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LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS

Sustainable Action for Farmers Livelihood

Sustainable Action for Farmers Livelihood (SAFAL) is a project being implemented by ACCESS Development Services a national level organization promoting livelihoods & microfinance, with the support of the Anil Agarwal Foundation. This project works with nearly 3500 to 4000 farm families in these villages.

The SAFAL programme aims at increasing income of small and marginal farmers on a sustainable basis. It has also succeeded in motivating and capacity building of farmers in cultivation of cash crops over paddy cultivation. It will also help in increasing the cropping intensity as the Farmer will be now attracted for multi crops instead of mono crop. Keeping in mind existing cropping pattern and the agro climatic conditions some of the cash crops like floriculture (marigold, tuberose etc.), groundnut, sunflower and vegetables are being focused upon in the locality. The cash crop cultivation orients the farmers towards shifting from subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture and helps enhance income per unit of agricultural land. The rationale behind encouraging floriculture is the lucrative market for flowers used in the daily rituals in the temple of lord Jagannath at Puri, most of which is being imported from neighboring states.

SAFAL has been instrumental in organizing 51 farmers’ Self Help Groups( SHG) and farmers cooperatives, covering 800 farmers in 18 villages. Trainings and exposures are organized to enhance technical knowledge of farmers and also to motivate them to go for cash crops. Efforts are also being taken to facilitate efficient supply of inputs and marketing of produce through these farmer cooperatives.

In another novel exercise in supporting farmers, Mobile Veterinary Health Units (MVHU) are being used, treating more than 2648 domestic farm animals every month in 23 villages as well as providing Calcium supplements to lactating cows. This has resulted in more than 100% increase in milk yield as indicated in a sample study in Kantigoroda Village. This also encourages Supplementary/Alternative livelihood and insulates farmers from monsoon vagaries considerably.

The Vedanta University CSR team is conducting regular workshops for effective co-ordination between stake-holders, Govt. Departments like agriculture, Horticulture & Irrigation, banks, NABARD, Agriculture Universit(ies) & marketing units along with ACCESS, the partnering NGO, which provides technical support & knowhow. Support from the participants including the Vedanta University’s CSR team has gone a long way by helping farmers in working towards a more prosperous future.

Key Objectives:
  • Increasing the Farm income on a sustainable basis through switching over to cash crops from sustenance crops
  • Small and marginal producers (farmers) are organized for effective participation in sub-sector value chains, and market linkages for agricultural commodities
  • Stabilising the income of the rural families by encouraging supplementary livelihood in allied agriculture, off farm and non - farm sectors.
Expected outputs:
  • 3500-4000 producers are organized into Producer Business Groups established and federated into  Producer Cooperatives  (in farm and non-farm sectors);
  • One Small Producers’ Agribusiness Resource Center (SPARC) established;
  • At least 5 sub-sectors/commodities (such as paddy, vegetables, horticultural seedlings, Floriculture, Groundnut, Sunflower, diary etc) identified and strengthened, and value addition efforts focused on benefiting women; and
  • At least 2-3 private sector partners in agribusiness (for processing, marketing, and input supplies) linked with the project.
Outcomes:
  • At least 100% increase in the present farm or allied sector income of at least 75% of total targeted households through improved productivity and access to value chains;
  • Farmers adopt best practices in agriculture and access extension services, resulting in increased farm productivity, non-farm producers develop products with high demand;
  • All Producer Cooperatives have established links with private market channels
  • Significant financial and operational leverage and interest from other sources is achieved due to the robustness of the model and the underlying processes; and
  • Positive spin-offs to other areas of the district.
  
Govt scheme for sprayer reaches farmers
 
Marigold demonstration farm at Kantigroda
 
Marigold Early Flowering
 
Lactating dose for milking cows
 
Capacity building of farmers on soil sample collection by Asst. Agril. Officer at Chhaitana
 
Monitoring of tuberose demonstration at Sundara
 
Paddy thresher cum winnower procured and rented out by Bira Hanuman farmer SHG at Chhaitana
 

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