Background

Babu Waghera, a tribal farmer from Jawhar Taluka in Maharashtra, once relied on irregular daily wage work and low-yield farming for survival. With minimal access to knowledge or infrastructure, his annual income was limited to around ₹20,000–₹25,000—barely enough to support his family.

The Turning Point

In 2019, Babu joined a Shop for Change Fair Trade initiative aimed at linking tribal chilli farmers to premium global markets. With technical support, quality inputs, and training, he was selected as one of the farmers to cultivate export-grade green chillies.

Key Milestone

In 2019–20, Babu’s chillies were part of the first-ever tribal farmer export batch to London, supported by JSW Foundation and facilitated by Del Monte as the export partner. This marked a breakthrough in tribal farmer market access and international visibility.

Transformation

• Cultivated high-grade green chillies that met export standards
• Received post-harvest training in sorting, grading, and packaging
• Earned over ₹1.5 lakh in a single season—a sixfold increase in his typical annual income
• Emerged as a community role model, encouraging fellow farmers to shift from low-value crops to high-return, market-linked farming

Why It Matters

Babu Waghera’s journey—from a struggling daily wage worker to an international exporter—is a powerful example of what is possible when grassroots talent meets global opportunity. His story reflects the core mission of Shop for Change: empowering farmers through dignified trade, not aid.