EPISODE 04Agriculture & Rural

Sunita & Meera Devi (44 yrs)

Varanasi Rural, UP • Aired Feb 20, 2026 • 295K Views

"The mandi middlemen told us: 'Women should cook in the kitchen, not run cold-press expeller oil machines.' We refused to step down."

Two sisters who fought village patriarchy to launch an organic mustard oil cooperative. Stalled by sudden wholesaler cartel boycotts.

PHASE 01

WHAT WAS ATTEMPTED

Organized 24 female smallholder farmers into a community micro-cooperative producing wood-pressed chemical-free mustard oil.

PHASE 02

WHERE IT COLLAPSED

Local mandi commission agents formed a cartel, blocking their oil tankers from district distribution channels and driving prices down below input cost.

PHASE 03

THE CURRENT REALITY

Direct-to-consumer online distribution through WhatsApp and farmers markets, training 40 additional village women.

VERIFIED COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER100% Direct Allocation

HELP SUNITA & MEERA DEVI REBUILD

₹3,68,000raised of ₹4,00,000 goal

520 Backers • 92% Funded

Itemized Fund Allocation Ledger

Solar Cold Press Machine52%

₹2,10,000

Eliminates reliance on erratic rural diesel generators

Eco Food-Grade Bottling Line28%

₹1,10,000

Semi-automated filling and leak-proof tin sealing apparatus

Organic Verification Audits20%

₹80,000

Formal organic soil and product purity laboratory testing fees