Indian Farmers are facing challenges for sustaining agriculture in the region due to climate change and soil condition. Hence, farmers are applying excess fertilizers and pesticides to overcome the challenges in order to get higher production. The community being vulnerable to a number of emerging issues leads to loss of livelihood and migration in near future. Therefore, the proposed program aims towards making the community resilient and adapt to the changing climate at the same time enhance their incomes. There is a need to boost the farm income by helping the farmers right from the land preparation to package of practice. The proposed project shall capacitate marginalized farming households directly in villages to adopt climate smart agricultural practices with the main focus on farm-based soil and water conservation, organic vegetable cultivation, post-harvest management and consequently increase their annual income through established forward and backward linkages thereby ensuring food security and reduced migration. Promotion of sustainable vegetable farming to enhance livelihood of farmers is the goal of the project with the objectives to form Farmer Interest Groups and sensitize them about the need of the intervention ensuring better participation and to empower the capacity of households in making fair choices for sustainable agriculture development coping current climatic condition with increase agriculture production ensuring qualitative produce with less pesticides or chemical inputs.
Introduction
The fruits and vegetables (horticulture) sector has been a driving force in stimulating a healthy growth trend in Indian agriculture. Rising share of the high value commodities in the total value of agricultural output and their growth potential, it is likely to drive agricultural growth in the years to come for majority of farmers in India. Cultivation of horticulture crops is labour intensive and as such they generate a lot of employment opportunities for the rural population. Horticulture sector is perhaps the most profitable venture amongst all farming activities as it provides ample employment opportunities and scope to raise the income of the farming community. The percentage share of horticulture output in agriculture has become 30%1. Over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by about 3% per annum and annual production increased by 5.4% (HSD, 2017). During 2016-17, the production of horticulture crops was about 295.2 million tonnes from an area of 24.9 million hectares (HSD, 2017).
Apart from the health improvements, the production of vegetables improves the economy of a country as these are very good source of income and employment. The contribution of vegetables remains highest in horticulture crop productions.
Small landholders have dominated Indian agriculture in the past, and the trend is likely to continue in future as well. The viability and sustainability of such tiny holdings are doubtful, particularly in view of the on-going process of globalization. The small landholders are poor, usually undernourished and poverty stricken; and large practice of subsistence agriculture has a very limited marketable surplus. The emerging opportunities in the changing economic environment need to be capitalized for the benefit of the small landholders. Factors such as rising per capita income, changing food consumption patterns, growing urbanization and globalization are pushing up demand for high-value commodities in both domestic and international markets and are creating opportunities for smallholders. With the increase in transport and communication facilities, vegetable cultivation has spread in interior areas where irrigation facilities are available. This is because growing vegetable crops is more profitable than any other seasonal crop particularly the food grain crop.
Health improvement through nutrition intake from fresh vegetables also has a positive impact. It is helpful in removing micro nutrient deficiencies and works as antioxidants in maintaining the health of vegetable consumers. Madhya Pradesh has a high potential for expansion of vegetable cultivation in both time and space owing to the diversity in agro-climatic conditions. Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest in the production of vegetables. But still, the per capita consumption of vegetable is comparatively small due to lower productivity per unit of area. Hence, more production is needed to cope with the demand of vegetable to fulfill the requirement of the growing population in the state. Furthermore, marketing facilities could also encourage the vegetable revolution. Rural markets, however, at the grass roots level, can play a very significant role in the buying and selling of vegetables. The majority of rural population fulfill their demands of fresh vegetables from these market points. Vegetable buying and selling through rural markets also generate employment and incomes through the involvement of local people in various market functions and operations. This process of marketing vegetables through these various channels helps small and marginal farmers to generate money, employment and other socio- cultural benefits that lead to rural sustainable development. Promotion of sustainable agriculture is also incorporated in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set by United Nations which aims to combat climate change and its impact through mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management.
