Feeding the world is a huge challenge for humankind. The demand for food is increased whereas the land is shrinking day by day. Most of the food systems are unsustainable, and the environmental challenges adding even more complexity to the situation.

India is primarily an agrarian economy and agriculture and allied sector is the largest employer in the country. But the majority of them are small and marginal farmers. Out of the total land holding they account for 85% of the total operational land holdings in the country, with the average size of land holding of 1.42 ha and 0.39 ha respectively (Agricultural Census 2010-11, released in 2015).

In terms of production, small and marginal farmers also make larger contribution to the production of high-value crops. They contribute around 70% to the total production of vegetables, 55% to fruits against their share of 44% in land area (Birthal, 2011).

The sector, however, is characterized by traditional methods of farming, low level of access to quality inputs and information, frequent weather disturbances and minimal adoption of modern farming techniques.  The agriculture sector is largely being subsistence based and the farmers have very few opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills into market-based sustainable livelihood interventions that would help them overcome the vulnerabilities that agriculture sector is prone to.

A regional consultation on “Sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty” was conceived for the very victims (i.e. smallholder farmers) to promote farmers mutual learning around small holder’s issues in Jharkhand State. Hosted by Caritas India, the consultation provided a platform for experiences sharing by CSOs to promote Smallholder Farmers (SHF) led innovations and to evolve strategies to strengthen a food security network in the state by involving all important stakeholders.

Appreciating Caritas India’s efforts in taking lead to mobilise thousands of smallholders across Jharkhand inclusive of civil societies working in the field of sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty. Sharing the purpose of the program, Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi, encouraged smallholder farmers to associate with low cost, new SHF friendly technologies along with organic farming to gain appropriate knowledge on selection of soil type, improved package and practices while giving more emphasis on technological knowledge with changing climate factors to minimise the risk to ensure their crop production.

Further to this, Mr. Sharad Jha, Chief General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) while felicitating five newly formed Farmers Producer Company (FPC) with their Registration Certificates, appreciated Caritas India’s contribution towards promoting climate-friendly sustainable agriculture “an effective measure to address food and nutritional security of smallholder tribal farmers in the most vulnerable ecosystems across Jharkhand ensuring all support from NABARD in future.

The Regional Consultation was inaugurated by Honourable Vice Chancellor, Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Assistant Executive Director, Fr. Dr. Jolly Puthenpura, Caritas India, Chief General Manager, Mr. Shard Jha, NABARD, Head of Department, Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, Caritas India, and Farmer’s representatives.

Witnessing Caritas India’s work irrespective of caste, creed, and race, Assistant Executive Director, Fr. (Dr.) Jolly Puthenpura shared about the organisational presence and contribution towards nation building in the field of Disaster risk reduction and mitigation, Climate adaptive agriculture and Food Sovereignty. He thanked all the farmer friends who came from distant and remote locations across the state, the CSO fraternities for their continuous support, the faculty members, the Vice Chancellor of Birsa agriculture University for extending their whole-hearted support. He also expressed his gratitude to the Chief General Manager of NABARD, Ranchi, for the support to initiate Farmer Producer Company (FPC) promotion in the District of Gumla.

On the concluding day, Caritas India had the privileged to hold a discussion with the regional level civil society network to take forward the major outcomes of the program with appropriate localise solutions where almost 32 civil societies were actively represented the consultation by sharing their learnings and experiences and willing to have such consultation once in every six months.