What are you looking for?

}
Banner Planting the Seeds of Change in My Village

Planting the Seeds of Change in My Village

My name is Chitralekha Devi, and I live in Saraikela, a small village in Jharkhand. I come from a family of farmers, we’ve been growing vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, brinjal, and cauliflower for generations. Farming is in our roots, but for many years, it was a struggle. Like many in our area, we worked hard but lacked access to quality seeds, fertilizers, or the right advice. That changed in 2020, when I opened a Better Life Farming center.

Better Life Farming (BLF) centers are rural agri-business hubs operated by local entrepreneurs as part of a global initiative launched by Bayer in partnership with Netafim, IFC, and Yara. These centers provide farmers with everything they need to succeed—high-quality seeds and crop protection from Bayer, precision irrigation solutions from Netafim, and access to training, guidance, and support. Each center serves as a one-stop shop, helping smallholders adopt better farming practices and improve their livelihoods.

I still remember when Bayer’s team first came to our village to talk about the Better Life Farming initiative. I saw it as an opportunity, not just for my family, but for the entire community. With support from the alliance partners, including Netafim and Bayer, I opened the first BLF center in our area. I didn’t have any experience running a shop, but with training and guidance from the company representatives, I learned everything I needed to know.

"Running the center changed my life. I feel proud, not just because I’m a woman managing a business in a place where that’s still uncommon, but because I’ve become a source of knowledge and support for others.”

Today, our center is a one-stop shop for farmers from our village and neighboring ones, some traveling long distances just to get here. We provide irrigation equipment, seeds, fertilizers, crop protection, and advice. Many farmers in our area didn’t know about these products before, especially the benefits of drip irrigation. With help from Netafim, we were the first family in our village to install a drip system on our farm. The results were clear: better growth, higher yield, and less water use. Now, many others are following our lead.

Running the center changed my life. I feel proud, not just because I’m a woman managing a business in a place where that’s still uncommon, but because I’ve become a source of knowledge and support for others. Farmers trust me. They come with questions, and I guide them through the entire process, from planting to harvesting.

Of course, I couldn’t do this alone. My husband takes care of the farming, and my daughter, Anu, who just finished her exams, helps me at the shop. She even translates for me during interviews like this one. She says I’m her inspiration, but truly, I think we inspire each other.

What makes me happiest is seeing the impact. Farmers who once had to travel far and spend more money can now find what they need nearby, at better prices and with better guidance. And the quality of their harvests has improved.

When I opened the BLF center, I wanted to be known in the community. But more than that, I wanted to make a difference. Today, I feel like I’m doing both. I’ve earned a name for myself and for Better Life Farming in this region. But I’m not stopping here. I want to grow this center, reach more farmers, and help even more families improve their lives through better farming practices.

This journey is just beginning.

Contact Us Contact Us