BastarIYA Batallion@Dantewada Sagar

MukeshPrashantDineshRajiv

INTRODUCTION Much has changed over the past century. Resources, once abundant, have now shrunk. Population has boomed. The extent of poverty and hunger is high. The situation of health and malnutrition is grim.

The policies of the state and the Forest Department have greatly impacted the cultivation practices of tribal community

The tribal communities of Dantewada are now at a crossroad. Their traditional, forestdwelling way of life, their harmonious relationship with the forest and their self-sufficiency based on the surrounding natural resources have been disrupted. They have not yet been able to fully embrace the modern agrarian way of life.

Government policies, based on the promotion of chemical-intensive farming, have been, as of now, showing positive results in Dantewada. But are these results sustainable?

Amid these government policies and schemes, three years ago, the District Administration of Dantewada decided to follow an alternative route, with the support of the then Collector, Mr K. C. Devasenapathi

LOCALE OF STUDY 3 blocks of Dakshin Bastar Dantewada district- Katekalyan, Gidam, Kuakonda

Pota Cabin schools Agriculture Extension programme promoting Organic farming

Vision: To establish Dantewada as Organic district in the time span of 5 years

Tools used

Structured questionnaire (group

+ individual)

FGD’s

SHG meetings

Case studies, Success stories

Meetings with

various stakeholde

rs

Observation

NEED OF INTERVENTION

INTERVENTIONS

• Barbed wire fencing

• Borewell• Irrigation Pump• Training and Capacity

Building

• NADEP• Vermi

Compost• Cow Shed

• Land Development• Farm pond / Open Wells• NADEP, Vermi Compost• Cow Shed

MGNREGA

IAP/ BRGF

CSRAgriculture Dept

Mochobaadi

LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES

Farm activities: Cultivation of Paddy, vegetable, Cereals, Millets, Kodo, , Kosra

Off- farm activities: Agricultural labourers, exchange labour, collecting fuel wood, mahua, tamrind, tendu patta, tora.

Non-farm activities: Government employees, widow+old aga pension, income from shops, remittances.

PROJECT OVERVIEW The important first step is to organize the farmers. As long as they are alone, farmers will always remain at the whims of the market. It is, therefore, important to organize them into groups so that they speak in a collective voice and, thereby, take strength from each other

Organic farming will not only safeguard the environment and the health of the people, but will also minimize the expenditure of the farmers in the long term

To create a wave of hope and optimism in the region of Dantewada affected by the violence of LWE for long

OUTCOME Members taking double crop and cultivating vegetables thereby earning substantial income. The availability of the vegetables in the local market has significantly increased due to these efforts.

The farmers who cultivated rice through SRI have been able to see 40-50% reduction in the overall cost of paddy cultivation and increase in production by around 50-60 %. Within one year there has been 150% increase in the number of SRI farmers.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Primitive method of cultivation majorly rainfedNo demarcated grazing land for cattleMarketing of forest produce still a big issue in the regionNo much awareness about crop insuranceFarmer group meetings being affected due to high rate of alcoholismTransportation and road connectivity in remote villages is a distant dream.Tribal caught in between CRPF + LWE Extremist wings posing restrictions on business expansion

KEY OBSERVATIONSAgriculture is majorly rainfed and carried out at substance levelTribals depend on great extend to NTFP for their livelihood ( tamrind, selpi, date, mango, mahua)

Government initiated programme promoting organic farming via providing training, exposure visits, agricultural equipment, pest traps

Bhoomgadi – Nirmaan organization initiated FPC providing market linkage both forward and backward.

Major portion of the produce including paddy, vegetables, mahua, cereals, tamrind, mango, custard apple, amla being sold at weekly market on coopie basis.

Cases migration among tribal youths in unskilled sectors.Uneven land leading to irrigation problem. Pota Cabin schools providing a platform for tribal students to gain their full potential.

State initiated livelihood schools promoting job opportunities Youth actively participating in the farmer groupEasy and ample availability of biomass paving the way towards the establishment of 100% Organic district.Mocho Badi plays an important role in promoting vegetable cultivationPDS plays a major role in their survival.Promotion of eucalyptus, sagwan plantation posing threat to forest based livelihoodDigging of roads by extremists poses problem to both local people and adversely affects health facilities in the region.Murga Bazar is a major source of entertainment and making some quick money.

RECOMMENDATIONSVillage panchayat must be considered as one of the key stakeholders promoting agricultural farming.Effective continuous monitoring mechanism for farmer group meetings and dispersal of agricultural equipment and inputs.Training should be conducted in the language of the masses.Women participation should be promoted.Transportation and proper marketing channels should be improved.Delay in payment of agriculture produce which is sell in LAMPS cooperative marketing society. Allied activities like animal husbandry, poultry, goatery should be promoted via the farmers group.