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Over 12 months, we interviewed 30 couples to better understand the challenges facing smallholder farmers today. This is the eigth in a series of blogs based on those interviews. Names and faces have been changed to protect privacy. Photo has been AI generated.

Rohan and Aarvi, a married farming couple in Derghawan, Uttar Pradesh, did not know they were part of the Baankelal Bioenergy (BBE) FPO until a research team came to their door wanting to ask questions about their involvement. "When you all came for the survey, then only we got to know that we are part of FPO,” Aarvi told the interviewer. “Before that we did not know that we were part of it.”

As the year went on, Rohan, 43, and Aarvi, 38, had limited experiences with their FPO, unfortunately none too positive. “The relationship is bad,” begins Aarvi. “They do not like us; they make fun of the women who belong to the lower class.” Aarvi, a member of the OBC (Other Backward Caste), explains that women in the higher caste do not attend meetings, as they never leave their homes. When Aarvi and some other women of a lower caste attended a meeting she said they were made fun of as a collective group, although she was not singled out individually. “Their behavior is not good,” she says. “And that’s why my husband does not allow me to go there.”

“It is not safe for women,” Rohan confirms, recalling the experience. “There was some indecent behavior with (the women),” he begins. “I said, ‘These women are from families and they will go if they are invited.’ I said that if it happens next time, then we will complain.” Rohan says the leader of the FPO is a “really nice person” and the comments were made by someone at the meeting he does not believe to be associated with the FPO. (Aarvi disagrees, saying she thinks the men were associated with the FPO). Still, it was enough for Rohan to keep his wife away from future meetings, and reports that nobody has called any of the women to attend the meetings since the incident.

When asked what she would like to tell the FPO leaders, Aarvi - who has completed a higher secondary education - speaks boldly. “We want (information),” she says. “They should not say anything about upper and lower class and should not make fun. They should see all ladies in the same way and not consider them in an inferior way.” Aarvi continues, “Women are doing all the (same kinds of) work, so we want to talk to them about this and they should not make fun.” She concludes, “Apart from that, we want to talk about facilities for us for farming and irrigation.”

As for any personal farming benefits from their FPO, Aarvi says that over the months they have learned some composting techniques and the FPO is educating people on the health benefits of coarse grains and reducing pesticides, but Rohan is not impressed. “There are no subsidies or discounts,” he says. “I get it at a lower rate outside so why should I buy it from them?” The couple grows potatoes, peas and cauliflower, which provides about half their combined income. The other half is earned from animal husbandry, mainly buffalo and goats.

“I am proud because one person working on the field can feed 10 families,” Aarvi says, adding, “We (also) get fresh grains and vegetables.” She explains that the vegetables available in the market contain a lot of fertilizers, while they use natural compost made from manure on the farm. “We use a very little amount of chemical fertilizers,” Aarvi says proudly.

When she is asked about working outside the home, Aarvi, a mother of six, is pragmatic in her response. “There are some challenges. My mother-in-law is old and my children are very young. How will I leave them and go out to work? These are the main issues.” Aarvi comes home from working on the farm at 3pm and finishes all the household chores. “I do face some issues,” she says. “If I want to do these chores without the issues then I will have to leave agricultural work.”

However, Aarvi has no problem in theory with women working outside the home. “This is a good thing,” she says. “(Women) should work. Things have changed; now male and female should do all the work equally.” She mentions that women now are also able to contribute to household expenses from home by doing sewing and embroidery.

Her husband flip-flops on the issue. On the one hand he says there is “no problem” with women in the workforce, but he does not like women to go out alone. “Allowing women to go out is equivalent to destroying the peacefulness of your family,” he says. “There are a lot of problems.” Rohan then adds, almost as an afterthought, “They can work in offices.”

According to Rohan, modernity has brought with it other challenges as well. “Earlier times were better,” he begins. “Nowadays, there is more pretense and show." He believes there is less respect for elders, that child delivery is increasingly done through surgery in hospitals, and that women “believe it is important to give their opinion on everything.” Aarvi, however, points out some positive changes: “Girls were not allowed to go to school, but now the situation has improved and girls receive a lot of respect.”

As for their own daughter, both parents believe that she should have every opportunity available to her. “We will support whatever goals she has,” says Rohan. “We will not stifle her ambitions. She will choose the subjects she wants.” Aarvi agrees: “Our daughter studies well and is very intelligent and understanding. She says she will make our name shine when she grows up!” On a practical note, Aarvi says her daughter helps her with her work at home and is not afraid to communicate with others. “We believe she will be a great help to us in the future,” she says. “We have allowed our children to think freely,” Rohan adds. “We will ensure they have no shortage of resources.”

Unfortunately, opportunity comes at a cost, and the farm is not producing enough income to cover expenses the way the couple would like. Rohan is frustrated that they cannot buy the tractor they need to efficiently farm the land. “It’s tough,” Aarvi says. “I feel (our son) should study in a good school, but he’s unable to. Due to societal norms, we can't even dress properly. The wedding of the children seems impossible.”

Aarvi has joined a female self-help group to cover times of acute financial need. She contributes a small, regular savings of 100 rupees to a pooled fund, which allows her to access up to 5,000 rupees if needed. “It helps with medicine, education for children, old age, services and food,” she says, proud of the measure of financial independence this affords her: “So there’s no work that gets stalled and I don’t have to ask anyone for help.”