SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT
Sustainable Agriculture through organic practices:
The Project on Community Development through Natural Resource Management with support of Centre for World Solidarity, Secunderabad & ORC has been operating since November 2003, covering 40 villages of 4 GPs namely Mahadeiput, Mastiput, Kendar & Manabar in Koraput block and comprising 1809 households (ST-1056, SC-231, OBC-338, General caste-184) with a population of 2387 (Men-1154, Women-1233). Out of the 1809 households, 1446 families are small and marginal farmers and 363 families are landless.
Goal:
To promote organic practices for sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers through proper utilization of local resources and create opportunities for gainful employment of landless people.
Objectives:
- Facilitate formation of two Farmers Associations for sustainable organic farming practices.
- Promote gainful employment opportunities for landless families utilizing local resources.
Major Achievements:
- Farmers are aware of organic practices and formed two Organic Farmers Associations consisting of 156 small and marginal farmers. They discuss their issues and problems and liaise with line departments to avail different govt. schemes. 161 Farmers have received support under National Horticulture mission for orchard, ginger cultivation and floriculture.
- Two seed banks are established and managed by farmers associations.
- One organic resource centre is established and 124 farmers have accessed technical support from the Organic resource centre for preparation of organic manures and pesticides.
- 566 farmers have started adopting organic practices and 604 farmers are partly adopting organic practices. 65 farmers adopting organic SRI have increased yield partially addressing food insecurity.
- 15 landless and women headed families taking up income generation programmes through livestock rearing.
- The quarterly newsletter Dangar Khabar disseminates information on best practices of organic farming, SRI farmers and Govt. plans and programmes. It is circulated among members of forest protection network of 742 villages, PRI representatives of 14 GPs, Farmers Associations, networking NGOs and line department officials.
For case studies for this project, please click here.


