“Trichoderma is now widely accepted by most of us as one of the best solutions at our doorstep where we could get immediately with the help of smallholder farmers collectives and district farmers forum in coordination with Manav Vikas. I applied for my vegetables and got a good result.” says Teeka Ram, one of the SHFC members of Olinja village.

Increasing access to improved seeds and planting materials as well as fertilizers is critical to increasing productivity. The use of fertilizers is particularly important for realizing the genetic potential of improved planting materials. This is one of the key reasons for the low yields of staple food crops in India where these inputs are being used inadequately by smallholder farmers. There is consensus among the stakeholders, regional research stations and extension agencies that the high-quality seed varieties are considered the basic input for increasing agricultural output and achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The effectiveness of other inputs, like fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation depends largely on the use of quality seeds.

In contrast to this, Strengthening Adaptive Farming in Bangladesh India & Nepal (SAFBIN-1) was the first initiative of Caritas India together with European Union and Caritas Austria in collaboration with regional agriculture research and relevant stakeholders on building resilience to climate change through strengthening adaptive small-scale farming system in arid and semi-arid regions. During phase-1, Caritas India took the initiative to provide bio inputs which can produce enzymes and helps plant growth. With this, the establishment of farmers’ resource centres in each cluster to ensure small farm friendly input supply emerged with the bio lab concept. Since Trichoderma is widely accepted by the smallholders in the program areas, the district farmers’ forum (DFF) took the initiative to take it forward in coordination with the local implementing partner Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS), Sagar.

The district farmers’ forum started experimenting by applying Trichoderma under the guidance of the local implementing partner organisation MVSS, where they get motivated to see the impact in terms of plant growth and production. Based on the impact, various on-farm orientations and training organised with the smallholder farmers collectives (SHFC) to make them orient on the process and application of Trichoderma.

I was little hesitant to apply this but after the orientation program, I found this as one of the better alternatives by virtue of being environment-friendly, cost-effective, safe for humans as well as animals and very helpful in improving soil health. Rekha Patel, one of the SHFC farmers of Hanumantora village.

Trichoderma is a fungus extremely well adapted to different ecological niches. This is because it has a remarkably diverse metabolism capable of a breakdown of complex molecules into simpler forms. This has several ways of destroying fungal disease. A fungal disease that attacks plant roots, can eat the plant destroying fungi and help to grow stronger. The option available and suitable accordingly to the smallholders need making Trichoderma small farm-friendly.

During the recent phase of Smallholder adaptive farming and Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) phase-2, Production, Income, Nutrition, Resilience and Farmers’ Control were the major focus while planning and undertaking field trials on the integrated farming system (IFS), SAFBIN extended necessary technical support to 572 smallholders with 600Kgs of Trichoderma across the operational areas. This has helped the centre to generate a sum of Rs. 1,87,500/- (One lakh Eighty-Seven thousand and Five hundred rupees).

Apart from the operational areas, SAFBIN managed to create visibility on these initiatives and products along with smallholders’ friendly model among the local and regional research institutions like Department of Horticulture, Dr. Harisingh Gour University (DHSGU) Sagar, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Sagar, Agriculture Department Bhopal, Saigrow Institute Hoshangabad, Jawaharlal University Jabalpur, Students of Forensic Dept. DHSGU Sagar, Internship students from M.G. University Kerala, Internship students from Roohalaya Ujjain and also organisations and development societies like Samaritan Social Service Societies (SSSS) Satna, Madhya Pradesh Social Service Societies (MPSSS) Bhopal, Jabalpur Diocesan Social Service Societies (JDSSS) Mandla, Ujjain Diocese, PGRM Internship students from XIDAS College, Jabalpur and Missionaries of Charities while extending all possible support.

Trichoderma has been recognized as biological agents, for the control of plant disease and for their ability to increase root growth and development, crop productivity, resistance to abiotic stresses, and uptake and use of nutrients.