A mother of two children, Sumanti Mundain, had dreams bigger than what her circumstances probably allowed. Despite marrying young and leaving formal education behind, ambition simmered within the 35-year-old resident of Hutar village in Jharkhand. Agriculture was her family’s lifeblood, but she craved for more.
Then she crossed paths with Kumud Kumari Singh, a village coordinator at Transform Rural India (TRI), a solution design practice for regenerative development. Singh introduced Mundain to a world of possibilities.
TRI’s multidimensional work in Bero administrative block, under which Hutar village falls, helping bring equal opportunities to rural India, sparked an entrepreneurial fire in Mundain.
A modern millet farmer
Mundain attended many village meetings and training sessions. She became interested in growing madua (finger millet). The training introduced her to a biofortified variety that gives higher yields and better nutrition. Filled with hope and an eagerness to work hard, it wasn’t long before Mundain became a millet farmer.
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Armed with a madua kit and expert guidance, Mundain decided to move from the traditional methods of farming. Using the latest techniques like seed treatment, nursery sowing and transplantation, she transformed her quarter acre of land into a luscious green millet field.
Under the guidance of TRI, she nurtured the crop meticulously. And when harvest day arrived, Mundain couldn’t believe the quantity she reaped – she had 586 kg of biofortified madua – a leap from the normal yield of 406 kg.
For Mundain, this wasn’t just food, it was the start to a hopeful future. She also shared the surplus produce with others in the community.
An entrepreneurial spirit
Mundain was happy with her farming success. But it was the agri-entrepreneur programme she was most drawn to.
Her dream extended beyond the fields – she envisioned a culinary revolution. With the help of TRI and support from HDFC, she was able to open a tuck shop – which she has named as bakery – in April 2023. The rented shop became a haven of millet sweets, from laddoo and balushahi to shakarpara, all made of madua.
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Soon, the aroma of her culinary creations spread beyond the village, attracting outsiders who came to taste her millet delights. Her bakery did well, and within nine months Mundain was able to buy the shop.
Her bakery generated a revenue of Rs 1,27,098, bringing her a profit of Rs 76,258. With an average monthly turnover of Rs 14,100, Mundain’s enterprise emerged as a successful venture.
A wholesome transformation
Beyond the financial gains, Mundain’s journey symbolises a transformation of spirit. TRI’s interventions not only provided her with resources but instilled in her a newfound sense of confidence and self-reliance.
Empowered by her enterprise, Mundain now envisions a future, brimming with all kinds of possibilities, where she can contribute to building a better life for herself and her family.
As Mundain reflects on her journey, she acknowledges TRI’s pivotal role in her metamorphosis. Through her tenacity and the support of her community, she has emerged as a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and innovation in rural landscapes.
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The lead image shows Sumanti Mundain at her shop where she sells sweets made of millets. (Photo by Neha Roba Tirkey)
Neha Roba Tirkey is a horticulturist currently working as an associate practitioner with Transform Rural India in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
