In Sita Sheti, he meant farmer-level development of appropriate technology. The women from the farming family should start different farming experiments using the means at their disposal, without running after any expensive methods. Since it was women who invented farming, he was sure that women would come up with some new improved methods even today. For instance, it was an observation by ordinary farmers that Marigold flowers grown around green chillies, reduced the impact of plant diseases. In developing this concept he had in mind couple of lakh women who had got a portion of the land transferred to their name through Laxmi Mukti Andolan. In Majghar (inner portion of the household) Sheti, he meant basic processing of the produce. He said, “Whatever you produced, don’t take it to the market just as it was but do some little processing on it which would add to its value.” Even in this processing, he did not have any big factory or machinery in mind. He wanted women to clean the farm produce thoroughly, arrange it grade-wise, make neat packs of one, two or five kilos and then take that produce to the market. It could be done with any produce – onion or potatoes, green vegetables or beans. Even if they did just that, they were bound to get some higher rate. For that they did not have to depend on government or any other outside agency. In Vyapar (commercial) Sheti, he meant going to the market, finding out which products had best demand, developing some products on their own and creating direct market for those products. He was sure there were many consumers willing to pay a little more for their supply provided it saved them some time and energy. The fact that such supply was fresh and unadulterated was a major added attraction. The produce could be anything – from cucumbers to tomatoes and sprouted beans to chillies. Joshi had also outlined a plan to set up a joint stock Company for marketing with a chain of such shops in this “farm to kitchen” model. Search for New Ways
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