4 Acre Farm in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Pilot Project: 4 Acre Farm in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Why?
As per the Chapter on “Performance of Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh” in the book “Revitalizing Indian Agriculture and Boosting Farmer Incomes” by Ashok Gulati,
Prerna Terway & Siraj Hussain:
Uttar Pradesh (UP) is largely an agrarian economy, dominated by small and marginal farmers and engaging about 47% of the population in agriculture. It is largest in terms of size and one of the largest states in terms of area. It has nine agro-climatic zones. There is a wide variation in the value of output from agriculture and allied activities from the various regions of the state. The western zone contributed 49.6% of the total value of output from agriculture and allied activities, followed by the eastern region (27.7%), central region (17.2%) and Bundelkhand (5.5%) in TE 2015–16. The cropping pattern is dominated by foodgrains, although its share in the value of production is decreasing. Livestock is a major contributor to the growth in agriculture experienced by UP over the years. UP is a major producer of horticultural produce such as potato, pea, mango, watermelon, amla, etc. Although it accounts for a large proportion of food grain production, the state lags behind in terms of agricultural productivity. Besides, farmers end up receiving low prices for their produce and this implies low income from farming activities.
Why this specific location?
Azamgarh lies in the Eastern Plain climatic zone of Uttar Pradesh, and farmers here are largely facing stress due to declining water tables, changing weather patterns caused by climate-change, heavy reliance on industrial agricultural practices promoted by the poison cartel, and low prices for their produce.
By planting our seed project in this agricultural heartland – we aim to help farmers of this area in claiming back their seeds, their lands, their traditional knowledge and implementing ecological agriculture based on preserving biodiversity and soil fertility.
In addition, two of our directors have their roots in this area – so it only made sense for us to go back to our own roots and begin from there.
How?
We have acquired 4 acres of land by the highway in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, taken on a 20-year lease. Currently, just like all its neighboring plots, this land is being cultivated using chemical-inputs and crops like wheat and sugarcane are being grown here.
We will change this and here’s how:
Step 1
Hire a Project Manager / Implementation Partner
The Project Manager provides scientific/technical leadership as a subject matter expert for regenerative agriculture in a variety of initiatives. S/he oversees the implementation of our strategies related to agriculture and soil health in India, including, but not limited to, crop residue management, agri-entrepreneurship, and zero-tillage agriculture. S/he actively promotes nature-based solutions to climate change as well climate adaptation through a mix of field projects and policy interventions.
For this project we would like to work with Nishant Gill, from Anityatva as project manager / implementation partner.
Nishant would be tasked with designing and engineering the entire project, including on-ground management. He has extensive experience with such projects in diverse locations across India. After a site visit, he would prepare a project report and also sketch broad concepts and patterns for development and management of the broader landscape using Keyline design and permaculture methodologies along with conceptual planning for functions and productivity, and zoning.
Then he will develop the final technical design with detailed technical plans (various layers such as climate, geography, water, roads, trees & agriculture, infrastructure, fencing, soil building, economy) and implementation drafts based on our expectations and budgets.
He will also give us detailed documentation for extensive crop systems planning, for both annual and perennial crops, a recommended stage implementation plan for up to 7 years so we have all the guidance necessary to take over the implementation of the project at a later stage.
A sample technical design may look like this below:
Step 2
Establish a Community Seed Bank
It all begins with the seeds – and our first step will be to establish a Community Seed Bank with the help of pioneers in the field like Navdanya.
How Community Seed Bank functions
A group of farmers (mostly women) is organized to collect, multiply and exchange traditional seeds and indigenous knowledge based on them. Members of the community seed bank are responsible for conservation of indigenous crop varieties. Each farmer conserving Seeds is called as Seed Keeper.
The farmer members collect the seeds available in their village. The seed bank is provided with the initial supply of seeds by Navdanya, either from the farmers who are already cultivating them in surrounding villages or from the existing seed banks or farmers of similar agro-climatic regions.
Farmers who are interested in growing indigenous varieties are also given technical know-how on cultivation of these crops, raising seeds and pest management organically.
At the end of the season farmers return the seed with some additional amount (25%) that they borrowed from the seed bank.
These seeds are then given to other farmers in the next season to multiply and also to increase the number of member farmers.
We will source the traditional seeds from Navdanya’s Conservation and training center at village Ramgarh in Doon Valley, or from the one in Sikandrabad in U.P.
Step 3
Establish a Nursery
After the seed bank is set up, we will start a nursery to germinate and propagate these seeds as they begin their journey from seed to healthy plant along with our project manager.
Step 4
Plant Cover Crops, and Treat the Soil
While work on the seed bank and nursery are underway, we will start preparing the soil by planting cover crops like nitrogen-fixing legumes, and treating the soil.
Soil samples will be taken and sent for testing so we establish baseline numbers for soil health at the start of the project. Each year will repeat this testing and see the impact regenerative agricultural practices have on soil health.
Step 5
Construction of Infrastructure, Planting and Execution of Project Design with our Implementation Partner
The final stage of the project would be to construct the necessary infrastructure, and ensure the project design is executed for all aspects – including the watershed management steps, agricultural and horticultural beds, plantation of trees, and other keyline and permaculture aspects, etc.
Long Term Goal
Our long term goal would be to demonstrate via our pilot project the benefits of regenerative agricultural practices and evangelize more farmers in the area to ditch the chemicals and go organic. Eventually, within 3 years we will get at least 50 farmers with at least 50 acres from the area to form a cluster and apply for PGS-Certification under the Parampargjat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY).
Organic Farming and PKVY Scheme:
As the global population began to grow rapidly, the need for a more sustainable approach in food production became more obvious. Thus, to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was launched by the Government of India in 2015. It is an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in improvement of soil health. The objective is to produce agricultural products free from chemicals and pesticides residues by adopting eco- friendly, low-cost technologies.
Key Thrust areas of PKVY in promoting organic farming include the following:
- Promote organic farming among rural youth/ farmers/ consumers/ traders
- Disseminate latest technologies in organic farming
- Utilize the services of experts from public agricultural research system in India
- Organize a minimum of one cluster demonstration in a village
Approach:
PKVY is implemented in a time frame of three years in line with the PGS-India’s prescribed conversion period of 36 months from conventional farm to organic.Accordingly, PKVY promotes organic farming through a cluster approach to adopt PGS Certification. To avail the scheme, each cluster or group must have 50 farmers willing to take up organic farming under the PKVY and possess a total area of at least 50 acres. PGS Certification facilitates farmers to certify their organic produce, label and market their products domestically.
Pilot Project details
Project Name : Pilot Project: 4 Acre Farm
Location : Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
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