Prakruthi Badi Newsletter - July to September 2016

Activities Prakruthi Badi in the period from July to September 2016

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A study on Scaling up Agro-Ecological Production Systems among Small-Holders for Sustainable Livelihoods

The major cause for distress in the agriculture sector can be attributed to the following – low productivity, non-profitability of agriculture, ecosystem degradation, migration, few opportunities for diversification, low market access, poor processing and value addition facilities. The agriculture development paradigm of the government, to address these concerns, focusses on technology driven capital intensive initiatives, most of which are unaffordable by small and marginal farmers as they do not have the necessary resources to access these programs. Further, the top down approach of these programs puts them at a disadvantage and under the control of a system that is ill-equipped to provide timely support/extension services.

The OAP of the Timbaktu Collective focusses on creating and strengthening community based organisations and building capacities of rural people to manage and run village level institutions. It also focusses on synthesising traditional knowledge of the local communities with appropriate modern/improved technologies for addressing the concerns of the farmers. When it comes to choosing a development paradigm for small holder agricultural development, mainstream agricultural approaches are inherently inadequate, ineffective and ill-equipped to deal with the demands of such production systems. In order to support small holder farmers a natural resource management approach is more relevant, compatible and applicable. Such an approach would help in poverty reduction, ensure food security, promote self-reliance, support ecological management of productive resources and empower rural communities.

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