Sustainable Farming – Nellore Region (Third Year)

Sustainable Farming of Small and Marginal Farmers – Nellore Region (Third Year)

Region: Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Focus Area: 12 Villages of Sydapuram Mandal, SPSR Nellore District
SIF Partner: Rural Reconstruction & Development Society (RRDS)

The purpose of this project is to enable the small and marginal farmers to grow their food in the available lands and achieve food security by following local methods of cultivation towards sustainable farming. This will help preserving their land, water, food for future generations through land and Soil Management, Water Conservation/ Natural Farming, Drip Irrigation, Old Community wells Recharging.

Sustainable Farming – Nellore Region (First Year)
Sustainable Farming – Nellore Region (Second Year)

Current Situation Of Farmers:
We estimate that approximately 800 small and marginal farmer families are dependent on agriculture in these 12 villages in Sydapuram mandal SPSR Nellore district. Farmers with dry land are cultivating lemons, vegetables, black gram etc. whereas those with water facilities are cultivating rice. Despite working hard, farmers are not able to get adequate income and are abandoning agriculture and migrating to cities.

Absence of water harvesting techniques
Lack of knowledge of land and crop management techniques, soil health and inter cropping
Heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Selling the harvest through middlemen resulted in lower prices for the farmers.
Farmers are getting high interest loans making it difficult to repay

Objectives:

Promote small and marginal farmers and formation of Co-operative farming
Promote Water & soil moisture conservation methods
Promote Natural Farming methods
Promote Drip Irrigation and inter cropping
Old Community wells recharging

Activities Planned:

Village Meetings
Demonstration meetings
Canal Works
Tank Renovation
Community wells

Current Progress:

Field Coordinator and Volunteers visited the villages and organized awareness meetings to explain the importance of Natural Farming practices. The chemical farming affects land, water and soil, health. The cost of chemicals is very high. The cost of cultivation is increased. We have educated the Farmers to reduce the chemical farming, cost of cultivation and go for alternative Natural Farming methods.

Our team explained how to prepared Jeevamrutham, Ganajeevamrutham, Bramhastram, Vavila Kashayam etc. We have also conducted Demo meetings for preparation of the Jeevamrutham, Ganajeevamrutham, Bramhastram, and Vavila Kashayam.

Highlights Of Activities from January 2023: