• Empowerment through SHGs: Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have significantly transformed the economic and social lives of rural women in India, providing them with financial independence and community support.
• Shubh Mint Program’s Impact: The Shubh Mint program, supporting over 26,000 farmers, has established numerous SHGs, enhancing women’s decision-making and mobility within their households.
• Celebrating Rural Women: On the International Day for Rural Women, the Shubh Mint program organized inter-cluster exposure visits, allowing 100 women to learn from successful women-run farms, explore Farmer Producer Companies, and gain insights into income-generating activities, boosting their confidence and entrepreneurial aspirations.

In India, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have transformed the economic and social lives of rural women, giving them avenues for financial independence and community support. These groups empower women to collectively save and access financing and essential training.

The Shubh Mint program, which supports more than 26,000 farmers in improving agricultural skills, increasing mint yields, and boosting incomes, has established hundreds of SHGs for women. This program, implemented by Tanager and funded by Mars Wrigley, has made notable progress in enhancing women’s household decision-making and mobility.

Celebrating International Day for Rural Women with a New Approach

Last month on the International Day for Rural Women, the Shubh Mint program marked the occasion by offering a unique opportunity for rural women to learn and grow. Typically, Shubh Mint commemorates this day with local celebrations, but this year, the program aimed to deepen the impact by organizing inter-cluster exposure visits for 100 women across four clusters in Barabanki District, Uttar Pradesh. The participants experienced a three-day journey filled with inspiring interactions, hands-on learning, and powerful examples of female entrepreneurship.

The program facilitated visits to key sites and events that demonstrated thriving, women-led agricultural and business initiatives. Highlights included:

• Learning From Successful Women-Run Farms
  Participants visited farms managed by women, where they observed sustainable farming practices firsthand. Women farmers shared stories of resilience, providing powerful examples of overcoming adversity to build successful agricultural ventures.
• Exploration of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs)
  At the Subh Vikalp FPC in Fatehpur, participants learned about the mint oil procurement process and the value of FPCs in supporting farmers. The visit to Zaidpur Swabhimaan Mahila FPC—a company run entirely by women—was especially impactful. Uma, a dedicated employee, shared her experience of managing an input shop, demonstrating the pivotal role women can play as entrepreneurs and employees within agricultural supply chains.
• Insights into Thriving Income-Generating Activities (IGAs)
  The women learned about various IGAs, including dairy farming, handicrafts, and agro-processing, which have boosted household incomes. The exposure to these IGAs offered them ideas and insights into ways they could expand their own economic activities.
• A Peek into Peer SHGs
  Observing peer SHGs in action provided valuable insights into effective group coordination, loan tracking, and savings management. The women saw how inter-loaning among SHGs helped meet financial needs, strengthening their understanding of SHG operations.

Building Confidence and Empowerment

“The visits built the women’s confidence by showing practical examples of success in agriculture and small business,” said Shikha Roy, the women’s empowerment specialist for Shubh Mint. Seeing their peers’ accomplishments inspired many participants to make plans for their own ventures.

“This visit has been a game changer for me,” shared Gayatri, an SHG member from the Zaidpur cluster. “Meeting the women farmers in Fatehpur was incredibly inspiring. Their stories have motivated me to try sustainable farming practices in my own fields. Visiting the input shop run by a woman showed me that we, too, can make a difference in agriculture. I feel more confident about starting my own small business to support my family.”

Reshmapati, another SHG member, shared her hope and newfound business aspirations. “The women openly shared their challenges, and it inspired me to be resilient and seek support from my SHG. I now feel empowered to lead in my community and to pass on the valuable lessons I’ve gained here.”

Moving Forward

The Shubh Mint program’s inter-cluster visits underscore the transformative power of community and shared learning among rural women in India. By connecting women from different backgrounds and clusters, the program has not only strengthened individual confidence but also forged a network of support that will continue to uplift and inspire. The success stories and shared knowledge gained from these experiences represent a promising future for women-led agricultural and entrepreneurial efforts in rural India.