Krishi Unnati: Cultivating Sustainable Agricultural Excellence

Project Description:

This initiative aims to revolutionise agricultural practices across Kerala through the establishment of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) dedicated to propagating Sustainable Agriculture Practices. Our vision is to empower farmers with actionable knowledge and skills mainly for sustainable livestock rearing and organic farming. Notably, the project addresses the significant contribution of livestock rearing and farming to global greenhouse gas emissions, which currently stands at approximately 10% of the total emissions.

Manure from livestock is the most important component that we have forgotten in modern agriculture. It maintains the organic content in the soil, and is what differentiates it from sand.

Current Status:

To date, the project has witnessed the active participation of 270 trainees (185 male, 85 female) in Livestock Rearing practical training program. The modules cover a gamut of best practices for:

• Intricacies of housing
• Dehorning
• Castration
• Treatment of calves
• Precision in clean milk production
• Advanced breeding management
• Proactive disease prevention

This program will provide the necessary tools to the farmer so that they can maintain livestock on their farm in an easy, profitable and environmentally friendly manner.

An additional 163 trainees underwent the Organic Growers Practical Training Program, featuring hands-on demonstrations of:

• Soil Management
• Crop Management
• Pest & Disease Management
• Post Harvest Handling
• Environmental Stewardship

Immediate Future Plan:

Building on these humble achievements, the project is poised for an

• Expansive outreach through training sessions: The target is to reach 600 people in the next 4 months.
• Carry out further research on best techniques to retain organic matter in soil. The emphasis will be on preparing organic indigenous fertilisers made of manure, promoting self-sufficiency.
• Creation of knowledge-sharing platform
  Set up a Farmer Innovation Hub that shall serve as a collaborative space where local farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and agricultural researchers converge to co-create solutions, share insights, and collectively address challenges. The hub would eventually comprise of knowledge exchange workshops, seed and resource exchange programs, skill enhancement programs, community driven research initiatives and digital commons platforms.
  

Potential difficulties / risks for the Farmer Field Schools

• Knowledge gaps amongst the farmers
• Resistance to change from farmers
• Fear of losing out on productivity
• Difficulty in talking about environment with poor farmers
• Current vulnerability in the climate

Team: Mrs. Ranjini M (Project Coordinator), a progressive organic farmer with hands-on experience in innovative techniques. And Mr. Suri, a seasoned veterinarian with expertise in sustainable livestock management.