Support Small Farmers in India

Dear Friends,

Hope you are well. I am writing to thank you for your most generous and regular support to tribal farmers of our region. Here the winter is all set to say us a good bye for this year.  The farmers are eagerly waiting for the harvesting of their wheat crop very soon.

Since last year, it rained fairly well, resulting into a better crop this year. You would be delighted to note that more than 440 farmers were benefited with your support during all this time. These farmers have, cultivated Kharif (winter) and Zaid (summer) crops (including vegetables).

In the reporting period (From April 2011 to September 2011), these farmers have grown a number of vegetables such as bottle guard, ridge guard, okra, cluster beans, chilly and coriander. These vegetables allow these farmers to make some money as well as cater to their nutritional needs.  I take an immense pleasure sharing a half yearly report on this project you are supporting. These farmers with your support have made more than Rs. 500,000 (around $ 10,000 ) by producing vegetables. There is an inspiring story of a village in the report, which you will enjoy reading. I am also copying that story below my letter, in case you open the report at your leisure.

The story details as how with little help these farmers are able to grow vegetables in small farms that they own and help their families.

Once again, a very big thank you for your valuable support. We hope you will continue supporting these farmers and helping their families have better food and income.  Please also share your thoughts on this feedback report. We hope to see you here some day.

With warm regards,

Deepti

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Some farmers in village “Peepad” were enrolled for vegetable cultivation program of Seva Mandir. Some other farmers also had shown interest after seeing the progress made by these farmers. . These farmers too decided to grow vegetables on their farms The 37 farmers out of 42 requested for good quality seeds of Cluster Beans. With Seva Mandir’s help 3 farmers who were representing the entire group (42 farmers) went to Udaipur City in order to explore various kinds of seeds available for the Cluster Beans. After close research the farmers selected the “Sarit Soumya 700” variety. It was bought and distributed to selected farmers (39 who showed interest in growing cluster beans).

The total farming area is 21.5 bighas that these farmers cultivated on. In the beginning, the farmers didn’t receive a fair price for their crops but later, as their total produce increased as a result of better rainfall. The farmers were able to make good income. A total of 13,300 of cluster beans were produced from the total 4.59 hectare of land. They sold their produce between Rs 10 – Rs 25 (below $1) stabilizing the price at an average of Rs 18 per kilos.

 In total they all earned an income of more than Rs 236,800 (USD 5,262). Apart from cluster beans, the farmers also  grew other vegetables like Ridge Guard, chilies, coriander, pumpkin, lady finger (okra), tomatoes, moong (Green gram) and  earned Rs 711,00 (USD 1,590).  

Links:

• Videos of Seva Mandir

• Food Security Half Yearly Report 2011-12 (DOC)

Dear Friend,

I very much hope that you are enjoying the holiday season. From all of us here at Seva Mandir, a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to you. May 2012 brings peace and success to you and to your family. We thank you for your kindness that you gift us always. With this letter, we love to share some key highlights of year 2011.

For Seva Mandir, the year 2011 has been a year of changes and success. Ms. Neelima Khetan stepped down after 12 years of her excellent leadership (total 25 years of association with Seva Mandir) in March. Ms. Priyanka Singh became our new Chief Executive in April 2011. Seva Mandir is ready to see many more years of its successful engagement with rural communities in Southern Rajasthan in her leadership.

In October, Seva Mandir became the implementing agency for the MNREGA projects for 32 sites in rural Udaipur. It is a significant achievement as well as an indicator of the faith of the 74 Panchayats in Seva Mandir’s work. These Panchayats have endorsed us to be their implementing agency for MNREGA. Of these 32 sites that were sanctioned, the work has begun on the 22 sites. Most of these sites of pastureland development and currently the building of boundary wall is going on.

In 2011, Seva Mandir has been included in two working (sub) groups –  {i) Child Survival & Development and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and ii) Girl Child} constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to review the existing priorities, policies, strategies, programs and their implementation for fulfilling the rights of children to survival, development (including early childhood care, early learning, elementary education). Also, to highlight emerging issues and recommendations, resources allocation and utilization for Twelfth Five Year Plan of Government of India.

Several of Seva Mandir's programs have seen a maturing in the last years. For example, in the villages where Seva Mandir organized regular immunization camps, the complete immunization of children is 60%, while in comparison villages it is only 35%.

Similarly, the work on Natural Resources is yielding a lot of benefits to the poor. Every year grass worth Rs. 52 lacs (5.2 million rupees) is being harvested from the common lands developed under this program.

In April 2011, Champa Devi from Vassela village was awarded the "Woman Exemplar Award 2011". It is another reason to look back and feel joyous to see that a community member of Seva Mandir was being recognized by rest of the society for her selfless services.

We are privileged to experience exciting stories of women like Champa Devi. A big credit goes to friends like you for this. Your support has always been the source of our emotional strength. It helps us keep going with our work. It is gratifying that with your support we have been able to create spaces where ordinary people can exercise truth force to bring about social and political transformation.

We hope you will continue to be with us in future too. Your faith and untiring support is very critical to us at the moment. Especially, when national and international scenario is changing rapidly for civil societies and the definitions of ‘development’ are being re-explored.

We believe that the full and deep impact of Seva Mandir's work lies not so much in the tangible development activities that it promotes, but more in bringing the poor and rich together and enabling them to  work for the commons of building more just  and oppression free communities.

We look forward to your continuing contribution in the year 2012 too. Wish you a very bright and successful New Year.

With warm regards,

Deepti