PAKISTAN – Women leading change: The rise of the Five Star Women Farmers Cooperative in Sultanabad

Farhana is a Board Member of the Five Star Women Farmers Cooperative, a cooperative in Sultanabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, established with support from the Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) through the ETI project.

Like many women in her village, Farhana began farming alongside her husband to support their household. Despite their hard work, meeting the daily needs of the family was a constant struggle. They relied on traditional farming methods, which yielded low productivity and very small profits.

Around her, other women were facing the same challenges—working on small plots, earning little, and lacking access to better knowledge and resources.

When business mobilizers reached out to the community, Farhana and several other women in her village saw an opportunity to change their situation. Five women took the lead in organizing themselves, believing that working together would allow them to learn, support one another, and strengthen their bargaining power. This collective effort led to the formation of the Five Star Women Farmers Cooperative Society.

Farhana’s journey took a turning point through the APFP-FO4A program, which is implemented in Pakistan by the ASF. The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia.

Through various activities conducted by the ASF under the APFP-FO4A program, Farhana received technical training in regenerative agriculture, good agricultural practices, and pre- and post-harvest management. These trainings opened her eyes to new and more effective farming techniques. Unlike traditional methods, the improved practices helped increase productivity, enhance crop quality, and significantly improve farm profitability.

With her new skills, Farhana began growing vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and capsicum. She also learned how to save seeds, reducing costs and ensuring better crop sustainability.

Over time, her farm’s productivity steadily increased, and so did her family’s income. The training, particularly on tomato production, resulted in higher yields and better-quality produce, which translated into greater profits.

Farhana and her husband work as a team. While she focuses on production, her husband sells their harvest directly in the local market. By eliminating middlemen, they are able to earn more from their produce and secure a better return for their hard work.

Beyond her own farm, Farhana plays a leadership role in the cooperative. As a member of the Board of Directors and the procurement committee, she contributes to decisions on purchasing quality inputs and resources for the cooperative.