Amidst the changing climatic conditions and risk involved in agriculture, farmers from Uttoran project villages are learning sustainable agriculture practices and organic farming to earn their livelihood.

The project is a live initiative of Caritas India to promote sustainable agriculture development practices among small and marginalized farmers in the region.

60 small farmers from 15 project villages were given exposure to learn simple ways to promote organic farming and other important things related to sustainable agriculture by the Seva Kendra Siliguri partner in collaboration with Centre for Floriculture and Agribusiness Management of North Bengal University (COFAM), Siliguri.

Head of Department, Dr. Sudipa Ghosh, Asst. Prof. Dr. Randhir Chakraborty and Technical Officer of the Centre Mr. A. Pandey interacted with the farmers regarding agriculture interventions in the project areas. They discussed about the existing gaps and present challenges and scope for replication of organic models in the project area with support from the COFAM Centre.

Discussion on improved ways of organic farming, promotion of multi cropping with legumes, bio pest control, sack farming, mulching technique for strawberry and vermin compost preparation was also done during the exposure.

Demonstration was given on the organic ways of making manure out of different available resources and wastes, bio pest control techniques, mulching, vermi wash, and also nursery raising for good varieties of papaya (red lady).

A follow-up is planned in the month of February 2017 by Seva Kendra Siliguri in the presence of Caritas India Thematic Manager/State Officer and the Centre Head to materialize the action plan for upscaling and replication in the 15 villages.

This meaningful collaboration initiated by the Seva Kendra Siliguri has ensured better access to technology and information on sustainable agriculture development and income generation of small and marginal farmers under Uttoran project.