Backyard Gardens Become a Path to Women’s Progress

Medicinal plants grown in home gardens emerge as a source of additional income

Raipur, March 2026 : Efforts are being made to ensure regular income for women by planting medicinal plants in their home gardens. Through this initiative, many women in rural areas who are unable to go outside their homes for work can strengthen their financial condition by earning from within their households. Keeping this challenge in mind, the board has designed a scheme that enables women to generate employment while staying at home and increase their income.

Under the directions of Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap and the guidance of Vikas Markam, the Chhattisgarh Tribal, Local Health Tradition and Medicinal Plant Board, Raipur has launched an innovative scheme to promote the economic empowerment of rural women.

Medicinal Plants Like Sindoori, Shatavari and Ashwagandha Provided Free of Cost

Under the scheme, women are provided three major medicinal plants—Sindoori, Shatavari, and Ashwagandha—free of cost for plantation in their home gardens. These plants require relatively less care and can easily be managed along with other household responsibilities.

The Ashwagandha crop becomes ready in about six months, while Shatavari yields are obtained after around 24 months, and Sindoori starts producing harvest after about 36 months. The products made from these three plants have continuous demand in the market, making the marketing of their raw produce easier. The board has already ensured marketing arrangements by signing agreements with non-governmental organisations.

Good Production with Low Investment

About 40 to 50 Sindoori plants can be planted in a home garden, maintaining a distance of about 10 feet between them. Around 500 Shatavari plants can be planted in the space between these trees. In this way, good production can be achieved even in limited space.

Medicinal Plants Planted in the Gardens of 509 Women in 27 Villages

The pilot project of this scheme has been launched in Dhamtari district. Here, about 82,000 Shatavari plants and 39,000 Sindoori plants have been planted in the gardens of 509 women from 27 villages. Regular inspections are conducted and women are provided technical guidance and information related to harvesting.

Women Earning an Additional ₹20,000–₹30,000 Annually

The board expects that after about 24 months, women associated with this scheme will start earning an additional ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 annually. This initiative could prove to be an important step towards making rural women self-reliant.