Environmental conservation builds families, India

Since the last progress report, Sahyog Sansthan has been assisting participating communities to increase their income through their horticulture and vermicompost units, a few of the families have already earned an income with these units.

These efforts were carried out in the following way: • Sahyog provided training on horticulture and vermicompost to 80 men and women in the village of Bharav. Experts from the College of Technology and Agri-engineering, Agriculture Department in addition to Sahyog’s staff imparted the training. • Sahyog offered training in crop production and management to 35 men and women in the village of Bharav, imparted by agriculture experts and the Sahyog team.

As a result: • 13 families have shown an interest for horticulture and vermicompost. • Two vermicompost units were established in the last couple of months in the village of Bharav. A total of 1,120 kg. (2,469 lbs.) of vermicompost was produced; out of which 510 kg. (1,124 lbs.) will be used for this season’s crop and 570 kg (1,257 lbs.) will be stored for the next crop. The 2 families who own the units have sold a total of 40 kg. (88 lbs.) of vermicompost. • Organic farming is becoming more practiced in this village.

Sahyog recently carried out an evaluation site visit to families who had received horticulture units in the past two years. During this period, Sahyog has supported 106 families by providing training on planting fruit saplings such as gooseberry, lemon and mangos. Since the past two years has received a good amount of monsoon rain, most of the saplings have survived and are growing. The following results came about:

1) Gooseberry and Lemon: about 68% of what was planted in the past two years has survived 2) Mangos: 83% of mangos planted in the past two years has survived 3) Last year, Sahyog planted 15 saplings to grow coconuts, which have all survived and are currently growing.