by Shafique Khokhar

Through a small loan from an NGO, Razia Irshad, a 46-year-old mother of seven, has been able to boost output on rented farmland. Before that, her peasant husband was the only wage earner. Her peers respect her and view her as a brave woman.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - Micro-credit in rural Pakistan is having some positive impact. Razia Irshad, a 46-year-old Christian woman, spoke to AsiaNews about her experience.

Two years ago, the mother of seven from Tehsil Samundri (Faisalabad district) took out a small loan from a Pakistani NGO, the Association for Women's Awareness and Rural Development (AWARD). With the money, she bought “seeds and fertilisers”.

Since then, as she put it, “my work continues,” this despite losses last year due to heavy rains.” The latter “did not discourage us”. Indeed, refusing to call it quit, she “kept struggling.” And now “I have a happy life and people give me a lot of love and respect.”

Born into a poor family, Razia is married to Irshad Masih, a farmhand who worked on the land of a big landowner. For most of their life together, he was the only breadwinner. Despite their best efforts, the couple could not send their many children to school.

About two years ago, Ms Razia found out about AWARD, an association that provides micro-credit services and land to women in Pakistan’s poorest areas.

Through AWARD, she got a small loan and some farmland she could rent. Her conservative family and neighbours were against the idea, as a woman’s station in life is in the family and not in business.

Fortunately, her husband backed her. Slowly but surely, Razia earned the respect of the community who now see her as a "brave woman".

Thanks to training courses offered by AWARD and her own experience, she was able to develop a retail business selling the vegetables she grows on two acres of land.

Now she plans to save 1,500-2,000 rupees a day (US$ 15-20) to get a bigger plot of land and expand her farming activities.

Her husband told AsiaNews that he feels great about working their own land when before he was just a labourer for a landowner who often did not pay enough money for him to support his family.

"We now live a life of dignity,” he said. “I am proud of my wife who worked hard to build our home. Thanks to her work, we are consolidating our position in society, and we can send our children to school. I hope that other women follow her example and help make Pakistani society more prosperous."

AWARD executive director Christina Peter reports that 30 other local women have received loans. Since it was founded 21 years ago, the association has helped more than 84,000 people. "Razia Irshad is one of our success stories," she said proudly.

The last word goes to Razia Irshad. "I am grateful to AWARD for the support they gave me,” she said, “but I am even more grateful to Jesus Christ for the strength and courage he gave me”.

• pakistan
• poor
• farmers
• micro-credit