Support Small Farmers in India

Dear Friend,

Let me start out by wishing you and your loved ones the season’s greetings. 

Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood in Seva Mandir’s working area, with nearly 93% of households being self-employed farming families. Unfortunately, agriculture contributes very little to household incomes and many even fail to produce enough for their own food security due to a variety of factors. The increasing population has led to a decrease in the size of landholdings, and the shortage of rainfall outside of the monsoon season makes it difficult for farmers to reap more than one crop a year. Furthering this problem is the low quality seeds and inefficient practices that lead to a decreased productivity level.

Over the past years, Seva Mandir has identified and promoted a range of activities to address the challenges of agricultural development in the area. In previous years, horticulture badis (orchards) were raised across all blocks. Saplings of various fruit trees, including gooseberry, lemon, mango and guava were planted in these badis.

With the help of Seva Mandir, Leela (name changed) developed a beautiful and productive lemon orchard on the hill behind her house. Leela proudly tells us; “I sold 200 kgs of lemons last year. Now I no longer need to migrate to far away cities to make ends meet, leaving my children behind”. This year, Leela again expects to make a good earning from her lemon orchard so that she will be able to take care of her children’s needs.

Modern experiments were also conducted in agro-forestry, in which a variety of fruits were planted in pastures and private wastelands. This experiment was being conducted throughout Seva Mandir’s region, to provide communities with increased benefits from their regenerated lands. Additionally, vegetable nurseries were created and the saplings were sold to other farmers in the area, thereby increasing vegetable consumption in tribal families (and thus their nutritional intake) whilst providing them with an opportunity to sell excess produce as cash crops.

Farmers in our region largely use the same seeds for many years or use hybrid seeds that have to be replaced constantly, resulting in low productivity. Hundreds of kilograms of seeds, including maize, black gram, sesame, kulat and green gram were supplied to farmers of various villages in order to revitalize seed supplies. New seed banks for wheat, gram, and maize were also established, providing a means to replenish and store seed varieties.

Seva Mandir has provided farmers in the region with an opportunity to revitalize depleted resources, sustain their traditional methods of production, and eventually generate new sources of income.

All this has been possible due to your consistent support and trust in us. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us.  We have been able to benefit more than 10,000 farmers through various interventions because of you. These farmers can now grow enough food in their fields and don’t have to migrate from farming in absence of basic necessities.

Thank you once again for your support. Your support is making a huge difference in the lives of these poor farmers.

Our whole team wishes you a lot of joy and happiness during this holiday season. May the upcoming year bring new achievements and happiness for you and your family. Happy New Year.

Regards

Atul Lekhra and the Seva Mandir Team

Follow us on www.facebook.com/sevamandir 

Links:

• Seva Mandir's Website
• Seva Mandir's Facebook Page

Dear Friend,

I hope this update finds you and your loved ones in good health.

Together, we are facing a truly unprecedented situation. The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting all of our families, our businesses, our communities, and our way of life. The Covid-19 pandemic is a two-pronged health and economic crisis, and requires a two-pronged response.

Seva Mandir has an important role to play, and we’re working hard to help rural communities in southern Rajasthan to overcome this situation. Through our Covid-19 Relief Programme, we have provided more than 52,200 relief kits for food, sanitation, storing grain, sanitary pads, and personal protection.

In our last report, we shared with you the steps which Seva Mandir had taken for the safety and security of the people living in its rural areas. But now the scenario has completely changed, people now are aware about Covid-19 and they also know the ways to keep themselves safe and protected from this virus.

As the initial brunt of the crisis is over and the lockdown is slowly lifted, Seva Mandir’s focus is now on developing and implementing long-term relief for communities and individuals through livelihood interventions.

The economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown are now becoming clear. Migrant labourers have returned back to their villages and are now out of work and putting extra pressure on the meagre resources of their households. The lockdown has also affected farmer’s cultivation and harvesting activities.

More than 80% of the people in the area that Seva Mandir works in are subsistence farmers. They and their families rely on growing enough produce to support themselves. However, in southern Rajasthan, that is no simple task. Udaipur and Rajsamand districts are in the heart of the Aravalli mountain range - a region characterised by dry, undulating landscapes, regular droughts and irregular monsoons. Farming here is no easy task.

Central to Seva Mandir’s work is building the food security of farming families. This is done through developing more efficient water management systems, regenerating common lands, building the knowledge and capacity of farmers, and providing them with the tools and seeds they need for successful growing and harvesting.

These farmers are no strangers to hardship, and they have a resilience and strength that helps them to survive. But life is not easy.

With the Covid-19 outbreak, that has become even harder. Having strong food security means that these families are able to feed themselves for longer.

Farmers like Bhimraj.

‘Help from Seva Mandir has been a big relief - especially in this crisis.’ Explains Bhimraj, who is able to support his family with the vegetables that he harvests. ‘My family is not getting any income due to the covid situation, but we have enough vegetables to feed ourselves. We are now able to sell some in the local market also.’

The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting people like Bhimraj and their families disproportionately. By supporting farming families and by regenerating the natural environment, we can ensure they have the ability to support themselves in the long-term.

We are deeply grateful for your overwhelming support and messages of encouragement. Until now, over INR 6 million (USD 80,000) has been spent in providing relief.

We are committed to continuing to serve the communities we work with, and we know you will be too. The world will come out stronger after we beat the coronavirus.

Thank you, and sending our best wishes for yours and your family and friends safety.

Regards

Atul Lekhra and the Seva Mandir team

Follow us on www.facebook.com/sevamandir 

Links:

• Seva Mandir's Website
• Seva Mandir's Facebook Page