Thriving 32-acre Integrated Farm Established by woman from Assam with Fishery, Napier Grass, and Sericulture Initiatives, Following Job Loss as a Teacher.
Nandita Kalita, an Assamese woman, made headlines in Assam after she transformed her life from a laid-off school educator to a successful farmer. In 2021, Kalita decided to venture into agriculture after numerous heartfelt discussions with her family, marking the beginning of her remarkable journey.
Losing her job as a Middle English school educator and Hindi teacher, Kalita found herself in a challenging situation. However, she saw an opportunity in adversity and decided to turn her 8-bigha land plot into a thriving integrated farming enterprise.
By February 2021, Kalita had started a 5-bigha fishery and began planting Som trees, banana plantations, mulberry trees, bamboo, and Napier grass on her farm. She also raised six goats, chickens, and ducks, further diversifying her income streams.
Kalita managed her farm with the help of four full-time labourers and occasional support from her family members. By 2024, her fishery had expanded to a 32-bigha enterprise, and her farm had become a multi-crop and multi-livestock hub.
In 2021, Kalita's impressive annual profit from her integrated farming enterprise was around Rs 5 lakhs. This significant achievement showcases her resilience, adaptability, and vision.
However, Kalita's journey was not without its challenges. Delays in transportation have resulted in post-harvest losses for her crops, especially bananas and pumpkins. Lack of cold storage facilities and transport logistics have also caused her to discard fish. To address these issues, Kalita has made multiple appeals to local authorities and government departments for road development.
Nandita Kalita is a notable figure in Assam for her innovative work in mulberry farming, which has had a significant impact on the silk farming industry in the region. She introduced improved mulberry farming methods that increased leaf yield and the quality of the foliage, ensuring better nourishment for silkworms and enhancing the silk quality and output.
Kalita's sustainable and community-focused approach has attracted attention for its environmental benefits and better long-term productivity. By boosting local mulberry leaf production, Kalita’s farm played a crucial role in stabilizing the raw material supply chain for silk farmers in Assam, supporting numerous small-scale and traditional sericulture workers and improving their livelihoods.
Kalita's work also empowers women farmers and engages local communities, providing them with training and employment opportunities in mulberry cultivation and silk farming. She encourages other rural women to explore small avenues for self-reliance.
Kalita acknowledges the crucial role her family's support played in her success. Her husband and father-in-law actively participate in farming activities. Despite facing a significant financial and emotional loss due to her job loss, Kalita believes that even small steps toward self-employment can make a big difference.
Nandita Kalita's mulberry farm serves as a critical example of how innovation and sustainable practices in mulberry cultivation can revitalize silk farming in Assam. Her contributions help preserve Assam's rich sericulture heritage while advancing economic and environmental goals.
- Nandita Kalita's impressive financial success from her integrated farming enterprise, which reached around Rs 5 lakhs in annual profit by 2021, demonstrates the potential of science, business, and entrepreneurship in transforming one's life.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and women's health, Kalita's mulberry farm plays a significant role by improving the quality of silk, thereby enhancing the dietary and economic well-being of local communities.
- Expanding her farm from an 8-bigha plot to a 32-bigha enterprise by 2024, Kalita's lifestyle change from a school educator to a successful farmer serves as an inspiration for others looking to improve their home-and-garden ventures and explore self-employment.
- With a focus on community empowerment and sustainable practices, Kalita's mulberry farm not only contributes to the financial prosperity of Assam's silk farmers but also promotes environmental preservation, aligning with the objectives of lifestyle choices that prioritize health, wellness, and the environment.
