Jharkhand Farmers will adopt agribusiness approach for increased food security

Farmers of Agrarian Prosperity Program (APP) in Jharkhand will get increased food security and livelihood by opting for organic certification, Information communication technology (ICT), community managed collective marketing in the next phase.

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), the official aid and international development charity of the Catholic Church in Scotland financed the programme of Caritas India in Gumla District of Jharkhand to reduce poverty and increase food security and livelihood options for tribals.

“It was very interesting to see how the programme has moved along towards the programme outcomes and benefiting community towards fullness of life”, said Ms. Sadie Scullion, Program Officer, SCIAF during her programme visit on June 17, at Kurum village of APP. She had interacted with the community people on community development, ownership, management & optimal utilization of resources, linkages with local governments.

The programme is supporting 1207 tribal households in 10 villages of Palkot Block under Gumla District of Jharkhand. Following the approach of capacity building of the community, it had formed 42 farmers club, 1 smallholder farmer’s forum, 10 village committee (Gram Ekai), 05 water management committee, 10 community managed seed banks and 36 women self-help groups to ensure quality implementation for their overall development.

Impressive results have been seen in terms of increased crop production per year from 15 Qtls to 22 Qtls. Farmers have now diversified source of food crops adding 7 major crops and 19 vegetables to their food basket. There is progressive increase in soil and moisture conservation from the time of programme inception.

Community is confidently speaking of their contribution in community development through Self Help Groups and Panchayati Raj Institutions. Further, they would like to build on the programme success through various government schemes in a sustainable manner.

“It is worth having such project like APP where, community have been empowered to the point where they are now started taking ownership of community development and resources”, said Ms. Sadie.

She was impressed with the capacity development of the animators and their increased status at community, block and district level government departments for representing APP and establishing a visible status for integration of all adaptive initiatives at various level.