Success Story: This woman from Jharkhand earns Rs 70,000 per month by farming fish in sea and freshwater

Success Story: A 38-year-old lady from Dumka, Jharkhand, named Vinita Kumari, demonstrates resilience in the face of adversity. Following the COVID-19 epidemic, she lost her father, two siblings, and finally her husband, leaving her to bear the burden of supporting her family. When faced with an uncertain future, Vinita decided to take over her family’s fishing company and enter the aquaculture industry.

Vinita had a difficult path, particularly in a profession that was mostly controlled by males. “Being a woman alone in that field was initially difficult,” she explains. However, she overcame the difficulties and established a prosperous freshwater and saltwater fish farming company with perseverance and hard work. Vinita is now one of her state’s top fish growers. She has given her kids a bright future and served as an example to many women who want to pursue farming on their own.

Overcoming Individual Misfortune: A Fresh Start

Vinita grew up in Dumka, where she was born. She had a peaceful life with her parents and brothers. Her father’s death in 1994 was too early for her, and she later lost both of her brothers. Vinita kept her family together in spite of these devastating losses. Life has been quiet after she married Begusarai native Vipin Chaudhary in 1990. However, with the deaths of her brothers, the family’s financial circumstances worsened. She felt compelled to accept the task.

She made the decision to go into the usually male-dominated sector of fishing. With her husband’s assistance, she gradually learned the ropes, handled daily tasks, and started again in her family’s company. She was put to the ultimate test during the COVID-19 epidemic when she lost her spouse to the illness. Her life was at its darkest at this time. With two kids and no one else to help out, she was now living alone.

She had to decide whether to struggle against the situation or accept it. She made the decision to fight. She became well-known in her area as a result of her courageous choice.

Entering the Fishery Industry: A Female’s Obstacle

She was committed to giving her children a safe future. She threw herself fully into the fishing industry. Her husband had worked in Patna before his passing, but she went back to Dumka. She was in charge of everything, including fish collection and pond maintenance. She was also in charge of marketing and sales. She became an expert in a field she had previously known very little about.

Freshwater fish like Rohu, Katla, and Mrigal carp, which are constantly in demand, are traded by her firm. Later on, she expanded her company to include South Indian ocean seafood. She sells fish in bulk in addition to local markets. She is now among Jharkhand’s leading distributors of fish.

She is the state’s only female wholesaler. She never let her job be impacted by gender prejudice. Among the 150–200 guys who work for her, she stands tall. Together with her business partner, she has gained their respect by working hard and being a skilled businesswoman.

Overcoming Challenges: The Path to Financial Self-Sufficiency

Being a woman in a world dominated by men was never an easy task. Vinita had to get over a number of obstacles, including industry authorities, competitors, and skeptical customers. During the first stage, she had to deal with problems including finding fish, maintaining quality, and money problems.

She survived because of her tenacity. She asked the government for help, and District Fisheries Officer Amarendra Kumar provided it. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, she negotiated a loan of Rs. 10 lakh, of which Rs. 4 lakh was given as a grant. This funding would allow her to expand her company even further.

Despite the fluctuations in the fishing industry, Vinita has managed to earn an average of Rs. 70,000 every month. Her income fluctuates, sometimes reaching lakhs at the busiest periods of the year and occasionally down to Rs. 20,000. Despite all the ups and downs, she has learned how to manage her firm in a cost-effective way.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Not everyone has overlooked Vinita’s outstanding accomplishment. She has received many significant accolades for her services in the fisheries industry:

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presented the Best Fisheries Award in Delhi in 2022.

ICAR Sikri Director PK Das and West Bengal Minister Biplab Rai Chakraborty gave the Best Fish Farmer Award in Kolkata (2023).

MFOI Award 2023 (Category of Fisheries).

These honors are evidence of her diligence, commitment, and the contribution she has made to the agricultural industry.

Strengthening Female Entrepreneurs: A Resilient Message

Regarding how she got to this point, Vinita says, Courage was her best supporter when everything else seemed lost. She is adamant that women take control of their lives and become independent. She is certain that no trade—not even fish farming—is beyond limits to women. Fish farming is regarded as a difficult and demanding profession.

Her advice to aspiring female farmers and agribusiness owners is simple: “Never Quit.” She believes that when it comes to running a company, managing money, and facing challenges, women are as competent as men. Vinita currently successfully balances her personal and professional lives. She is giving her two kids a good education and making sure they have a safe future. She also looks after her aging mother. She uses the same drive that allowed her to start her company to serve her family.

A compelling illustration of resilience is Vinita Kumari’s path from personal sorrow to professional accomplishment. She overcame tremendous obstacles to become a prosperous fish farmer and an inspiration to women. Her desire to become financially independent motivates her to start her own company. Vinita’s tale serves as a monument to the resilience of tenacity and the strength of self-belief.