Efforts that Brought Happiness:Stories of change from the people

Abstract

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is implementing a project supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) for the last ten years in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and a project supported by Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) in four districts of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand for improving livelihoods of small and marginal farmers through sustainable management of natural resources. ICRISAT has adopted consortium approach in partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Government line departments in the respective states. The project interventions have piloted science-led farmer-centric integrated watershed management for enhancing natural resource use efficiency for crop production. Based on the various interventions for improved management of land, water and crops, the consortium team identified the success stories from different districts covering various activities such as balanced nutrient management, farmer participatory selection of improved varieties, enhancing water-use efficiency, using improved landform treatments, minimizing rainy season fallows, income-generating activities like goat rearing, vermicomposting and improved livestock breed rearing including vegetable farming which can be shared with other areas for benefiting the farmers. This compendium of success stories is based on the detailed interviews with the farmers, collecting required information through targeted visits and interacting with the community in the districts, their capacity enhancement and the continuity of the technology. The analysis is based on factual data from the users and other views. The success stories clearly revealed that crop productivity significantly improved with improved management and also resulted in increased family incomes through use of intensification of the systems with balanced nutrient management, water management, improved seeds of high-yielding short-duration cultivars and crop diversification; microenterprises benefiting women, self-help groups and individuals also enhanced the family incomes and empowered women in the project areas. This compendium comprises many success stories from districts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.