The women growing their own power in Kerala's highlands

In the mist-covered hills of Kerala, something quiet but significant is taking root. Alongside the coffee plants and spice gardens that have sustained highland families for generations, a different kind of crop is being cultivated: female independence.

The Plantrich cooperative has 5,000 members, 130 of them part of an all-female farming collective - believed to be unique in India. For the women involved, the cooperative has reshaped not just their finances, but their place in the world.

Shiny Joy, who leads the women's group, lives in a traditional highland house surrounded by coffee, turmeric, ginger, cloves and pepper. She is measured but clear-eyed about what the organisation has delivered. "It is the best organisation for women, because as far as I know there is only one organisation of this kind under the coffee board in India. We have many benefits. They provide us with saplings, fertilisers etc. This organisation is uplifting our standard of living."

Money changes everything

The shift has been as much cultural as economic. Across Kerala's smallholder communities, money has long been a male domain. Now, payments go directly into women's own bank accounts - a change that sounds administrative but carries enormous social weight. "Earlier, in almost all families it was the husband's duty to handle the financial needs of the family," Shiny explains. "But now we are receiving money directly to our bank accounts, and the bonuses and scholarships have improved the standard of living."

'First they were very scared to come out of their houses. Outside their family, there was no world for them. Now they have got the self-confidence that they can do something' Seetha Thampi, Plantrich women's programme

Plantrich was founded in the 1990s by Bijumon Kurian, a self-described "die-hard organic farming enthusiast", after the widespread use of the pesticide Endosulfan devastated local communities. "A lot of child births were affected, and a lot of farmers' lives were affected by cancer," he says. "This is why I had the vision to build an organic company."

Today, members farm to strict organic principles, using eco-friendly practices to reduce soil erosion and protect biodiversity, with data tracked through a dedicated app. 

Recognised by the world

For the cooperative, Preferred by Nature’s work has proved another turning point. Today, the women can protect their land from erosion, improve soil fertility and demonstrate the traceability that international buyers increasingly demand. For many, it is the first time their work has been valued beyond the local marketplace - opening doors to global markets and fairer prices in the process. Aadarsh Mohandas, Regional Manager at Preferred by Nature, sees the impact clearly.

 "Certification gives farmers the confidence that their work matters and that global buyers are willing to pay for it. It recognises the environmental care they put into their land and the social changes they are driving in their communities."

Seetha Thampi, who leads the women's programme, has watched a broader transformation unfold. "First they were very scared to come out of their houses. Outside their family, there was no world for them. Nowadays they started to come out for the meetings and the training. Now they have got the self-confidence that they can do something."

As for resistance from husbands? Seetha is pragmatic. "Once the money starts coming, the women are very strong."

Photos courtesy: Benjamin Holst/Preferred by Nature