Rationale
Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state of India. The total area under vegetable crops is about 209.4 thousand ha and production is about 2919. 7 million tones. Chhindwara district is situated in south eastern part of Madhya Pradesh. The Chhindwara watershed is highly undulating and rolling in nature with hills and valleys. The forest cover is sparsely distributed on sloping lands and most of the area is under a thin vegetation cover. The average annual rainfall of Chhindwara, Amarwara, Harrai, Chaurai, Bichhua, Mohkhed, Sausar, Pandhurna, Parasia, Tamia and Jamia blocks is 1090.8, 1212.0, 1092.8, 1086.4, 1155.6. 1099.7, 986.0, 1101.1, 1122.0, 1455.5 and 1146.3 mm respectively (source: IMD 2018). About 91.7% rainfall was received in the South West monsoon season of June to September. Variation within the seasonal rainfall is important for crop production and the rain received in the month of September is vital for crop production and crucial for the maturity of Kharif crops and sowing of Rabi crops. Delayed onset of rains, early withdrawal or long dry spells is a natural phenomenon in Chhindwara district.
The erratic and deficient rain fall occurs in the Chhindwara which leads to the occurrence of drought. In the area during the rainy season, the wind blows in high velocity. Due to this, there are incidences such as quick uprooting of mainly teak trees which are having a shallow root system. Soil erosion in the forests is dry deciduous in nature, affected by the fire. The heavy grazing pressure mainly occurrs on mountainous (40‐45% of forests have slope more than 300) region which accelerates soil erosion during the rainy season. Due high speed of run off, the fertile top soil layer is washed away which leads to loss of soil productivity.
Rain fed agriculture occupies a prominent place in Chhindwara district. The climate is largely sub humid and rainfall received from south west and north east monsoon which is also erratic and not uniformly distributed during the crop growth and development period. The cultivation of kharif crops preferred by farmers as very limited sources of irrigation is available. In the district, an insufficient perennial source of irrigation and lack of rain water storage structure impede rabi crops cultivation. The district is known as soybean‐wheat crop zone and famous for soybean, maize, cotton, ginger, groundnut, orange, and vegetables, especially cabbage and cauliflower.
The climatic conditions of the district are favourable for the cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops like orange, aonla, guava, pomegranate, ber, custard‐ apple, potato, garlic, onion, chillies, ginger and flowers, orange cultivation especially potato cultivated in the entire district. In the horticulture sector crop diversification has proved a viable source of livelihood for farmers as horticulture crops are grown along with the field crops. The role of horticulture as a whole is changing rapidly from traditional to high income generating activity. The process of change from low input technology of agriculture to horticulture proved more market oriented given regular income to farmers and generating employment.
Farmers are facing challenges for sustaining agriculture in the region due to climate change and soil condition. Hence, farmers are applying excess fertilizers and pesticides to overcome the challenges in order to get higher production. However, their actions are making soil less fertile for cultivation. Eventually, high and injudicious application of chemicals, gaps in the package of practices, lower yield/productivity and an unfair market for price realization make farming less profitable in the region. The community being vulnerable to a number of emerging issues as discussed above leads to loss of livelihood and migration in near future. Therefore, the proposed program aims towards making the community resilient and adapt to the changing climate at the same time enhance their incomes. Hence, the promotion of certain crops with the recommended package of practices and market linkages for their produces will help in improving livelihood of the community.
About Implementing Organisation
xxxxxxx, registered as a society working towards up-liftment of society in Madhya Pradesh. The vision of the organization is to transform the society based on the values of equity, justice and liberty ensuring overall development of community and environment conservation. The organization has a clear agenda of the participatory approach, empowerment of poor, improving socio-economic status and eradicate poverty with sustainable development. They have initiated horticulture plantation activity and provided training for organic farming in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.
Project Description
Given the problem context, there is a need to boost the farm income by helping the farmers right from the land preparation to package of practice. The proposed project shall capacitate 300 marginalized farming households directly in 5 villages of villages in Chhindwara district to adopt climate smart agricultural practices with the main focus on farm-based soil and water conservation, organic vegetable cultivation, post-harvest management and consequently increase their annual income through established forward and backward linkages thereby ensuring food security and reduced migration. A Farmer Interest Group (FIG) will be formed in these villages in order to provide a live demonstration of the practices and the required inputs shall also be provided to the beneficiaries. A rain gauge shall also be set up within each of the targeted villages which would effectively predict the rainfall scenario and assist the local farmers in planning out their sowing & harvesting pattern accordingly.
Project Goal
Promotion of sustainable vegetable farming to enhance livelihood of farmers in 5 villages of Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh.
Objectives
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- To form 15 Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and sensitize them about the need of the intervention ensuring better participation in 5 selected
- To empower the capacity of 300 households in making fair choices for sustainable agriculture development coping current climatic
- To increase agriculture production ensuring qualitative produce with less pesticides or chemical
Targeted Beneficiaries
The categorization according to the land holding in Chhindwara district is shown in Figure 4 (census 2011). There are 62.41% of marginal and small farmers in Chhindwara district. Hence, 1,772 no. of farming household (hh) will be benefited to enhance their knowledge on organic vegetable farming in 5 selected villages.
Project Duration: 18 Months
Implementation Team
The implementing organization will deploy a team 4 persons. The team will include 1 Project Manager who will look after planning, strategy and execution along liaisoning with donor, 3 field officers, one expert on mobilization and others having expertise on agriculture.
Description of Key Activities
Baseline Study and End-line Study
The baseline study will be conducted at the inception of the project in all 5 villages. The data collection will be done in the first 2 months of the project. The analyzed data will give a picture of the condition of the villages, household and also help us for future reference to assess the achievements. The end-line study will be conducted at the end of the project in all 5 villages to understand the impact of this project.
Formation of Farmer Interest Group (FIG)
Village Institutions are a very important part of rural development, they bring out the real sense of democracy and helps in the implementation of a project with increased village level participation and village representation. The farmer interest group (FIG) is independent and self-managed group of 15 to 25 farmers in cluster farm lands with shared goal and interest who works together with their existing resources to achieve desired goal in 5 project villages. This activity of formation of group should be completed in first quarter of implementation period; hence, there will be 15 FIGs to cover 300 beneficiaries. The objective of FIG is as follows:
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- To address production and marketing issues
- To develop ‘self-help’ approaches
- To provide collective resources
- To provide a forum for training and information sharing
- To provide a focal point for technical and training activities
Soil and Water Testing
Knowing soil is very essential for the exact application of fertilizer and other agriculture input for cultivation on the basis of balanced use of fertilizer. This soil testing will include macro elements and nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash, pH & Electrical conductivity and micro nutrients: Zinc, Iron, Copper, Sulphur, Calcium and Magnesium. With this soil testing, a soil fertility map can be developed which would benefit to all 5 villages. Hence, the advanced cropping system can be more economically viable with respect to crop production and indiscriminate use of fertilizer can be stopped.
the cultivation practices. The project has given priority to select the environment friendly bio inputs to control the pest & disease of selected crops as follows:
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- Neem based pesticides: It acts as Antifeedant, repellent. It effectively controls the economically important pests like white fly, aphids’ mealy bugs etc.
- Garlic based pesticide: It effectively controls sucking and chewing type pest of vegetable.
- Beauveria bassiana: This is a entomopathogenic fungas. It effectively controls borers,,cut worms, root grubs, white fly, aphids, thrips, mealy bug, leaf hoppers.
- Verticillum lecanii: This is a entomopathogenic fungus. It effectively controls white-fly, aphids, thrips, mealy bug, leaf hoppers.
- Paecilomyces fumosoroseus: This is a entomopathogenic fungas. It effectively controls red spider mites, brown mites, pink mites, purple mites.
- Trichoderma viride: This is basically an antagonistic fungas. It effectively controls the disease-causing pathogens viz ring spot, damping off, foot rot. root rot etc
- Pseudomonas fluorscens : This biological fungicide is very useful for seed and seedling treatment. It also controls the ring spot, damping off, foot rot etc.
- Use of Biodynamic: The simple but effective use of bio dynamic mechanism has been introduced to reduce the pest and disease control and also to enhance germination and crop health.
- Land preparation & Sowing: The land was prepared with the application of cowdung, Vermi- compost and Bio-fertilizer supplied from the project with recommended dose before sowing of seeds/transplanting of seedling. The crops like Ladies finger, cucumber, bitter gourd, beans were sown directly.
Field Day on Agriculture Demonstration
After giving demonstration, field day will be organized on the demo farm to educate farmers. Farmers will observe the field and difference in both control and demo plot as well as they will decide better choice to implement in their own field. There should be 1 field day for one demonstration per cropping season at the time of crop maturity.
