Touching the lives of over 3,500 women organic farmers of Bundelkhand, BASANT FPO buys their agricultural produce at fair prices, adds value and sells them as packaged products at local markets and urban centres

Cleaning wheat, grinding spices and packaging products form the core of BASANT, the only all-women FPO in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Established in 2022 to empower marginalised women farmers in Jhansi, Mahoba and Lalitpur districts, the FPO based in Bedora village of Jhansi is more than a processing unit — it is a lifeline for over 3,500 women farmers from 55 villages.

BASANT’s products are all organic, which include turmeric, coriander and chilli powders, chickpea, wheat flour and pulses. The FPO is fully managed by a 10-member women Board of Directors, with three each coming from Jhansi and Mahoba, and four from Lalitpur. Non-profit Action-Aid India oversees its operations.

Saroj (35) takes a tub with dry turmeric towards the grinding machine at BASANT's processing unit in Bedora, Jhansi. A mother of three, she balances her time between goat rearing, integrated organic farming and working at the FPO. "We process and package what we grow… This work has helped us become financially independent," she says. Her family grows peanuts, urad dal and vegetables. They have also started machan practice, where multiple crops are grown simultaneously on the same land to maximise vertical space utilisation. (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Saroj pours dry turmeric into the machines for grinding. The centre relies on a small grinding unit that processes only 10 kg of spices per hour, significantly slower than larger competitors who can process 10 quintals at a time. Moreover, the power cuts often disrupt work for two to three hours. "This one removes stones from wheat," says Suman, showing the cleaner and grinder during the halted activity (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

The FPO buys organically produced raw materials from local farmers at above-market rates. The organisation themselves deals with the logistics, which helps farmers save transportation charges. Fair price is assured. For instance, coriander bought for Rs 10,000 is processed and sold for Rs 15,000 after value addition. However, profits remain slim — less than 10% — as most revenue is reinvested into operations (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Saroj fills a plastic packet with coriander powder. Of the 35 women formally connected to the FPO, only three work daily due to budget constraints. There are no full-time employees. They are paid on a monthly basis. Each day's pay depends on how many packets they make. The products are sold through Basant Community Farmer Resource Centre stores. Right now, there are 55 such stores in Bundelkhand. The products also reach customers in Delhi, Lucknow and other urban centres when BASANT sets up its kiosks during exhibitions and cultural fairs. However, direct market linkages are limited and the FPO is struggling to push their produce to urban markets. Reaching larger markets requires more resources in the form of logistics, vehicles, and more skilled and unskilled labour. “We are growing slowly but steadily,” says Sanjay Rajput, district representative, Action-Aid India. (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Saroj and Suman Rajput (42) (R) fill and seal packets of coriander powder using a packaging machine. Joining the FPO has been transformative for Suman, who cultivates two acres of land with her husband. "I first heard about BASANT in 2022; someone said I can work here. Initially, I thought what would I even do here. But slowly, I learned all the steps of the process," she says with pride. Now, in addition to cultivating wheat, peanuts and pulses, she works at the FPO centre, earning about Rs 5,000 a month (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Spices kept for sale without packaging at Babina mandi. “Many other spice brands are available in the market, so we often have to explain to customers what makes our products unique,” says Saroj, adding how the work has given them the confidence to step out and learn how to talk to people without fear. (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Rashmi Singh (19), a college student and Bedora resident, joins the centre’s office every afternoon to help with the paperwork. She puts stamps on each packet and maintains a register for sales. Her presence symbolises a shift — of the younger generation stepping into roles traditionally dominated by men. Anyone can join the FPO, provided they purchase shares in the company. Each share costs Rs 10, and a minimum of 50 shares must be purchased. This membership provides farmers with a stake in the FPO (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

Customers at BASANT’s kiosk at Babina mandi. The kiosk earns Rs 700 to 1,000 every Tuesday. The FPO packages around one tonne of turmeric powder per annum. "We make an annual revenue of Rs 8 to 9 lakh," Sanjay says. However, this varies depending on many factors, including crop yield and flow of funds. The FPO’s initial capital was around Rs 4 lakh, which was given by Action-Aid. “Big companies sell cheap and still profit. Our costs are comparatively higher, but people only look at the price, not the quality,” he adds (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)

BASANT FPO is a unique initiative that links farming with entrepreneurship, and provides training, credit and access to markets, helping women farmers support their incomes while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

This story was produced as a part of NCNF Media Fellowship on Agroecology. 

Cover Photo - Suman and Saroj spread turmeric to dry under the open sky in the courtyard of BASANT's processing unit in Bedora village, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (Photo - Sneha Richhariya, 101Reporters)