The project was mainly aimed at developing an appropriate technology as an alternative to jhum cultivation in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya. The objectives of the project are:

Ø To develop a prototype, cost effective Contour Hedgerow Farming Technology System at the Marian Centre for Appropriate Technology at Tebrongre Village.

Ø To enhance on farm land management capability of 50 jhum farmers in two villages surrounding the project site and establish 2000 metres of double hedgerows on jhum cultivated land.

Ø To develop seed banks of selected hedgerow species.

Ø To adopt allied farm technologies to strengthen and enhance farm benefits to farmers.

It is very difficult to introduce a new technology to local farmers when their very way of life is being challenged. For farmers in the Garo Hills jhum cultivation is part of their culture and hence a way of life. They are also very poor and so the poor will not risk something new if they are not sure it will succeed. Hence a successful model must be in place before farmers can actually be introduced into the programme. In the case of Bethany Society the two things were planned side-by-side and though the demonstration site is a success the replication in the farmers? fields is a slow process.

Ø Training manuals have been developed in English for Contour Hedgerow Farming Technology, Composting, Vermicomposting, Low Cost Vegetable Cultivation and Nursery Raising Techniques. The same will be translated into Garo and Khasi.

Ø Training models have also been developed for all the above.

Ø A fully functional permanent demonstration cum training site is available and training can be imparted in English, Garo, Khasi and Hindi.

Ø Marketable goods in the form of vermicompost, fast breeding worms for vermiculture and vegetables have been produced. A medicinal plant Artimisa Annua has been grown and also processed and it is a life saving plant for cerebral malaria cases. The medicine is being now tested on patients in a scientific manner and has potential both for home use and commercial purposes.


Links established for further networking and sharing of information for improvement of the programme.

Ø International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Katmandu who researched the technology from China and the Philippines supplied the training manuals and other valuable inputs.

Ø G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh provided the initial training to the staff of Bethany Society and the seeds for the hedgerows. This institute introduced the technology into India in collaboration with ICIMOD.

Ø The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) have a project in the West Garo Hills on local communities designing programmes for natural resource management and sustainable livelihoods. Bethany Society has linked with this project and presently five villages have been exposed to the project on Contour Hedgerow Farming Technology. Since there are over 200 villages engaged in this project all of which are engaged in jhum cultivation, the demonstration site will offer valuable assistance for training purposes. Bethany Society is of the project partners of the IFAD project.

Ø CAPART has already linked with Bethany Society to conduct training programmes on this technology for NGOs of the North East. The first three day training programme for 20 NGOs is being held in the December 2003.

Ø NGOs planning to replicate similar programmes under the UNDP-SGP programme are requested to contact Bethany Society for training and other technical assistance.