Razia and her husband Gulab live in rural Gujarat, India, and have three adult children, as well as grandchildren.

The couple worked in farming jobs and were not paid well. Life was tough and due to the lack of decent work in their village, often one of them would have to go away for three days at a time to work to seek better options.

_{Razia and her husband Gulab in their home in rural Gujarat, India}

They worked on others’ lands for wages, where they felt like they were at the mercy of the wealthier land-owners. They didn’t always have enough money even to meet their basic needs like food for the family.

Razia applied for a Buffaloan with Opportunity International Australia’s local partner. Razia saw the opportunity to build a buffalo milk business, and with the help of a Buffaloan and her dedication, Razia bought her first buffalo.

She used her knowledge of the fodder and grass varieties in the areas to gather nutritious feed for the buffalo, and the skills she’d learned tending to buffaloes in her farming jobs.

Her business has grown thanks to subsequent Buffaloans, and Razia now tends to six buffaloes and 12 cows. She milks them herself, yielding about 100 litres of milk a day. The family keep enough milk for their tea, and sell the rest. Gulab works at the local milk chilling plant, owned by dairy cooperative Amul, where Razia sells her milk.

_{Today, Razia’s buffaloes and cows produce over 100 litres of milk per day.}

Razia works hard, with a typical day being dawn till midnight. She tends to the animals, including chickens and goats, cleans the shed, milks the buffaloes and organises the milk to be delivered to the plant.

She has been able to improve her family’s income and quality of life. With the money earned from her business, Razia and Gulab were also able to open a small snack shop nearby, which their son Javed runs.

Owning two small businesses is a busy life, but they have improved their financial situation substantially. They have been able to make renovations to their house and provide better meals for the family.

_{Razia’s knowledge of local fodder has helped her grow feed for her buffaloes.}

“Our life improved a lot because of the loan, we installed solar, installed a borewell, bought motorbikes, cows and buffaloes,” said Razia. “If we take another loan, we will use it for the shop, and maybe a water tank.”

Learn more about small loans are helping women invest in agricultural businesses and improve their families' lives.