From Struggles to Success: The Inspiring Journey of Amaravati Toika

Amaravati Toika, 55, from Dumburi village in Nilamguda Gram Panchayat, Rayagada district, once faced the harsh realities of small-scale farming. On her single acre of land, traditional cotton cultivation barely brought in ₹20,000 a year—hardly enough for her family of four to live with dignity. High input costs, frequent crop failures, and the absence of viable alternatives kept her trapped in uncertainty.

Her life began to change when she joined the Maa Brundabati Producer Group, a collective of women farmers formed under CYSD’s APC Project. At awareness sessions, Amaravati learned how the project aimed to enhance livelihoods for small and marginal farmers, especially women,through improved farming practices, access to government schemes, and skill-building opportunities.

Encouraged by the training, Amaravati took a bold step: she decided to cultivate potatoes, a crop entirely new to her. With guidance from the Project Team, she received 2.5 quintals of high-quality potato seeds at a subsidized rate through the Agriculture Department. On 0.2 hectares, she applied modern techniques—soil preparation, seed treatment, spacing, irrigation, and pest control—transforming a small plot of land into a promising venture.

Her efforts paid off with a harvest of 7 quintals of potatoes, earning ₹11,900 against an expenditure of ₹5,200. With a ₹2,600 subsidy facilitated by CYSD, her net earnings reached ₹9,300—an impressive return from just three months on a small plot, far surpassing her earlier annual cotton income.

"Amaravati Toika’s family now sees her not just as a homemaker but as a skilled farmer and entrepreneur. With higher household income and plans to expand vegetable cultivation, her future looks brighter. Inspired by her, many women in Dumburi village are adopting improved farming practices and diversifying crops. The APC Project’s producer group model has built knowledge, confidence, and collaboration. As Amaravati says, 'With the right support and skills, we women can shape our future and lead change in our communities.”