In the village of Raipura, Sehore district, resides a dedicated and hardworking farmer woman named Phoolwati Mevada. Her husband, Dinesh Mevada, runs a grocery store and spends most of his time away from home, leaving Phoolwati to manage all agricultural activities. She cultivates a variety of vegetables in large quantities across her 1.5-acre farm.

Phoolwati s family consists of three members: herself, her husband, and their son. She has always been concerned about the health of her husband and son, especially after the tragic loss of her daughter to a snakebite.

After joining the Good Farming–Good Food–Good Health programme in 2022, Phoolwati underwent intensive training on nutrition, organic farming, and sustainable practices. One of the key transformations she experienced was the incorporation of soybeans into their daily diet, guided by the programme s nutrition experts. She learned to prepare soybean-based dishes like soy dal, soy chapatis, and soy flour-based snacks, which boosted the family's protein intake by over 60%, according to her Anganwadi nutrition records.

She also transitioned from chemical pesticides to organic methods. Within one year, she completely eliminated chemical inputs, replacing them with natural fertilizers like cow dung tonic, Jeevamrit, and vermicompost all prepared at home. Her input cost reduced by ₹6,500 per season, and her vegetable yields increased by 15-18%, especially for tomatoes and okra.

Thanks to the programme s agroforestry component, Phoolwati planted 02 fruit-bearing trees including jamun, mango, lemon, and grapes—on the boundary of her vegetable plots. In just 1.5 years, the mango and lemon trees began to flower, promising future harvests that could contribute to her family’s nutritional security and additional income.

Additionally, with guidance from the field staff, she started selling her surplus vegetables in the local haat (market), increasing her average monthly income from ₹3,000 to ₹5,200—a 73% increase. She now plans to start a small home-based value-addition unit with support from the self-help group she recently joined.

Phoolwati appreciates the programme efforts, stating:

Earlier, we were farming in darkness. Now there is guidance, knowledge, and confidence. I can feed my family healthy food and earn better—both from the same land.