Food Security India Project #1891

Support Small Farmers in India

by Seva Mandir

Project Report | Jun 23, 2008
Plantation and Fruit trees...

By Mr. Shailendra Tiwari | In Charge - Natural Resource Development Program

Plantation: With rains approaching our area, it is time to plant new trees and grass on the lands in which afforestation is being undertaken. Last year (April 07 to March 08), various physical works such as site survey, land demarcation, boundary wall construction, soil- water conservation and pit digging were completed on 258 ha common and private lands. After first rains, around 1.29 lacs new plants will be planted in June and July months on these lands. Hoping to receive good rainfall this year, in 4 months, these areas will have a nice green cover.

Agriculture After experiencing the scorching heat on summer months, people have moving towards their fields and started preparing for monsoon crops. This year, we received a number of proposals from the farmers to obtain improved quality seeds. In response, we have provided 4,021 kg seeds of maize, 1,002 kg seeds of pulses (tuvar and udad dal) and 59 kg oilseeds to these farmers. Receiving sufficient rainfall and proper care, we expect the farmers to get higher yields of good quality grains in comparison to the local seeds used by the farmers since long time.

Fruit Plantation Along with, we have also received proposals from farmers to plant fruit plants during this monsoon. A total 64 farmers from 24 villages will be given around 3,800 plants of mango, 1,500 plants of amla, 1,400 plants of lemon and 1,400 plants of guava. These plants will be planted around and within the farms, as well some farmers intend to develop mini orchards on their lands which is not being used for agriculture.

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May 31, 2008
Organic Manure

By Mr. Shailendra Tiwari | In Charge Natural Resource Development Program

Income Generation through Vermicompost: The use of organic manure endorse the nutrition value of the soil and helps prevent the termites to grow in the farm, hence, Seva Mandir is trying to engage farmers to adopt the method of its production and using it in their farms. Each farmer is provided with two kg of Worms and a training on how to prepare the Compost on their own. This is also followed by hand-holding support from Seva Mandir and a timely follow up with them.

In the past when the vermicomposting was taught to the villagers of Babri and Gadunia Village it was not a complete success. The program was reviwed and an improved program was designed. Therefore, in 2006, the Vermicompost operation began again with a total of 19 farmers. They built the Pucca (Cemented) Beds under a shady area near a water-source. The Watershed Program that was taken up in 2003 in Babri and Gadunia Villages has resulted into an increased ground water-table and therefore watering adequately and timely to these Vermicompost Beds was not an issue any more.

The farmers had been able to produce a total of 500 Kg Compost in the last year and had used it in their farms for Maize and Cotton Crops. They were also being able to stock the surplus for their consumption for the next year’s crop. The prduction was also higher and the farmers could see the difference in production and quality of the grains.

During the end of the year 2007 another group of 50 farmers also shown their interst in producing the compost. Since some of these 19 farmers had Worms in access from their previous Beds they agreed to sell off some of their Worms to the new Group. As a result a few farmers from the older group sold 40 Kg, 30 Kg, 64 Kg and 28 Kg at Rs. 100/- per Kilogram to the New Group.

One of these farmers namely – Bhikha said –“ We will grow more compost and Worms. We will make two Beds this year instead of one. I used the compost prepared in my own farms and I could see the differnce. The corns in my farm were greener and bigger.”

This whole excersie of Vermicomposting has earned the farmers in this region a lot of confidence and they are now on an lookout to earn more money by selling off their Worms and Manure in the neighboring areas.

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Mar 6, 2008
Saving the environment and bringing smiles

By Shailendra Tiwari | In Charge Natural Resource Management Program

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