reliable rates.

Varju Bai’s strong will and determination was recognised by Udyogini and further helped her in shaping her skills and potentials to make her into a woman that she is today.