The project has achieved its main objective of promoting sustainable agriculture and the conservation of agro-biodiversity as an option to monoculture and agro-chemical intensive agriculture, which can deliver substantial increases in food production as well as food security at much lower costs without deteriorating the environment or compromising the health of the farming community and consumers.
Sustainable agriculture would in practise encourage and enhance the environmental, economic and social independence and integration of local farming communities while also ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity and provision of safe and healthy sources of several types of food.
This project has brought about considerable interest among farmers and other concerned individuals to pursue sustainable agriculture practises which includes natural farming methods and composting using vermin technology. Due to high level of interest from the public, the project had conducted trainings and workshops and awareness programmes in seven states instead of three as originally proposed, with women totalling 44% of the participants.
During the national conference on "sustainable agriculture: moving from grassroots' initiatives to mainstream policies", testimonies from participants in the project have related their success in implementing integrated farming techniques through small and large scale activities, resulting in increased yield and income but most importantly highlighted the importance of conservation of agro-biodiversity.Benefits include higher yields of 30% for farmer by turning green waste into natural growth boosters and pest repellents, recycling of green wastes into compost through vermi-composting diverts it from being sent to landfills, and people are more aware of the importance of sustainable agri-culture and agro-biodiversity.
Through the awareness and outreach components of the project, educational materials including brochures and articles in various local languages and user guide CDs were produced for public dissemination. Public interest on sustainable agriculture methods increased after the work was highlighted by the media, widening the targeted group from farmers to school children, including a spastic centre and several corporations.
Through the implementation of activities including education and training to promote sustainable agriculture and conservation of agro-biodiversity, CAP has not only raised the awareness among and beyond the targeted group but facilitated in translating this awareness into actions that bring about conservation of agro-biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods.