Introduction

This project for improving livelihoods of farmers through Organic Vegetable Cultivation with a package of organic and sustainable farming technologies is being implemented with the help of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai under their Small Grants Programme. The programme is for a period of one year and the implementation has started from November 2007.  

OBJECTIVES

• To bring together vegetable farmers and help them convert to organic cultivation.
• To enable them to produce most of the inputs on farm to create an impact on the local economy. 
• To empower them with organic farming technologies and project management so that the programme becomes sustainable.
• To help them certify their products for a better price.
• To make this a sustainable model so that it can be replicated on a large scale in other parts of Tamil Nadu and also other states of the country.

COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAMME

• Farmers would be brought together by establishing organic farmers groups.
• 20 acres of land belonging to 10 – 20 farmers will be completely converted to organic. 
• 150 farmers will be provided intensive training on organic vegetable cultivation. 
• Due to lack of good quality organic inputs we would provide organic inputs like manure, seeds, biopesticides for the first two seasons till such time farmers are able to produce this on their own and make it sustainable. 
• Prepare farmers for group certification of their lands.

METHODOLOGY TO BE ADOPTED

• Establishing demonstration fields
• Supply of inputs
• Trainings
  • Monthly trainings
  • Short-term trainings
• Exposure visits
• Research and documentation