Sustainable Agriculture

• A package comprising non-chemical agricultural practices and based on the use of local resources evolved by Dharamitra has been disseminated to about 400 small and marginal farmers of 22 villages in four districts of Western Vidarbha. These are mostly poor tribal holding partially degraded land, which is being cultivated under rainfed condition. The farmers in each of these villages have been organised into a "Farmers' Study Group" which is monitored by a motivator who is a young practicing farmer from the same village and trained in alternative agriculture practices. The data on crop yields as well as cost-benefit of crop production are being collected. The randomly collected soil samples from the farms of the beneficiaries are also being analysed for physical, chemical and microbial analyses. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with seven grassroot-level NGOs in Vidarbha region. These farmers have also been organised to form their own agricultural credit system in the form of 'Village Agricultural Fund’, which is being used to meet the monetary input required for the agricultural operations.


• Attempts are being made to popularize a need based bio-diversified agriculture system among women farmers which ensure ample supply of vegetables, grains & herbal medicines for the poor families. About 95 women farmers have been involved in the programme which not only helps in improving nutritional & health status of these families but also account for additional income generation from the sale of surplus produce.


• With the help CAPART, New Delhi in collaboration with about 20 NGOs a special awareness campaign is launched for awareness creation among farmers in selected areas of Central India about attributes of organic farming.


• Under a special drive, Dharamitra has been documenting the experiences of the innovative farmers who have evolved on their own the non-chemical productive systems based on use of local resources.