century. This challenge seems even more daunting in the wake of climate
change impacts. A need is being felt for new methods of food production
that give a higher per acre productivity while at the same time not
undermining the natural resource base. It is necessary to learn from the
best practices and successful experiences from across the globe and to
mainstream these through appropriate policies and institutional
interventions, including technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
Development Alternatives (DA)
has been working in the area of sustainable agricultural development in
the climate sensitive Bundelkhand region since early 1980s. Our
experiences and success stories in sustainable agri-productivity
enhancement hold value in that they present the case relevant to the
semi arid dryland eco-systems and resource starved poor farmers; this is
the context common to large regions across Asia and Africa.
DA has, through its various
initiatives and programmes, catalysed the adoption of sustainable
agricultural methods by over ten thousand farmers. Climate smart
technologies and approaches that increase the adaptive potential and
resilience of the agricultural livelihoods, which are the mainstay of
the rural economy, are being promoted through our various programmes. We
have also of late initiated the process of institutionalisation of the
farmers into farmers’ clubs and subsequently into farmers’ federations,
so as to build up their capacities to access knowledge and quality
inputs for enhancing productivity levels and to establish forward and
backward linkages for maximising economic returns.
Our Sustainability Resource
Centre set up at TARAGram Pahuj in 2007 has been focusing on
demonstration of innovative and sustainable farming technologies and
methods, and their large scale dissemination among the farming
community. The centre demonstrates models of improved farming practices,
water conservation, harvesting, and land use planning. Trainings and
demonstrations are held on a regular basis with the support of other
resource agencies such as the National Research Centre for Agro-Forestry
(NRCAF), International Crops Research Institute for Semi Aris Tropics
(ICRISAT) and the state government.
In this issue of the newsletter
we are presenting snapshots of some of our key initiatives on
agricultural development and institutionalisation of farmers. The
articles also portray the approach adopted by DA in our interventions in
the areas of sustainable agriculture and food security. We believe that
it is time for all practitioners working on sustainable agriculture
development and food security to pool their intellectual and
experiential resources to sow the seeds of change and thus tackle the
impending challenge of feeding our growing global population.
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