Introduction

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems has been involved in several programmes involving small and marginal farmers.  One of our focus areas has been biodiversity conservation. Through this, we have helped to enhance the livelihood security of farmers. 

The project aims to enhance the livelihood of small and marginal farmers through organic farming and biodiversity conservation.

Since 1995, our center has been involved in several pilot programmes to enhance the livelihood of farmers through organic farming and biodiversity conservation.  Conservation and cultivation of indigenous varieties of seeds was basically a need that arose from small and marginal farmers.   These farmers who do not have access to institutional credit found and felt that cultivation of indigenous varieties definitely reduced their cost of cultivation and provided them food security at times of failed monsoons, floods etc.  However, these farmers cultivate and conserve varieties for self-consumption but not on a large scale.  One of the major issues to be addressed is a good market for these biodiverse organic products.  Consumer awareness also needs to be created. 

During the course of our interaction with farmers it emerged that there were several farmers willing and wanting to switch to organic farming.  However they have to be trained with technologies related to organic farming and cultivation of indigenous varieties.  Organic inputs are also a serious constraint today.  Most farmers do not have cattle and also do not have access to green leaf manure from forest.  We also need to address the issue of how the availability of organic inputs can be increased and also train farmers to make their own organic fertilizers.  Minimum support by way of resources needs to be provided for farmers wanting to switch over to organic farming.  A programme had to be evolved to address all these issues together, to make a significant impact.  With all this in mind our centre initiated a project with support from Ford Foundation for a two-year period starting from July 2004 onwards. 

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT DURING
PHASE – 1  : JULY 2004 – JUNE 2006

We have established a network of over 800 farmers who are involved in organic cultivation. These farmers are grouped into 24 organic farmers sangams.

• Established a network of more than 800 farmers in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Tiruvannamalai districts who are involved in biodiverse organic cultivation in at least half an acre of their land.
• Established 24 organic farmers sangams.
• Established three in situ conservation centres.
• Conducted short term trainings and trainers’ trainings on organic farming
• Produced a film on the project.
• Established a revolving fund which supports organic farming activities.
• Provided support for strengthening the marketing system.

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Achievements Related to Organic Agriculture 

After cultivation for two seasons organically farmers have observed tremendous changes in the quality of the soil.  This has increased their enthusiasm for organic farming.

• There is an extremely good awareness created amongst all beneficiaries and also in the villages where we work on organic farming. 
• More than 90% of the beneficiaries use organically cultivated indigenous varieties for self consumption. 
• After cultivation for two seasons organically farmers have observed tremendous changes in the quality of the soil.  This has increased their enthusiasm for organic farming. 
• Several farmers have come forward to double the area of cultivation organically without project support.
• In some areas farmers themselves have been able to market some of the varieties without support from us.
• Other farmers in the project villages have shown keen enthusiasm to become members of the sangams and they have also expressed willingness to cultivate organically. 
• There are requests from farmers in other villages of the neighbouring areas to implement the programme in their villages also. 
• Cultivation expenses have come down by 15 – 20%. 
• Expenses for pesticides have come down by 60%. 
• Farmers make use of all the biomass available in their farm and convert it to good compost. They also make several organic preparations  by themselves (based on the training provided by the project) and apply it to the soil.  They feel that all this has significantly contributed to the fertility of the soil. 
• Some varieties like Seeraga samba has given very good yield (nearly a tonne in half an acre) in certain soil types. 
• A variety called Pisini has been found to be extremely suitable for saline soil in the Thazhampedu village. 
• All the beneficiaries have learnt to establish home gardens in their backyards and get good organically cultivated indigenous varieties for home consumption.  The nutritional security of the household has been ensured.  Women farmers get vegetables worth Rs. 300 – 350 per month.  Several other farmers (non project farmers) have also come forward to establish home gardens on their own. 
• Some women farmers have also been able to raise additional income by sale of vegetable seeds.   Some farmers have also raised additional income by sale of vegetables, which they had in excess after home consumption.  
• There is a great awareness in the use of medicinal plants for self help amongst the beneficiaries. This has contributed to the reduction of medical expenses.  In fact, this is of great use in villages where there are no hospitals nearby. 
• Some members have also started preparing certain herbal medicines collectively and sell it to other villagers. 
• Every beneficiary has established a small herbal garden along with the vegetable garden.  Besides the herbs that were provided by us they also   cultivate other herbs on their own. 
• Since the farmers are aware of the importance of medicinal plants they also make use of it as a prophylactic for several conditions. 
• Farmers also use these herbs for treatment of their cattle. 
• Kalanchoe  pinnata  (Ranakalli) has been used extensively in several villages for curing wounds, cuts, boils etc.  Aloe has been used for cattle, which were weak and had certain types of digestive problems. 
• In the case of humans the medicinal plants have been used extensively for cold, cough, cuts, fractures and so on. 

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Social Benefits

The project has paved the way for people of all castes and communities to work together for the common good .

• The beneficiaries have broken the caste barriers and work together.  This is a major achievement in the villages since the “caste” plays a vital role in several rural activities. 
• There is a forum created for farmers for exchange of views.  Everyone patiently listens to each others point of view and respects the same. 
• The programme has contributed to the village unity.  Several farmers have come together to contribute and work towards a common cause for the betterment of the villages. 
• There has also been a good interaction between villages and districts.  This has also resulted in marriages being fixed. 
• Beneficiaries have also been given training on First aid.  A farmer has used this knowledge and saved a person who tried to commit suicide.
• Leadership qualities have increased amongst the office bearers of the sangams.  Every village is proud of its sangam and its activities.  There is a sense of ownership created amongst them.  It has also increased their self confidence levels. 
• The members have also learnt to deal with banks and government officials.  Their confidence levels in dealing with the external world has increased substantially. 

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Financial Benefits

The project has helped make farming more profitable for the beneficiaries, and has reduced their borrowing from outside agencies.

• Members save a particular amount every month.   This has helped them in several ways.  Borrowing from outside agencies for a higher interest rate has decreased.   Because of the collective savings that the farmers have put together banks have also come forward to provide them loans for a variety of agricultural activities. 
• Because of the reduction of cultivation costs farmers have reduced borrowing from outside for agricultural purposes. 
• Since farmers have been provided training on preparation of several organic products they do not depend on external inputs by way of fertilizers and pesticides but are in a position to make it themselves.  This has in turn reduced their expenses to a large extent.  

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Benefits Through Trainings

• The short term trainings provided to farmers at the beginning of the programme helped to create an awareness and laid the foundation for the success of the rest of the programme.
• The trainings have also empowered farmers with organic farming technologies. 
• Because of the trainings received farmers have been able to prepare several bioproducts on their own.  They have prepared these bioproducts and used it also for the land, which was not put aside for the project activities.
• Farmers have been able to effectively control pests and diseases by the technologies that they had learnt during the training programmes and also efficiently increased the fertility of the soil by organic compost and other preparations. 
• Three long term trainers’ training programmes were conducted during the two year course of the project.  During these trainings nearly 90 trainers were trained from the villages.  They are currently our resource persons on organic farming in the villages where they come from.  They have acquired a large number of skills and help in our training and empowering farmers in a big way. 
• Some of these trainees are already training others in the villages on several biopesticide preparations and compost preparations.

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People’s Participation