Food Security India Project #1891

Support Small Farmers in India

by Seva Mandir

Project Report | Dec 16, 2016
Nahar- Pioneering Vegetable Revolution

By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Online Donor Communication

Nahar and his family cultivating coriander leaves

Nahar is a 65 years old farmer residing in Kelwada village of Kumbalgarh block. He has 3 children, a daughter who is married and two sons who have migrated to Mumbai city in search of employment. He is mainly dependent on agriculture cultivation practiced on 2 bigha of irrigated land and animal husbandry for his livelihood. He has always been interested in vegetable cultivation but due to lack of technical know-how his production has been limited.

Seva Mandir started giving agricultural trainings to farmers in Kelwada village, in the year 2015. Under this training, agricultural experts gives information and conducts field demonstration on package of good agricultural practices to the farmers. These practices includes methods for improving soil health, new sowing and vegetable cultivation methods, importance of using natural fertilizers & pesticides, role of cleaning and grading of crops in fetching a better market price etc. This effort aims to boost agricultural productivity with improved methods of cultivation.

Nahar developed keen interest in vegetable cultivation during these trainings. Further, in order to motivate him and other farmers alike, they were provided with 4 kgs of Coriander seeds by Seva Mandir in May 2016. Then he sowed the seed in his field using the new method, for which he initially leveled his field and made a soil bed of 4 inches in height. And, as per the guideline he sowed the seeds in rows (line) unlike broadcasting done in the traditional method. Accordingly, the new method increases the survival rate of the crops by 40%. In this case, not only leveling of field helps in checking run-off water, but also alleviating the land helps in checking soil erosion.

The coriander plants started producing new leaves within 1 month after sowing. It was harvested after every third day and was sold in the nearby market using local transportation. In a matter of 2 months, Nahar was able to make 15 trips to the market. He sold coriander at the rate of Rs 50-70/kg and earned around Rs 65,000. The only monetary cost he had to incur in the process was the cost of transportation, the labor for cutting coriander leaves was provided by his family members and he had hardly incurred any input costs. A single trip to the market cost him Rs. 200, and the net profit he could earned through this was Rs. 63,000. This endeavor is even more praiseworthy as no fertilizer or pesticide was used, thus making it a 100% organic production.

Elated and considerably encouraged by first time success of his coriander harvest and sale in market at such a good price, Nahar decided to cultivate cauliflower which he expected would fetch him Rs 50,000/- to 60,000/-. Accordingly, he developed a cauliflower nursery in the last week of May 2016, and transplanted the sapling to his field in early June 2016. Up till 15^th August 2016, he could sell cauliflower of worth Rs 35,000. While the total cost of production and marketing which includes input cost and transportation came to Rs 7,000, his net profit was Rs. 28,000. Here, the production turned out to be less than expected, as 50% of the crop was damaged due to heavy rainfall in the months of July and August. Nonetheless, the whole experience has been rewarding for his family. In particular, the additional income generated from the sale of vegetables as compared to previous years. The usual farm practice has been of single crop production during Kharif season in this region and that too is for household consumption. In the first place, vegetables cultivation during Kharif is rare in this area; while it not only has the potential of generating additional income for farmers, but also helps arresting their migration to nearby cities in search for alternative employment.

Observing the thriving vegetable farm of Nahar, together with his new knowledge and skill of improved package of practices, other members in his community are eager to step into marketable vegetable cultivation. This success story is perhaps a major stepping stone in the field of agriculture for enterprising small scale farmers of Kumbhalgarh!

Nahar is today happy and thank Seva Mandir for all the knowledge and support.

We thank you for showing interest and for your continued support to our “Provide Enough Food for Poor Farmers in India” project.

