Transform Rural India is committed to creating flourishing localities by empowering women as key agents of change in rural landscapes. In this effort, Transform Rural India (TRI), in collaboration with government departments and local partners, organized an exposure visit to the mango plantation of a local farmer, Ashok Barfa, in Rajpur Block, Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh.

Krishi Sakhis, Self Help Group (SHG) women, and the Senior Agriculture Development Officer from the Horticulture Department participated in the visit to enable SHG members to understand how farming practices can be improved through techniques such as intercropping, grafting, and scientific spacing, allowing them to explore income opportunities beyond traditional crops.

The role of TRI is to facilitate such learning environments where government expertise, local knowledge, and community participation intersect. By providing technical guidance on plantation layout, soil and water management, pest control, and navigating government schemes, TRI helps create a foundation for adopting scientific agriculture. The ongoing collaboration also focuses on sustained capacity building, enabling women farmers to confidently implement new techniques.

Participants saw the value in intercropping as a strategy to secure early income during the initial years before mango trees bear fruit. With expected yields of 3–4 kg per tree after three years, and an expected first income of around ₹5,50,000 (₹30–40 per kg), the plantation presented a meaningful opportunity for rural families.

Feedback from the women during the visit reflected a shift from hesitation to confidence in embracing horticulture, with many committed to spreading these insights within their Village Organisation meetings.

Such initiatives exemplify TRI’s approach to grassroots development—not through imposing solutions, but by accompanying communities in learning, experimenting, and gradually transforming traditional practices into more resilient, profitable ones. Through continued engagement and knowledge exchange, TRI supports women farmers to not only improve their agricultural practices but also become active contributors to holistic rural progress.