Godhadi work goes global, local farmers reap benefits

‘Godhadi’ and food items made by Nileema Mishra’s Bhagini Nivedita Gramin Vidyan Niketan are heating up the overseas market, as well as benefiting farmers in the locality it is based in. From providing rainwater storage techniques to selling food goods, the organisation is now exporting godhadi to Japan, Australia, Netherlands and Germany charging Rs8,500 per godhadi, which is made by local folk.

Mishra has said that the business has given rural women expertise in the godhadi-making business.

“We wanted to tap their talent, which would in turn impart good returns to illiterate rural women. Austrian resident Anny Goldsmith, who is a fashion designer by profession, helped us choose the design to attract overseas markets. She even helped us in the marketing of our local godhadi brand,” Mishra added.

Bhagini Nivedita Gramin Vidnyan Niketan exports almost 50 godhadi in a month to Australia, Japan, Germany, and Netherlands. The cost of export quality godhadi ranges from Rs4,500 to Rs8,500 per piece. The demand in metros like Pune, Nasik and Mumbai is also picking up. Almost 250 women are engaged in the godhadi-making business.

“Earlier, the women didn’t know how to make attractive godhadi,” remembers Mishra. “With Anny’s help, they have become experts. In a day, two women can make two godhadis. Godhadi-making women keep 10% of profits and the rest of the money id spent on buying clothing, stitching, transport cost, and so on. Besides godhadi, we make and sell 35 types of food items at reasonable rates. All of them are in demand.”

In rural areas, most of the families are depend on farm yields.

“Due to drought, farmers are not even recovering the invested amount. In 2004, nearly 44 farmers committed suicide and the number was on the rise. So I called a village farmer’s meeting to understand their problems and tried to find a way out. Our godhadi was received well and became a huge success,” Mishra said.

Bhagini Nivedita Gramin Vidnyan Niketan has prepared a 27-year-long developmental blueprint of the locality.

“Earlier farmers used to pump out all the water in wells. Now, they have set up a drip-irrigation system. With limited water, farmers have started achieving good yields. Our production has increased manifold,” said Somanath Chaudhari, the sarpanch of Bahadarpur.