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In Telana village of the Golaghat district in Assam, Sobita Tamuli converted an innovative idea into a movement of empowering people. Beginning her journey as a young woman with little education, Tamuli broke all rural boundaries by forming Seuji, a women’s self-help group. She has been manufacturing inexpensive organic manure and traditional Assamese Japis, which provide sustainable employment to women and promote eco-farming in the area.

Who Is Sobita Tamuli? The Inspiring Story Of Assam’s Agri-Entrepreneur

Sobita Tamuli’s journey began in 2002. Married at the age of 18 into a modest rural household, she faced the financial constraints common to many village families in Assam. Rather than accepting these limitations, she searched for local solutions to generate income without relying on external capital.

Observing the abundant organic waste around her village, Tamuli realised she could produce high-quality organic manure using local, natural ingredients. With determination, she gathered a small team of women from her village and established Seuji. Her enterprise expanded over the years to include custom-made Japis, traditional Assamese handcrafted bamboo hats, giving her business two distinct, flourishing product lines in the regional market.

How Sobita Tamuli’s Organic Manure Revolutionised Agriculture

In most cases, the use of chemical fertilisers degrades the quality of the soil over time, which makes it essential to consider affordable options, like organic fertilisers. In recognition of this necessity, Tamuli came up with an innovation called Kesuhaar, which is an organic vermicompost that is rich in nutrients.

  • The fertiliser is prepared using cow dung, shredded banana stems, earthworms, khaar, and fallen leaves.

  • The decomposition process provides natural organic compost that boosts the microflora content in soil while improving its moisture retention capacity.

  • Kesuhaar is supplied in 5 kg packs at an affordable price of ₹50 per pack.

    • Building Economic Independence In Rural Assam

    It is through her business that Sobita Tamuli has made a major transformation of the social and economic environment of the village. Previously, rural women had no financial independence because they were dependent on men of their families. Now, with the manufacturing of organic manure and handmade Japis, women have become financially independent as they earn money directly from these products every month without involving any intermediaries.

    Moreover, the project also preserves the culture due to the decreasing interest in traditional crafts, and the team manufactures Assamese Japis for commercial purposes, for cultural occasions, organisations, and tourists. However, more importantly, the project brought about a change in mentality in the community. While the initiative started with disbelief in the capabilities of a young woman with a business idea, it has turned into a project which is supported by the whole village and helps everyone see the economic potential in the village.

    Conclusion

    Sobita Tamuli’s experience proves that the combination of innovation and hard work can change the lives of people in a rural community. Creating farm fertilisers from organic waste and developing the craft of traditional Assamese handicrafts is Sobita Tamuli’s way of creating a sustainable social business. The Seuji project can serve as an example to follow.

    Image credits: Instagram

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