From 8–13 December 2025, our team worked closely with farmers across five villages in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, to establish 10 Multilayer Farming Models under the LIC–HFL HRIDAY Project. The key on-ground activities were carried out on 10th and 11th December, marking an important step towards strengthening smallholder livelihoods.

The initiative began with classroom and practical training sessions for Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and the project team. These sessions focused on building a clear understanding of the multilayer farming concept, covering plot layout, plant spacing, bed preparation, measurement techniques, and layer-wise crop planning, followed by hands-on demonstrations on farmers’ fields.

The next day, a field exposure visit was organised with all 10 selected multilayer farmers at the same plots. Through open discussions and live demonstrations, farmers explored what multilayer farming is, why it is needed, when it should be adopted, and how it can be implemented effectively on small parcels of land.

Multilayer farming is an advanced and efficient technique in which vegetables and fruits are grown in five layers within a 250 sq. metre area, using a bamboo and GI wire structure. Root crops such as ginger and turmeric form the base layer, followed by leafy vegetables, short creepers, long creepers, and papaya as the top layer, allowing maximum use of space and resources.

The core objective of this model is to increase farmers’ income, reduce crop failure risks, and promote crop and dietary diversity. By growing multiple crops together, farmers can ensure regular harvests, improved nutrition for their families, and higher returns from limited land.

More than 35+ farmers actively participated in the two-day activities, demonstrating strong interest and growing confidence in adopting this model. The multilayer farming initiative is expected to contribute to sustainable livelihoods, resilient farming systems, and improved incomes in the project area.