Integrated pest/nutrient management or natural pest management techniques
Integration of different ways of pest and nutrient management; cultural practices of pest management and bio- input supply will be promoted. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy will include physical, biological, cultural, mechanical and when needed chemical controls of pest.
Inputs such as Trichoderma, Beuvaria bassiana, Pseudomonas, Neem oil, Stick trap, light traps, Phosphorus Solubalizing Bacteria, Azotobacter, and Rhizobium will be provided to farmers on subsidies rate in all 5 selected villages. Standard package of practices will be formed before every cropping season which will be discussed with the experts/consultants and further implemented after a consensus as it will vary from place to place and crop to crop. Later, it is planned to procure input supply through FIG in a collective way. Every cropping season, demand of the inputs of IPM and INM materials will be generated through FIG meetings.
Exposure Visit
Farmers associated with FIGs will be taken for exposure to nearby area on field of progressive farmer, KVK or agriculture-based institute. So, the farmers can visualize the field and interact the individual who is taking care of existing field. This exposure will be organized once in a year in all 5 villages. Other farmers will get knowledge by peer to peer learning.
Promotion of vermicomposting
Composting is the process by which biomass is broken down to humas, which has several beneficial effects on soil physical and chemical properties. Further decomposition of humas releases the nutrients contained in it for crop uptake. A requirement for composting is organisms that feed on biomass and break it down to physically finer particles and chemically fewer complex substances. In nature, earthworms and microorganisms decompose dead biomass. When this process is initiated with the deliberate introduction of earthworms into a stack of biomass, it is called vermicomposting. Source of biomass available to farmers is cattle dung. It is an excellent substrate that undergoes composting on its own and becomes farmyard manure of very high quality. Hence, financial assistance will be will be given to farmers to adopt vermi- composting.
The substrate for vermicomposting, on weight basis, is three parts of dry biomass (chopped into pieces of less than 10 cm) and two parts of wet dung. The biomass and dung are mixed well and wetted to have an overall moisture content of 30-40%. At this moisture level, a ball made by pressing the substrate particles together breaks up when dropped. If it does not break up, the moisture is too high whereas a ball cannot be made if the substrate is too dry. The substrate is made into a bed of desirable length with 100 cm width and 50 cm height, and kept covered with a wet gunny. After two weeks, 200 earthworms are introduced for every 100 kg of substrate. The substrate is stirred and turned once a week, water sprinkled if it is too dry and the bed remade. The vermicompost will be ready for use in about 45 days.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) for capacity building
The information material will be developed in accordance to the need and which can help enhance the farmers’ understanding. This will include development of leaflets, charts, wall paintings, farmer diary and dedicated campaign for awareness among farmers.
Sustainability
The improvement in agriculture practices adoption by beneficiaries will help them cope with current climatic and market conditions. Farmers will get involved in advanced techniques of cultivation since they will clearly see the sustainable profit from their agriculture practice of earning livelihood. Furthermore, strong and sustainable village institutions will be formed which will work on shared values and benefits of all farmers. The linkages of these village institutes (FIG) will be done with other stakeholders such as market players and processing industries would be developed in the project period which will increase their capacity to carry forward the goal and agenda of this sustainable agriculture project. Hence, associated farmers in those village institutions will become self-sustaining and self-reliant with shared and participatory approach.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The project will establish a project monitoring plan based on the project log frame for monitoring and evaluation purpose. The interventions have been planned to cater to the needs of the farmers and in the process to empower them. The Monitoring and Evaluation will basically help to keep a track on indicators. The organization will develop reporting formats of some of the key indicators as follows:
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- Evaluation of training’s by post training assessments
- Tracking knowledge disseminated and adoption
- Change in productivity
- Change in cropping Intensity (actual cultivated area/available cultivated area)
- Decrease in cost of production
- Increase in household income from the baseline
- Improvement of soil quality
There will be a quarterly progress report to be furnished to the donor. There will be an annual report every year duly approved by the donor. The Mid Term Assessment and concurrent monitoring report will be shared with donor. Ex-post assessment will be shared in a larger forum and future replication plan will be developed.
