India is home to about 120 million smallholder farmers solely dependent on the agriculture for their primary livelihood. Smallholders in India generally contributes almost 40% of the country’s grain production. Much of the Global share of staple foods contributed by India.

Every year, smallholders are prey to most disasters and vulnerable to many risks such as low rainfall, prolong dry spell, untimely heavy to heavy rainfall, flash flood, market accessibility, price volatility, rising depts and increasing external dependency for farm inputs and supply. But this year, Covid-19 pandemic has put this sector into a new challenge that is already under threat and making smallholders become more and more vulnerable. Smallholder farmers (i.e. tenant farmers, widow, widowers, differently-abled farmers, single women etc) are among these vulnerable groups. Having 2-2.5 acres of cultivable land, represent a significant share of the rural population while contributing to the nation’s food security.

Jagat Rani, 52, a differently-abled and a widow from Saasan village of Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, India living with her son, daughter in law and 4 grandchildren. Considering her big family, she used to manage some labour works along with her son on a daily basis at their village itself. Her son decided and migrated to Haryana last year in search of better livelihood to save some money for his family and children. While he was there, Jagat Rani met an accident while she was coming back from the weekly market and badly hurt her left leg. With unbearable pain, she could manage to go to the hospital, where there was no option left except amputation of her left leg. She had no other way and the whole situation made her became more miserable. With the new challenge, she must manage not only her days but also to look after the entire family need.

Since the coronavirus outbreak in late December 2019, a significant number of human cases of a respiratory disease identified, spreading over 119 countries declared as one of the major health emergencies across the globe. As part of the prevention measure, the government has called a complete nationwide lockdown. People were advised not to come out and stay wherever they are to keep them safe from the deadly virus.

Jagat somehow managed to meet the family’s daily requirements for a few days. She tried to get some ration (food materials) from public distribution system but that too finished within a month. While passing through this difficult time, she was selected by the village research person of smallholder adaptive farming and biodiversity network (SAFBIN) during the situation assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on smallholder food and nutritional security. On the next day, she received one-month foot kit (Rice, Wheat Flour, Dal, cooking oil, Salt, Sugar and tea leaves) from Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS), Sagar, the implementing partner of SAFBIN.

She was so obliged for the help with regards to fixing her disability pension from the department and a wheelchair from gram panchayat with the help of the SAFBIN village resource person.

“It was even worse to get three meals in a day for my family while my son was stuck in Haryana during the lockdown. But thankful to Caritas India and Mana Vikas Seva Sangh, Sagar for their immediate support with food kit. I could feel the blessing of the almighty for such humanitarian service and reaching out to the most vulnerable people like me”, shared Jagat delightedly.

“I am thankful to Caritas India and Manav Vikas Seva Sangh for this support with food kit especially in this lockdown situation when all shops are closed, and I was also outside. Thank you for supporting my mother and family in a best possible manner”, said by Mahendra, son of Jagat Rani.

MVSS has supported most marginalised 4900 families across Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh with special focus on people with disability, widows, single women-headed families and landless families. Apart from this, the organisation has opened more than 100 community kitchen’s to support the migrant community with daily food.