For generations, small farmers in Gujarat, India, have faced the same challenge: after harvest, they often had little choice but to sell their produce immediately—even when market prices were low.
Without access to affordable storage, farmers risked spoilage and had to accept whatever price buyers offered.
That began to change in 2024, when the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) established a solar-powered cold storage facility in the region—a women-led community business built by women and managed by women.
Powered by the sun and operated by women from the local potato cluster, the facility can store up to 10 tons of fresh produce. It gives farmers something they previously lacked: the ability to wait for better market prices instead of being forced to sell immediately after harvest.
“We were provided training on how to handle and set the temperature of the cold storage. After that, we started keeping vegetables in cold storage when the prices were low, and when the rates increased, we sold them in the market. In this way, we are getting good income from our produce,” said Rekhaben, one of the women managing the facility.
A cold storage facility—and a source of opportunity
Five trained women now manage the facility’s day-to-day operations, including monitoring, maintenance and temperature management. They also reach out to other women in the community and encourage them to participate in the initiative.
For the women farmers, the benefits go beyond avoiding post-harvest losses.
One woman farmer recalled the costs they previously faced when using commercial storage facilities.
“Earlier we used to store our potatoes and other crops in storage units and had to pay rent for that. We had to bear an expense of INR 500–INR600 per day. Now we have SEWA’s cold storage, so we don’t have any such expense or need to pay anything. Earlier, the cost of transport was INR 1,000. Now SEWA has provided us with transportation as well.”
The savings can make a significant difference for small-scale farmers, particularly when combined with the opportunity to sell when prices are more favorable.
In one instance, the women-led cluster stored 4,500 kilograms of potatoes, enabling farmers to earn ?10–?15 more per kilogram compared with selling immediately after harvest.
Rekhaben also described the difference the facility has made in reducing losses.
“Earlier there used to be a lot of wastage of potatoes, but now we are getting 40 to 50% return on vegetables.”
Climate-smart infrastructure built around women’s leadership
The facility was supported by USD 42,669 in funding from the APFP-FO4A programe, helping establish a community-based model that combines renewable energy, collective action and women’s economic leadership.
The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) was implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aimed to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia.
The local potato cluster has around 150 farmers, while approximately 650 farmers are connected across the wider region.
Through collective buying, shared knowledge and climate-smart agricultural practices, the initiative is helping farmers strengthen their ability to manage both market and production challenges.
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