A rural development initiative by ACC Limited is helping women farmers improve their livelihoods through sustainable agricultural practices in Dhanbad district. The programme has enabled a woman farmer from Chhatatand village to significantly increase her income through diversified vegetable cultivation.
Under the initiative, ACC provided agricultural training, quality seeds and access to solar lift irrigation facilities to support local farmers in adopting improved farming techniques. One of the beneficiaries, Chayna Devi, has successfully transformed her small farm into a productive source of income for her family.
Initially practicing subsistence farming on a small plot of land, Chayna began cultivating vegetables after receiving support through the programme. Using only about 10 dismil of land, she first grew peas with the seeds and guidance provided by the initiative. The crop yielded around 400 kilograms of produce, allowing her to earn nearly ₹16,000 from a single harvest.
Encouraged by this success, she gradually diversified her farming activities by cultivating additional vegetables. With improved farming techniques and better access to resources, her annual income from vegetable cultivation has now crossed ₹1 lakh.
Chayna says that the support she received helped her shift from farming only for household consumption to producing crops for the market. Today, her farming activities contribute significantly to the family’s income and financial stability.
The initiative is part of ACC’s broader effort to promote sustainable agriculture and livelihood development in rural communities. By working closely with agricultural experts and local farmers, the programme focuses on capacity building, skill development and the adoption of modern farming practices.
The project also highlights the growing role of women in agriculture and the importance of providing them with access to training, resources and market opportunities. Development experts note that empowering women farmers can lead to improved household incomes, stronger rural economies and more sustainable farming systems.
Through such initiatives, ACC aims to support rural families in moving beyond subsistence farming and adopting income-generating agricultural practices. The success of farmers like Chayna Devi is being seen as an example of how targeted support and knowledge sharing can help transform small farms into viable livelihood opportunities.
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