Augustina Khalko, a smallholder farmer from Tikiriya village of Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh has 2 acres of land. In kharif Season she had successfully harvested 5 varieties of Paddy (i.e 1010, Bhadov chinga, Luchai, Lal dhan and Sapri).

Earlier she used to cultivate only one variety of Paddy in predominant rainfed condition but Smallholder Adaptive Farming & Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) not only influenced to diversify more in variety but also guided the entire process during kharif season. This year, she was also one among other trial farmer to re-introduce Bhadav chinga (a traditional variety Paddy, which was gradually disappeared from their practice due to many reason) through on-farm adaptive research (OFAR) process.

Bhadav chinga is proved again to be one of the best indigenous variety suited for rainfed condition in our local set-up due to its unique characteristic to cope up with prolong dry spell and survive even with less water as compared to other varieties like Sapri or Luchai. Augustina harvested 8 quintals of Bhadav chinga which is also widely accepted for their daily consumption due to its taste and other benefits (i.e. less cooking time), she has decided to share some seeds with other women farmers of her community.

Following the smallholder (SHF) led integrated farming system approach (IFS), she took the initiative and prepared 5 botanicals (i.e. Matka Khad, Beejamrit, Fish tonic, Vermi wash, Vermi compost) and 2 Bio-pest repellent (i.e. Lamit ark and Dasparni ark) from her own farm waste. By making these botanicals she managed to save her 30% of the input cost (in shape of purchasing costly fertilisers from market) and helped largely to minimise the external market dependency. Giving equal emphasis on each existing farm components, she able to establish multiple biotic connections which helped to maintain her farm ecosystem in a healthier way.

Prior to the SAFBIN intervention somehow, I managed to get an income of Rs. 7200.00 (Seven thousand two hundred only) per season which was never enough to feed her 8 members joint family. Their poor financial condition and immediate needs of family forced them to migrate to many towns or cities in Chhattisgarh in search of labour works.

I am so thankful to SAFBIN, Caritas India and JDSSS for considering me as a women farmer and gave opportunity to be part of IFS trial. With the guidance of SAFBIN, I have re-established ample of resources within my small farm now. I was never ever thought of earning Rs. 12,000.00 to 15,000.00 per month from my own farm which is now a reality.