March 2026
In the climate-vulnerable landscapes of Koraput, women farmers bear the brunt of agricultural labour while facing limited access to resources and markets. The journey of Dalimba Khillo illustrates how agroecological practices, women-friendly technologies and collective action through farmer institutions can transform subsistence farming into a resilient and dignified livelihood.
Koraput district in southern Odisha is widely recognised for its rich agro-biodiversity, traditional farming systems, and cultural heritage. Simultaneously, it remains one of the state’s most climatically vulnerable and economically marginalised regions. Agriculture here is largely rainfed, landholdings are small and fragmented, and farming relies heavily on manual labour. Within this context, women play a central role in agricultural production, yet they often face persistent challenges such as limited access to quality inputs, technologies, credit, and markets.
For smallholder women farmers, farming under such conditions is a constant struggle. Erratic rainfall, declining soil fertility, lack of quality seeds, water scarcity, inadequate nutrient inputs, limited access to women-friendly tools, high drudgery, post-harvest losses, and weak market linkages collectively keep livelihoods fragile. Yet, within these constraints, stories of resilience continue to emerge. One such story is that of Mrs Dalimba Khillo, a 30-year-old farmer from Dangrimaliguda village in Mastiput Gram Panchayat of Koraput block, whose journey reflects how agroecological approaches and collective institutions can enable women farmers to move beyond subsistence farming.
Dalimba’s family owns 2.7 acres of cultivable land, where she grows finger millet on one acre, paddy on one acre, and vegetables on 0.7 acres. For many years, farming in her household relied on low-quality seeds, manual operations, and uncertain monsoon rainfall. Crop yields were low, labour requirements were high, and income remained unstable. The burden of work fell heavily on her shoulders, especially when her husband’s health problems limited his ability to contribute to farm labour. Despite these challenges, Dalimba showed a strong willingness to learn, experiment, and adopt new practices – a quality that later became the turning point in her livelihood journey.
Her association with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and government agricultural programmes introduced her to simple, low-cost, and locally suitable innovations. Instead of promoting capital-intensive technologies, the focus was on agroecology, climate resilience, and women-friendly interventions that could fit within smallholder realities. One of the first changes was access to short-duration and drought-tolerant seed varieties. Dalimba adopted finger millet variety KMR-204 and paddy variety MTU-1153, along with improved vegetable seeds. These varieties improved crop establishment, reduced climate risk, and significantly enhanced productivity.
Previously, using traditional broadcasting methods, she harvested only about 2.5 to 3 quintals of finger millet per acre and 8 to 9 quintals of paddy per acre – just enough for household consumption with little surplus for sale. With the adoption of improved seed varieties and scientific practices such as line transplanting, productivity increased substantially. Finger millet yields rose to 8.41 quintals per acre, with an expenditure of ₹8,010 and a net profit of ₹19,519 after household consumption. Paddy cultivation also improved, producing 18.116 quintals with an expenditure of ₹9,300 and generating a net benefit of ₹24,800 from the same landholding after meeting household needs.
Water scarcity had previously restricted Dalimba’s vegetable cultivation to the monsoon season. However, the introduction of micro-irrigation facilities, delivered through government-supported field channels connected to a nearby check dam and stream, enabled her to cultivate vegetables throughout the year. She now grows a diverse range of produce, including cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, carrot, ridge gourd, cucumber, spinach, garlic, onion, ginger, chilli, and green peas. With an annual expenditure of approximately ₹34,000, vegetable cultivation generates a net benefit of around ₹48,000, significantly boosting her income and enhancing household nutrition.
Another significant transformation in Dalimba’s farming life came with the introduction of women-friendly tools designed to reduce drudgery. Manual weeding and spraying were among the most physically demanding tasks. The use of a cycle weeder reduced weeding time from nearly a week to just a single day, while a battery-operated sprayer improved efficiency and significantly lessened physical strain. These seemingly minor technological changes transformed her perception of farming from exhausting labour to a more manageable and productive livelihood. Timely operations also contributed to improved crop performance and yields.
Beyond production, post-harvest processing presented another major challenge. MSSRF supported the establishment of a millet and paddy processing unit, managed by the Kachela Agro Product Producer Company Limited, the local Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO). This facility empowered women members, including Dalimba, to process their own grains for household consumption, reducing the drudgery associated with manual processing and saving valuable time. The group also generates additional income by offering processing services to other farmers.
Market access had long been a significant barrier. Like many smallholders, Dalimba previously faced distress sales, high transportation costs, and limited bargaining power. Through the Kachela FPO, collective aggregation and marketing became viable. The FPO facilitated bulk sales, improved price negotiation, access to storage facilities, and support for value addition.
Over time, Dalimba embraced a leadership role and now serves as a Board Director of the FPO, guiding collective initiatives related to processing and market linkages. This position has significantly strengthened her confidence, leadership skills, and social recognition within the community.
Her journey, however, has not been without its challenges. Managing both farm and household responsibilities remains demanding, particularly with limited family manpower. During her husband’s illness, support from extended family members proved crucial. Reflecting on her journey, Dalimba states, “I am thankful to M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation for empowering me with improved technologies and for building awareness in my family about shared responsibilities. Their support has enabled me to move forward with confidence as an entrepreneur.”
The combined support of MSSRF, the Department of Biotechnology, the Tribal Sub-Plan of IRRI/ICAR, and the Government of Odisha has created an enabling environment for women farmers like Dalimba to build sustainable livelihoods. More importantly, the changes extended beyond increased income alone. Dalimba now identifies herself as a woman agripreneur – someone who manages production, processing, and marketing as an integrated enterprise. Farming, once perceived as a struggle for survival, has evolved into a dignified and knowledge-based livelihood.
Surajita Kumari Turuk E-mail: surajitakumari@mssrf.res.in
Santosh Kumar Sahoo
E-mail: santoshkumarsahoo@mssrf.res.in
Prashant Kumar Parida
E-mail: prashantparida@mssrf.res.in
TAbC- M S Swaminathan Research Foundation,
Phulabad, Umuri, Jeypore-764002, Koraput dist, Odisha
