Farmers from rain-fed kurum village growing three crops with the help of gravity flow irrigation with application of low cost innovative organic practices. Farmer Balku Singh has improved their livelihood income up to 3 times by selling his surplus vegetables with low rainfall and scarce water source. The village has emerged as a transformative model of socio-economic empowerment.

Sharing the agro-economical advancement of the village, farmers gave testimony of their transformation to the SCIAF team visiting Agrarian Prosperity Program (APP) of Jharkhand. With the integrated development approach, the program has improved the quality of land and water resources where 970 families’ got better access to drinking water and 880 farmers’ got improved access to irrigation facilities covering an area of 480 ha. Through gradual up-scaled farming practices, farmers has started cultivating their field using organic Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI).

Led by Mr. Alistair Dutton, Director of SCIAF, Mr. Mark Adams, Program Manager and Ms. Sadie Scullion, Program Officer the team visited APP project areas to gauge the spectrum of development after the intervention.

The team witnessed the Low cost poultry initiative run by Gulabi Women SHG as an source of Income generation program for the marginalized section of the community.

Ratia Kharia and Chandrika Devi, women farmers of the village gave a tour of Lac processing unit to the team and demonstrated the whole management of the unit.

During the visit of Orbenga village the team appreciated farmers for shifting their cultivation measures to environmental friendly practices in the rain-fed condition. They also met prabal kerketta, a small holder farmer whose case was published in SCIAF publication on improved food security through promotion of organic farming ensuring quality food for the whole year.

The project has also achieved diversified food basket with nutritional components by staring nutrition garden near their household.