4. Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture Among Dry Land Farmers in Andimadam

Project Period: December 2006 to November 2009.

Project Area: 30 Village Panchayats of Andimadam Union.

Aim: Facilitate in organic farming and to increase adequate production through use of sustainable means of nutrients and natural farm practices, monitoring skills, irrigation and crop recycling.

Objectives:

-      To organize and involve 600 dry land farmers in organic farming practices.

-      To develop model farm and train the farmers.

-      To establish village level farmers club and encourage them towards organic farming.

-      To adopt sustainable dry land cultivation and improve profit.

New Groups formed:

No.
Group Name
No. of
Village
New
Groups
Members
1.
Bees
6
7
29
2.
Cauvery
2
2
12
3.
Banian Tree
10
11
49
4.
Sun
3
3
14
5.
Paddy
3
3
19
6.
Kurinji
4
4
19

Total
28
30
142

Trainings conducted:

No
Date
Village
Topic
No. of participants
Resource Person
1.
08.04.2009
Arulanandapuram
Fertility of soil, natural manure
36
Coordinator
2.
20.05.2009
Keezhaneduvai
Water management, Gardening
33
3.
19.06.2009
Thennur
Panchakaviya, Pesticides
37
4.
26.06.2009
Varadarajanpet
Rain water harvesting, Gardening
42
5.
10.07.2009
Organic farming, soil fertility, Nutrients
40
6.
12.08.2009
Panchakaviya, Kitchen-gardening
45
7.
21.08.2009
Keezhaneduvai
Nutrients, Soil fertility
27
8.
10.09.2009
Thennur
Kitchen- garden, soil fertility, inter crop.
30
9.
22.09.2009
Keezhaneduvai
Nutrients, Panchakaviya, Soil fertility
32
10.
25.09.2009
Varadarajanpet
Pesticides, Nutrients
43
11.
22.11.2009
Arulanandapuram
37

Changes due to Training:
No
Group Name
Changes
Use compost
Herbal Pesticide
Plant Nutrients
Grow Trees
Garden Development
Animal rearing
Land taken on lease
1.
Bees
47
22
12
0
15
40
9
2.
Cauveri
52
26
20
47
12
41
7
3.
Banian
55
35
22
67
40
25
16
4.
Sun
34
20
18
49
20
17
8
5.
Paddy
39
26
22
45
22
35
12
6.
Kurinji
40
24
21
44
26
20
7
Total
267
153
115
312
135
178
59

Agriculture loan distribution:

A sum of Rs.8,20,000 has been distributed to 164 Farmers @ Rs.5000/- per head on 15.07.2009 and Rs.5,00,000/- has been distributed to 100 farmers on 28.10.2009.  Through the above loan, 32 farmers have taken land on lease for cultivation, 6 persons purchased  bullock cart tyre vehicles.  6 Purchased Oil Engines and 56 bought bullocks, and 32 engaged in cashew growing.



Model Farm:

Developed Melaneduvai Model Farm and using the compost, vermi fertilizer.  40 Mango, 20 goa, 15 Nelli, 20 Suppotta, 20 Lemon and 10 Jackfruit trees are being grown.  From the Vermi compost of Model Farm, 984 farmers of 6 groups were benefited.

External Evaluation:

Trichy “Voice Trust” (NGO) Director Mr. Gregory, as external evaluator, planned and conducted evaluation of 3 years project activities on 22.02.2010.  The KMSSS Secretary and Asst. Secretary facilitated the process of evaluation.  From the 6 groups area of the project, 256 persons (beneficiaries) participated in the evaluation, interview, discussion and field assessment.