From Homemaker to Farmer: Surat Woman Finds Success in Natural Farming

Surat | Gujarat — When determination meets the right guidance, even a homemaker can achieve great success. This is proved by Kailashben Patel, a 37 year old woman from Rajgari village in Choryasi taluka, Surat district. Once a homemaker managing only household work, she is now a successful farmer practicing natural vegetable farming and even selling her produce directly in the market.

The turning point in Kailashben’s life came when she connected with Adani Foundation, Hazira, and the government’s ATMA project. Through training, she shifted from chemical farming to natural methods. She learned to prepare organic fertilizers like jeevamrut and vermicompost. In the beginning, technical issues were challenging, but she did not give up. Using social media, she contacted experts, adopted scientific techniques, and converted her once-barren land into fertile farmland. In 2024–25, she received support from Adani Foundation to build mandvas (trellis structures) for climber vegetables and a kitchen garden kit. Today she successfully grows 12 different vegetables, and her produce is appreciated even by experts at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Her marketing skills have also improved. With a permanent stall at the Natural Farming Market in Vesu, Surat, she now sells directly to urban customers. Her monthly income has reached around ₹25,000, which she proudly spends on her three daughters’ education. One daughter has completed MSW, another is pursuing nursing, and the youngest is in Class 12.

Throughout this journey, her husband has been her strongest support. Kailashben has proved that if a woman decides to move forward, she can turn soil into gold and fulfill her family’s dreams. Inspired by her success, many other homemakers have also benefited from the support of Adani Foundation. In Hazira and the tribal-majority Umarpada area, the Foundation has helped over 60 women strengthen their livelihood through kitchen gardens and mandvas for vegetable cultivation.