Rajenthiran Valarmathy, the mother of 04 children, lives in Arumuhathankulam with her husband, daughter, and 03 sons. Her family resettled in the village in 2010. Agriculture is the primary livelihood of the family. Earlier, her husband was fully engaged in farming activities on the 01-acre land owned by them and Valarmathy was fully engaged in household work and supported in agricultural activities at the very minimum level. A few years before, OXFAM and FOSDOO started to work with selected potential farmers in the village. Rajenthiran is also one of the farmers included in the project activities. Rajenthiran and Valarmathy have actively participated in the activities initiated to promote women’s economic empowerment and other project activities. It has created changes in recognizing women’s unpaid care work and giving space to be involved in income generation activities with her husband’s support.
The changes observed in this family are, earlier her husband was involved in agriculture activities and now Valarmathy is fully involved in agriculture activities and her husband is working in the security agency. Also, they have increased the size of cultivation and now doing agriculture on 02-acres of land. They had cultivated only groundnut and maize while cultivating 01-acre of land. Now, they have started doing vegetable cultivation along with groundnut and maize. At present, she is cultivating snake gourd, bitter gourd, beans, cassava, and chili. She is taking much effort to do organic cultivation by limiting chemical fertilizer application. Her husband and children are supporting her in agriculture activities. Now, she earns around LKR 40,000 from agriculture. She began maintaining records of income and expenses. Valarmathy, who had no savings habit before, has begun to save in the bank.
At present, 02 females are working on her farm for wages. She also hires males whenever needed. Also, she expresses her dissatisfaction with the wage difference between male and female workers. Valarmathy and her daughter are capable of handling the agriculture machines and tools that most women are reluctant to handle. She is approaching relevant government stakeholders and accessing the needed services.
Now, husband and wife share the family responsibility with improved understanding and harmony at the family level. We can observe that the parents teach and discipline the same in recognizing women’s rights. The children are also supporting the mother in all her work including the agriculture activities. Valarmathy has set the best example to become a women farmer in her village.