The surmounting challenges of climate change, low productivity, and water shortage pose a greater challenge to our food security. The scenario is similar across the country, with some degree of change. There has never been a greater need for innovation in the sector to have sustainable agriculture.

Experts, scientists, and farmers are constantly experimenting to find an amicable solution to this challenge. Agroecological practises can prove to be a great deal in bringing sustainable solutions to the smallholder farmers who are hit hard by this climate crisis. Cross-learning and sharing good agricultural practises are the keys to overcoming this situation.

Representatives of Caritas India FARM Northeast’s 16 implementing partner organisations have travelled approximately 1500 km from their respective places to Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh with a common goal: to learn the farming systems and processes implemented by SAFBIN farmers. The FARM team was determined to learn and take relevant information and knowledge, which will be a road map towards implementing FARM-IV in respective project locations.

On April 3, 2023, under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Phillip Chemnanayil, Director of Manav Vikas Seva Sangh, along with the team FARM NE-IV from 16 partners, visited Bagrohi village to interact with and learn about the Integrated Farming System (IFS), which was implemented under the SAFBIN programme supported by Caritas India.

The visit was organised to explore the IFS adopted by the farmers in Bagrohi village. Bagrohi is located on the outskirts of the city in the Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh. During the visit, agricultural practises were observed through various interactions with farmers to understand their farming techniques and major challenges.

The interaction with the farmers helped the team understand the Integrated Farming System, which involved the cultivation of multiple crops and livestock rearing, etc. The farmers used organic manure and biopesticides instead of chemical fertiliser and pesticides; they shared various farming practises and their benefits, as well as their experiences and challenges.

The farmers in Bagrohi village follow a unique and sustainable IFS. They use and apply various techniques, like crop protection and mixed farming, to increase the productivity of the land. They also maintain a balance between the livestock and crops, which helps in nutrient cycling and pest control. The farmers use different fertilisers like vermicompost and nadeep compost for soil enrichment, which improves soil health and reduces the use of chemical fertilisers. They also maintained a healthy backyard garden.

Shri. Kishore Rai, the President of the District Farmers Association, Sagar shares that “soil is purer than sandalwood.” He said that he was in a pathetic condition in life, but through the intervention of the SAFBIN programme, his life has changed.

“We were playing with our own future by practising farming with the inputs of chemical fertilisers, but through the Smallholders Adaptive Farming Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) programme, we are able to transform into organic cultivation. Moreover, previously we were only cultivating wheat and paddy, whereas; now we are cultivating multiple crops for self-consumption and selling the surplus productions,” shared Guljari Patel, another active farmer from Bagrohi village.

Smt. Lalita Bhala, a local farmer, also took her to her house to demonstrate her unique IFS model. “We also keep livestock to support our family, and we collect livestock waste to prepare organic manure, Nadeep Compose, biopesticide, biogas, and fuel cake (kanda in local dialect). We also practise poddar cultivation (“verseem” name of the poddar) during the fallow season, which is also a source of feed for cattle and other livestock,” adds Smt. Lalita Bhala.

Santosh Patel (Sarpanch and President of the Panchayat) shared his experience with the SAFBIN, programme. He says that they were all using chemical fertilisers in their farm fields, but after the intervention of the SAFBIN programme, they all turned back to the organic farming system. They also started seed banks within their locality, from which farmers can easily access and collect saplings to plant in their respective cultivation fields.

After the daylong visit to various farms in Bagrohi village, the entire FARM NE-IV team gave their feedback based on the group discussion on the field visit. In response to inputs and learning at MVSS, as well as good practises from SAFBIN, the FARM NE-IV partners expressed a desire to pursue a number of initiatives, including bio pest management and organic compost, seed bank system, Integrated Farming System, irrigation management, Climatic adaptation in farming, Roots zone fertigation (Ula system), and soil testing.Getting written approval from government authorities and other concerned agencies; a Programme Documentation Chart or Wall Magazine Board on different programme activities; continued support to the project area even after the completion of the project; resource mapping, linkages with stakeholder groups; crop resilience; making a seed calendar; etc.

The visit to Bagrohi village was an enriching and memorable experience for all the FARM NE-IV partners. Everyone learned about sustainable farming, and other good practises through the interaction and by visiting their IFS field. The farmers in the villages are an inspiration to replicate the few relevant activities in our region. It was indeed a great learning experience that has brought insights and learning for the FARM Northeast team to bring innovation and value addition to their programme.