Caritas India recently hosted a crucial two-day orientation and planning meeting for the Smallholder Adaptive Farming & Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) project in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. The event, held on January 15-16, 2025, brought together project teams from Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS) and Jabalpur Diocesan Social Development Society (JDSSS) to develop strategies for enhancing food security and resilience among smallholder farmers for the next one year.

SAFBIN’s third phase, launched in February 2024, aims to strengthen smallholder farmers’ capacities to adapt to climate change impacts and ensure food security. The project is being implemented in 20 villages across Mandla and Sagar districts of Madhya Pradesh.

“SAFBIN has a challenging responsibility of finding solutions to the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture. There is a need to work with the farmers in identifying sustainable solutions to the farming challenges,” said Mr. Sunil Simon, the Advisor of Caritas Austria, to the teams while highlighting the thematic priorities of the SAFBIN project. He underscored the need to adopt an integrated approach that will not only address the livelihood and food insecurity of farmers but also the fast-depleting fertility of soil. He also highlighted the need for efficient resource management, arresting environmental degradation, and popularising sustainable practices.

Partners reported significant progress, with over 1,800 households adopting sustainable agriculture practices and 960 families initiating vegetable cultivation. Additionally, 1,400 households established nutrition gardens, 580 started mixed farming, and 760 families transitioned from cash crops to food crops.

Dr. Saju MK, the Zonal Programme Lead, outlined the project objectives, focusing on the result framework of the extension proposal, impact stories, and community-led model creation. He emphasized innovative practices such as the Haat Bazaar initiative, fishery units, community-managed regreening efforts, On-Farm Adaptive Research (OFAR), and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS). He also discussed documenting and disseminating good practices to enhance learning among smallholder farmers.

Dr. Mukund Deshmukh, Assistant Programme Lead, conducted a session on farm model creation, integrated farming systems, localized farm inputs, and overall programme management.

The two-day meeting provided a comprehensive platform for understanding implementation strategies, results framework, thematic interventions, and management practices. It strengthened clarity and alignment among partner organizations regarding SAFBIN’s goals and approaches.

Fr. Dominic Thomas, Director of JDSSS, emphasized the transformative potential of indigenous crops and natural farming in creating a holistic ecosystem. He expressed gratitude for Caritas India’s collaboration, noting that their extensive experience and expertise would significantly contribute to sustainable agriculture and smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.

As Caritas India continues its mission to empower smallholder farmers, this strategic meet marks a significant step towards building resilience and ensuring food security in the face of climate change challenges.