Regards

Atul Lekhra and Seva Mandir Team

Training session with farmers

Cauliflower garden at Nahar's Farm

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Sep 13, 2016
Narayan: An Inspiration for the Whole Community

By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Online Donor Communication

Narayan in his Bottle Gourd Farm

Narayan a farmer, 45 years of age and a resident of Cheekhla village. Not only, is he known for his industriousness, but also, for his keen interest in agriculture and horticulture development and an environmental champion in his community. Equally important, in a remote tribal village like Cheekhla, where the state of agriculture is still subsistence, innovative practices to make agriculture more lucrative remains farfetched for small and marginal farmer which constitute the farming population in the region. In this context, Narayan is an exception, all the more, he has become an example for others in the village to follow his lead. Since the year 2000 he has been in close association with Seva Mandir through its Natural Resource Development program. To point out, he has been a pioneer in developing 1000 nursery plants in his village, owing to which these sapling were later used for restoring common lands at other villages.

Furthermore, with the introduction of Package of Best Practices in Vegetable Farming by Seva Mandir to help farmers gain nutrition, food security and livelihood opportunity. He is exemplar by adopting to new methods received through regular training and field demonstration. Likewise, in January 2016 he also attended the training on cultivation of Bottle Gourd by improved seed sowing technique. As a result, his total production of bottle gourd from ½ bigha of farmland and 250 gram of seeds came up to 8 Quintal.

Additionally, he also manages the community seed bank at his house. Another key point, which sets Narayan as a herald of change in his community, is his initiative towards the campaign on 100% open defecation. Likewise, setting an example by constructing a toilet cum bathroom at his house. He remains relentless in advocating the cause of community hygiene and sanitation.

Narayan is today happy and thank Seva Mandir for all the knowledge and support.

We thank you for showing interest and for your continued support to our “Provide Enough Food for Poor Farmers in India” project.

Regards

Atul Lekhra and Seva Mandir Team

Bathroom and Toilet at Narayan's Home

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Jun 15, 2016
Helping Farmers Sustain Their Lives

By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Online Donor Communication

Since last 48 years, Seva Mandir stands committed to provide impoverished people with food security by developing and conserving natural resources.

Under Natural Resources Development 5000 hectares of common land agricultural intervention with 10,000 families, 12,000 hectares of watershed work, 1500 families with clean drinking water and sanitation, 45 Lift irrigation systems and 76 anicuts (small check dams) have been rejuvenated.

Among all the natural resources development works, the anicut (small check dam) intervention has more significance in terms of conserving rain water and using it throughout the year for irrigation. Each time an anicut and additional irrigation systems are constructed, it helps farmers significantly such as Bhuri. Bhuri (name changed) is a native of Thep village in southern Rajasthan. With the start of thep anicut (small check dam) intervention he became flag weaver for change in uniting community of the village. Before 2005, he was able to grow maize in monsoon season that would only last for 4 months as water was available during monsoon season only. For rest of the months, he would migrate to nearby Gujarat region to sustain his family of 5. After learning of anicut construction in his village, he knew the possible benefits and united the communities for helping hand and contribution. He along with village committee took after the responsibility of opening anicut maintenance account, collection of token money for water and making water sharing norms. After construction of the anicut, apart from maize crop, he is now able to cultivate around 60 quintal of wheat in addition to 8 Quintal of maize and 2 Quintal of Tuar lentils. He is now also able to cultivate vegetables such as pea, onion, brinjal, chilli and potato in between the crops by which he has earned Rs 6,000 last year, this all has been possible due to availability of water throughout the year.

Today he proudly owns a motorcycle, a pair of cow-ox, and is sending his children to nearby primary school. Thep is only one of such areas that Seva Mandir is helping to develop an irrigation system.

This check dam has not been possible had your support not been there. Thank you so much for your help and support to our food security program for poor farmers. You can help these farmers and Seva Mandir even more by donating on upcoming BONUS DAY –on 15^th June beginning at 9:00:01 am EDT (Washington, DC time) on Global Giving. Donations made on Bonus day will be matched by 50% by Global Giving, hence enabling us reach out to many needy farmers link Bhuri.

Please click on the link below to donate: remember – 15^th June

Please consider telling your friends and family about our project and special Bonus Day

Thank you

Regards

Atul Lekhra and Seva Mandir Team

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