Athang Mahila Farmer Producer Companylimited

We are based in the village of Bhari, which is out in the Yavatmal district. The whole operation is run through Archana Vijay Shirsagar’s home. It is a Mahila company, meaning it is the women from around here who are putting in the effort to get this off the ground. In a place like Bhari, everyone knows everyone, so it’s not like we need a big sign on the door. We usually sit together in the afternoons to figure out the farming schedules and what the group needs to buy or sell. Yavatmal can be a tough place for farming because of the weather, but we are used to it. We don't have a fancy office with air conditioning; we just use what we have at Archana’s place. It’s a lot of talk about soil, rain, and how to get a fair price for what we grow. The kids are often running around while we work, and someone usually has tea going. It is very much a grassroots thing. We are just trying to do something for ourselves and our families without relying on outsiders. It’s not about being a big corporation. It is about the women in this village having a say in how our crops are handled. It is slow work sometimes, and we learn as we go, but it is ours. We are just plain folks working the land in 445002.