Zubair Qureshi
Japan’s second largest media house, Fuji News Network (FNN), has brought to light the wonderful work being done by a Japanese woman, Elli Takagaki, who has been working tirelessly for the less-privileged and economically weak classes of Pakistani society, particularly the women in the agriculture sector.
The interview in FNN elaborates on Elli Takagaki’s “ethical business” or “ethical economic activities” which according to the TV, are gaining importance in the world along with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Eli Takagaki co-founded the Miracles Trust (MT) some 14 years ago along with Imran Shauket, Pakistan’s well-known sector development specialist. Since then she and Imran Shauket have been supporting women to achieve economic independence. In particular, the FNN report presents Elli Takagaki’s work in Pakistan’s agro-processing sector calling it a vital industry which alone makes up about 40pc of the total employed population. It is also noted that approximately 65pc of the agriculture workers are women. To benefit this large section of the women workforce, MT is focusing on creating models to showcase how these women can earn appropriate income.
An offshoot of the MT is “Sunny Miracles” (SM) that was also launched by Elli and Imran to utilize solar energy for growing and processing dry fruits and vegetables at grass root level. This in turn engages the farming household women into a productive activity leading to higher income generation for the women, while also providing them with a long term source of nutrition for the family.
Furthermore, drying extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables making them easy to store, consume over a long period, easy to store, and also get the maximum value for the produce. All products under this initiative are “Sunny Miracles.” More than 250 women all over Pakistan have been trained in solar drying so far.
FNN report further highlights the process for producing dried vegetables and fruits, calling it simple and easy. “Wash and slice the fruits and vegetables and place them on a tray and place them in the solar dryer, which has been designed by MT. It may be noted that each solar dryer can dry 20-kg of fruits and/or vegetables and the only energy needed was sunlight. The solar dryers are made from aluminum which have many advantages, namely, it is light and rust free. The first prototypes were made from wood or steel which were so heavy that the women could not be expected to manage them.
The FNN report further narrates that Ms. Takagaki and her colleagues continue to focus on community mobilization in order to gain support and understanding for women to participate. To accomplish this, they went around explaining the objective of the activity to various community leaders in advance. They also reached out to elderly women, including mothers and mother-in-laws, and in some cases, faced more resistance from the local influential male community members. However, they overcame the objections once the people saw the economic advantage to the community from this initiative.
In this way, “Sunny Miracles” backed with the power of the Pakistani women created products full of nutrients and easy for anyone to enjoy. The wonderful work of SM is summed up by FNN in a quote by Ms. Elli, “The expression of the women changed, and so did their relationships with those around them. They became the core pillar supporting their family. When I hear people expressing joy, I hear comments like “I can now leave the house without feeling guilty and I feel quite reassured.
Miracles Trust is also focusing on activities to improve the eating habits of elementary school students through the activities of “Sunny Miracles” and working with partners like the National Agriculture Research Council, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management and others to improve Pakistan’s food insecurity issues as well as child stunting and malnutrition.
