As climate change and covid induced poverty threaten India’s food security,  Sachindra Debbarma was self-sufficient even during the covid lockdown. It might be hard to believe but this small farmer from Yaphang Farmer’s Club from West Tripura under the Caritas India FARM Northeast program was thriving during the lockdown with multiple sources of income.

Sachindra could cultivate vegetables and rice, prepare different nurseries, and also installed a tailoring shop after availing loan from NABARD Financial Services Limited, [NABFINS], a subsidiary of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)  through the Caritas India’s partner Jana Unnayan Samiti Tripura (JUST). He also reared ducks and sell the eggs in the local market.

Sachindra always wanted to cultivate different crops even before joining the Farmer’s Club. His dreams started transforming when JUST helped the group by linking them with different Government Line Departments. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) representatives visited Sachindra and provided financial support worth Rs. 5 Lakhs to set up Green House for doing macro-level cultivation in 2016.

He tried and practised different types of nurseries in the greenhouse for a livelihood. Caritas India FARM Northeast program has always supported him with technical knowledge and support.

“I have not seen anyone as hard-working as Sachindra ever since I joined JUST. We are promoting him as a lead farmer and he has been volunteering in sharing his knowledge and experience for the benefit of his fellow farmers,” says Robert Lushai, Program Coordinator, JUST.

His main motto was to build resilience by ensuring food security for his family. Unlike the majority of the small farmers, Sachindra was counted among the rarest ones who did not have to face the crisis of food during the pandemic as he had enough food stocks to support his family.

Sachindra during the second wave of Covid 19 devoted his time in his fields to sow the seeds. The pandemic did have any impact on his earnings. Though Sachindra could not sell his products during lockdown months, he was self-sufficient to cater for any need of his family. He did not have to depend on relief support, and this was made possible only because he had food stocks that could last for at least a year.

“I never thought that such situations will occur, fortunately, I grew enough food that could support my family and now I ensure my food security no matter what the situation is”, said Sachin.

Sachindra Debbarma is among those rare breeds of farmers who are setting examples of building resilience during such situations.

“80% of farmers had food self-sufficiency during the pandemic under the FARM Northeast Program,” informed Prabal Sen, State Program Associate, Northeast. He informed that Caritas India has conducted a rapid survey during the peak of pandemic in the Northeast to gauge the impact of program impact in the intervention areas. The FARM Northeast program is working towards food sovereignty and security in Northeast India over the last 8 years. Another survey on climate change revealed that the majority of the farmers under FARM phase III in Tripura are aware of the impact of climate change and more than 90% of these farmers are utilizing indigenous seeds for cultivation and have their seed banks as a result of FARM interventions.