Kaushayla owns one acre of land and used to cultivate one crop in a year. It fetched her only US$700 and that could not meet all her basic needs. She started cultivating this one acre during the off season that used to remain idle earlier. Kaushalya sowed gram and cow pea in this land well-suited to local conditions for off season by adopting crop rotation to maintain soil health and organic manure to reduce weeds and pests and conserving rainwater. This resulted in good yields of 1,040 kg and earned her US$2,945.

This farm income contributed to an increase in her household income and gave Kaushalya greater decision-making power within the family, enhancing her confidence and independence. She was able to pay for her children’s school needs and meet household expenses. This greatly reduced her stress. It reduced their dependency on a single harvest, ensuring a more stable food supply in off season. Her success inspired other women in the community to adopt off season cropping to maximise land productivity and increase overall yields.