Project Detail

Establishing Community Training center for Natural Farming and Ecological Action named paryavaran at kudrati kheti

Project title : Establishing Community Training center for Natural Farming and Ecological Action named "Paryavaran at kudrati kheti gurukul?. The idea behind the project is Chemical intensive Green Revolution agriculture technologies has destroyed the ecological equilibrium and contaminated the Eco-system of Punjab. It has made the entire food toxic. This situation posed a serious challenge of Environmental Health with Multiple Ecological Crisis. Depletion of ground water, deteriorating soil health and increasing market-dependence of farmers has made conventional Agriculture in Punjab further Unsustainable. With having this entire situation as background the KVM initiated a social movement to established Ecological Agriculture in Punjab since March 2005. In last eight years KVM has effectively created a bunch of successful Organic farmers in Punjab and also motivated large numbers of farmers to opt Ecological Agriculture. In more than 800 workshops, Seminars and Farmers? Field Schools organized in last eight years KVM has provided different level of training to around 10,000 farmers and women farmers. Presently over 1500 women are associated with KVM for Organic Kitchen Gardening and growing Organic Vegetables in 14 villages.
Project goal- To train, motivate and orient farmers of 20 villages to achieve poison free farms through imparting science based training in organic farming without compromising productivity
Project objectives-
? To reduce the use of pesticides by introducing Ecological Agriculture through community participation and particularly with involvement of farmer?s families (women and children).
? To build a public opinion and initiative for making the farms of Malwa region pesticide free.
? Strengthening the role of women in providing nutritious, healthy, diverse and safe food to their family through organic kitchen gardening.
? To ensure the involvement of women in sustainable agriculture through supportive activities.
? To create awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides on health and environment in project villages.
? To set-up relevant models of Ecological Agriculture without agro-chemicals.
? Develop relevant farming systems without poisonous pesticides and without compromising yield per unit land per annum through farmer participatory research.
? To train Master Organic Farmers as resource persons.
? To build capacity of present organic farmers as trainers in organic farming
Project activities-
? Selection and finalization of Project Area for project implementation
? Finalize the dissemination strategy in Faridkot, Bhatinda districts for 20 Villages
? Establishing Organic Farming through a PGS system
? Filled Schools take-up actions in villages
? Establishment of the Paryavaran Kudrati Kheti Gurukul at Jaitu
? IEC Material for Organic Farming Activities
? Set up of the Administrations for projects.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Kheti Virasat Mission Trust

Country:

India

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 37,025.75

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 64,406.00

Project Number:

IND/SGP/OP5/Y3/BC/STAR/ 2014/52/PUN01

Start Date:

6/2014

End Date:

7/2017

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

Conducting awareness generation among the farmers that high yields are feasible with organic farming. Farmers will be trained for on-farm production of organic inputs. Guiding and helping farmers the farmers in the proper implementation of organic farming approaches and techniques. Natural farming trainings will be given to farmers of Punjab at grass root or village levels. Awareness generation on water conservation in village, ecological agriculture and on site seed conservation will be done.

Policy Impact

Helping policy makers and administration to come forward with sound policies to help farmers in general and organic farmers in particular. The NGO invited several eminent agriculture and food policy experts, economists, environmentalists and activist to speak and educate people in Punjab on the issues like: agriculture disaster, environmental health crisis and particularly the health impacts of intensive agriculture, globalization and WTO, issues related to food security etc. Various meetings, seminars, public discussions will be organized on issues like: farmer?s suicide, impact of BT cotton on soil health, cancer in Jajjal, Water crisis etc.

Notable Community Participation

N.A.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Project will ensure women participation in documenting the environmental health issues particularly reproductive health problems and propagation of in house ready traditional healing systems. Film shows will be organized. Booklets on environmentally sustainable agriculture practices and awareness generation materials on biological eco-friendly alternatives to pesticides, harmful impacts of POPs will be printed in Punjabi and distributed.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The beneficiaries are not indigenous community.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project aims at establishing community training centre for natural farming & ecological action named paryavaran ata kudrati khrti gurukul. The NGO has adopted a 4 ?Rs? approach for carrying out their activities: a) Restore a network of farmers, scientists, consumer, media on reclaiming Punjab?s culture from the hands of Hybridisation and modern biotechnology, b) revive most creative and spiritual practice like Nanak Ki Kheti, Guru Nanak?s teachings and showcase that it can work in today?s fast growing times too, c) Recreate an ownership an connection with traditional foods (Bebe di Rasoi)- what we demand to eat, will grow on our fields, d) Resurrect a non- commodified, biodiversity agenda which is long forgotten in Punjab?s farming policy and political frame. Women will be made self dependent and also the activities will lead them to save money and revive health tradition of self- reliant villages. 2 ponds will be build.

Gender Focus

The project will make efforts to increase participation of women in decision making. The women will be empowered through organic based kitchen gardens. Women have started prompting their men folks to take their skills from kitchen garden to farms. The project has motivated more and more women participation into Natural Farming movements and practices. The women action team is aimed at revival of food heritage particularly use of millets in food. They are also engaged in conservation of seeds and growing vegetables and greens in kitchen garden with natural/organic farming practices. The women are also multiplying seeds to disseminate among women a theme- ?Grow Safe Food and Feed Your Children with Safe Food?.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Workshops will be conducted across the state on organic farming. A group of medical professionals was formed- Environmental Health Action Group to take up the issues regarding agriculture. Campaign ?Feed your children with poison free safe food? was launched for making the kitchens poison free from food stuff which is grown with pesticides and other agro-chemicals and conservation of native diversity of vegetable seeds.

Project Results

? The NGO has set up 3500 kitchen gardens (3500 households) in various districts of Barnala and Faridkot (Punjab) for growing organic vegetables. More than 100 varieties like lady finger, brinjal, bottle gourd, garlic, cucumber, chillies, cow pea, black eyed pea etc. were grown in the area where only 2-3 varieties were grown. They prepare their manure by themselves. They use Pathi (butter milk) as growth enhancers. Other organic growth enhancers are prepared using cow dung, cow urine and jaggery (Gudd-jal amrit).
? With the initiative of the NGO, 325 farmers are now indulged in organic farming covering an area of 515.5 acres of farmland. Earlier they used to grow wheat and rice only but now with the advent of organic methods they are not only growing wheat and paddy but also various vegetables such as cabbage, potato, okra, tomatoes etc. they prepare their own manure and pest control management from cow-dung and wastes of fruits and vegetables. After adopting organic farming there is a reduction in water consumption by 50%, soil health and alkalinity has improved by practicing techniques like mulching, alternating the crops by nitrogen fixing legumes and frequent ploughing of fields is not required which saves the consumption of diesel and electricity by 50%. A total of 135 farmer?s practices NPM (Non-Pesticidal Management) in which they refrain from using any chemical pesticide but use fertilizers in 204 acres of land.
? Young seed keepers- The NGO has initiated a concept of young seed keepers involving 15 young girls. They have been trained for 6 months in organic farming, pollination, cross pollination and generating pure organic seeds which can be further used. They motivate people to grow crops chemical free by organic means. They even participated in Chennai seed festival and displayed over 100 varieties of organic seeds.

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