In Jhanjhara Chaubey village, Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, India, Anu Devi, a member of the Nari Bari Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), has transformed her farm through zinc-enriched wheat seed production.

For a long time, Anu has been growing conventional wheat and paddy on her 2.5 hectares of land. While dependable, these crops offered limited returns. Her perspective shifted when she participated in trainings organized by HarvestPlus Solutions (HPS) and its partner UPPRO, under HarvestPlus-funded project “Expanding Nutrients in Food Systems (ENFS)” supported by the Government of Canada. Through these sessions, Anu learned how biofortified crops can improve nutrition while offering farmers more income opportunities.

Ahead of the Rabi season, Anu decided to put her learning into practice by producing zinc-enriched wheat (DBW 187) seed. She attended technical trainings using HPS-developed tools and modules, building skills in seed production, quality control, pest management, and certification standards. With continued guidance from project field teams, she allocated one hectare of her land to zinc wheat seed production.

The results were striking. At harvest, Anu produced 42 quintals (4.2 tonnes) of certified-quality DBW 187 seed, earning an estimated ₹1,35,900 (about USD 1,494)—around 70 percent more income than she previously earned from conventional grain production. Beyond the financial gains, her success drew attention within the community, inspiring other farmers, particularly women, to explore seed production as a profitable and reliable enterprise.

“After the trainings from HarvestPlus Solutions and UPPRO, I felt confident to try seed production,” Anu shares. “the results showed me that my farm can support both better income and better nutrition for our community.”

Anu’s story demonstrates how targeted capacity building, access to improved technologies, and ongoing field support can enable smallholder farmers—especially women—to lead the adoption of biofortified crops. Through zinc-enriched wheat seed production, she is contributing to stronger livelihoods and wider access to nutritious food in rural India.