Fertile Ground

an enthusiastic group from Assam, India and the west coast of Canada working together to promote sustainable and traditional farming

and celebrate our culture and diversity!

visit www.fertile-ground.org

PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING IN ASSAM

Dependence on pesticides & chemical fertilizers by Assam’s tea industry and by large-scale agricultural producers has contributed to higher levels of pesticide use in production of agricultural crops - even in home or kitchen gardens.

Why are we working in Assam?

Links between large chemical & seed corporations, universities and banks+

heavy promotion & marketing of hybrid seeds, fertilizer and pesticides+

loans to help farmers and growers “improve” their efficiency=

loss of confidence in more sustainable and traditional farming practices

Between 2006 and 2008, Fertile Ground worked to set up a Resource Centre, demonstration garden and classroom to promote use of organic practices in Assam

The project has been carried out in partnership with Rotary Club of Digboi, with support from Rotary Clubs in Canada, Rotary International, Indian Oil Corporation, Canada India Village Aid and other donors.

Next…….meet the great group of volunteers who’ll be joining us in Assam this year!

An important element of our work is sharing ideas and information about Canadian and Assamese culture, and

creating opportunities for work and study exchanges

Sarah Kerr, FG & PhotographerMitch & Erin, Camosun College

Bec & Adam, CumberlandKel Kelly, Merville

Chip Ross and Peggy CarswellSunrise Strathcona Rotary

LeighAnn Vaughan & Onyx

Other potential volunteers include:

1. Anisha Sridhar (film writer)

2. Carmen (Cortes)

3. Marcus (Camosun, Env. Studies)

a look at what’s ahead…..

Activities include:

1. Sadiya – Community Garden Project2. Five Villages - Five Bicycles: Bicycles and Bike Trailers3. Kids to Kids – exchanging information between east and

west through pictures and stories4. Raising awareness of the importance of organic and

traditional farming practices in schools near Jorhat5. Fair Trade Tea Project – investigating the possibility of

establishing a project, and provide links and training for small-scale growers

6. Maintaining connections with Singpho community near Ketetong village

7. Connecting with staff and projects taking place at Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa - our head office in Digboi

Location of main activities in 2011

Bodo tea growers

State capital & airport

PrakritiSchoolProject

NEADS headoffice

Gobin Hazarika’s tea garden

Gossainbarie Tea Garden

Sadiya

ASP & Singpho

Dibrugarh airport

India

State of Assam

1. Community Garden Project in Sadiya

Teach people how to – take care of the soil– grow vegetables organicallyso they have healthy food to feed their families

Let people know that pesticides can make people sick and harm the environment

Help some of the families in the village earn money by growing and selling vegetables

Make sure families have the information they need so they don’t take out loans that they can’t manage

• Funding for this Humanitarian Project came from a grant initiated by Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club which was supported by other clubs on Vancouver Island and matched by funding from District 5020.

• Additional support is being provided by Fertile Ground and the Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa project

Pompy will teach people

- how to improve their soil

- how to stop insect pests from damaging their crops without spraying them with pesticides.

The teacher and parents can use vegetables from the garden to make healthy school lunches for the kids.

Provide tools, signs, seeds, school supplies, etc.

Ensure each school has a

sanitary latrine and water filter

Work with local residents to build playgrounds at all 5 schools using local materials like bamboo and also recycled materials like rubber tires.

Because of all the rain Assam has, bamboo and wood won’t last very long, so we are also hoping we can raise money for some metal swing sets and teeter-totters

• a teeter cost will cost about $95

• a metal swing set will cost about $125

2. Bicycles and Bicycle Trailers

Five villages - Five bicycles• To travel between villages, we

hope to purchase 5 bicycles• In the short-term, bikes will be

used by volunteers helping to work on the gardens

• They’ll remain with NEADS for use of their staff, village animators, or future volunteers visiting Sadiya

Low-cost bamboo bike trailersConstruct prototype low-cost bicycle trailer to help move materials that will be used to make compost at the village schools

Provide training that will give village members the skills they need to manufacture similar trailers

3. Kids to Kids letter-writing, story & photo exchange between kids in the east and the west

Read the complete story online at: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/community/106790758.html

4. Raising awareness of the importance of organic agriculture

with Prakriti NGO’s Samir Bordoloi and Mahan Borah, supporting their efforts to promote organic agriculture at elementary and high schools near Jorhat

5. Fair Trade Tea Project

•Explore opportunities for establishment of a fair trade project linking Gobin Hazarika, Singpho growers and Binod Saharia

•Meet with workers, management and garden owners to explore what’s needed (health care, schools, drains, water, etc.)

•Look at possible technical support to improve quality of teas, access to needed capital for equipment

•Provide training for our growing network of small-scale growers - January 8th/ 9th and again prior to our departure, end of March

6. Maintaining connections with Singpho community near Ketetong Village

• visit the school that funds from Fertile Ground helped to restore

• distribute school supplies, make presentations

• assist with design of the new school garden

7. Connecting with Our Home BaseAdarsh Seuj Prakalpa - Digboi

• ongoing site improvements and repairs, including new roof for the outdoor classroom, new Rotary club/guest house and compost bio-digester

Continue with vegetable production & sales

Mushroom cultivation training

Training and experimenting with formulas and controls for reducing insect damage

Repairs to office equipment, file organization

Thanks to our friends and supporters for all the different

ways they support Fertile Ground’s work in Assam!

To make a donation or find out how you can help, visit our website www.fertile-ground.org