Again globalization resulted in culmination of a new set of problems in agriculture that affect the vulnerable classes of rural society adversely in their employment conditions, income and consumption pattern, their education and health status. The small and marginal farmers have been affected as there has been a reduction in the fertilizer and chemical subsidies and shift of area under food production to export oriented commercial crops. The disintegration of rural economy brought about by globalization lead to the disintegration of village communities, their society, culture and religious aspects and many others. Thus to protect the long-term interest of the small and marginal farmers of this region , SVA initiated measures to sustain this sector i.e Agriculture.

During the year 2006-07 SVA has taken up the following activities towards promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Promotion of production of organic manure:

Growing up of crops organically is an age old practice of farmers in Kalahandi, Bolangir, Nuapada and Bargarh. But in recent years farmers are getting motivated towards the use of chemical fertilizer mainly by the extension workers and representatives of the fertilizer companies. SVA believes that agriculture will be sustainable if and only if use of chemical fertilizer is discouraged and maintained. For this it is very much necessary to enhance production of organic manure and ensure availability of it in plenty. As a continuation of the earlier commitment during the year 2006-07 SVA has trained number of local farmers on various methods of composting and preparation of organic manure. It has also organized number of exposure visits for both man and woman farmers to outside as well as with in the operational districts of SVA.

Improving management of crop nutrients, pest and diseases:

Management of crop nutrients, pest and diseases is crucial for promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and SVA has been trying to improve it since inception. During the year 2006-07 to improve management of crop nutrients, pest and diseases  SVA organized number of training and motivational camps for farmers at block and village level. In various programmes organised by SVA in the year a total of 2688 farmers from among  villages of the operational districts participated  and out of them 572 are female farmers. A total of 72 number of programmes and 72 days of programmes conducted during the period. Regular as well as external consultants appointed by SVA are frequently visiting the farmers’ field and guiding them where ever they need. Magic compost promoted by SVA have been used by many farmers in these district and it has been a substitute  to many pesticides used by them.

Improving local seed systems:

Seeds of good quality play an important role for enhancing the production from agriculture. So SVA influenced the decisions of many famers relating to choice of seed and selection of seed varieties by organizing motivational camps. Apart from this SVA also promoted community managed seed and grain banks in many villages and helped organising procurement of improved varieties of seeds for enabling the farmers access to better quality seeds. Seeds produced by Orissa State Seed Corporation (OSSC) and that of many private parties those have a credibility in the market were directly linked to the farmers with the effort of SVA . SVA also identified few progressive farmers to involve them in production of seeds for future .

Promotion of appropriate crop pattern:

Growing a variety of crops is a traditional practice of many farmers in western Orissa. To meet their household consumption requirements many farmers were growing diverse crops earlier and their dependency on market was also limited. But due to the market economy and introduction of cash crops inappropriate to the area over a period of time not only the food basket of the poor farmers has been reduced but also there has been a change in the crop pattern. SVA has been making efforts to develop appropriate crop pattern for different regions. Fortunately, large areas of Western Orissa are also endowed with very high water table and the agro climatic condition is suitable for onion and oilseed. With the efforts of SVA production of onion and sunflower have significantly increased and earning of more than 6000 farmers  in about 200 villages of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Nuapada district has gone up. SVA facilitated the farmers in procurement of quality seeds, value addition and marketing of their produces only. In many of those villages earlier poorer people used to migrate to outside areas for work but after taking up a new crop pattern migration has come down drastically. Promotion of nursery ponds and fishery activities those were initiated in the year 2003-04 expanded and took up in a more systematic way during 2006-07. Despite of many adversaries  the programme was successful in many villages and can be taken up in a bigger way further. With organic agriculture integrated fish farming (rice cum fish) will be more suitable for which SVA has been making the preparatory work such as developing nursery ponds to raise fingerlings during summer months and to mobilize Government financial support to develop the rice fields. In the rain fed areas horticultural activities have been promoted along with traditional varieties of rice.

Conservation of Genetic resources:

SVA have been involved in documenting local germ-plasm and associated indigenous knowledge since its inception. To conserve the diversity SVA has been piloting community-based approaches to genetic resources conservation. It has facilitated promotion of grain/seed banks in many villages of western Orissa.

Processing, marketing and value addition:

SVA believes that market plays an important role for making agriculture remunerative. Small and marginal farmers are very often exploited by the market due to their poor information and knowledge of market. During the year 2006-07 SVA not only provided them market information but also tried to equip them technically so as to make their entry to market a bit easier. During the SVA took up the following activities for facilitating the same.

SVA has organized a total of 52 programmes on processing, marketing and value-addition of agricultural produces during the year 2006-07. These programmes have been participated by 1246 farmers out of which 853 are male and 393 are female. SVA has planned to take this activity in more extensive manner in coming years.

Campaign for fair price of agricultural produces:

During the past several years in spite of a number of anti farmers, government policies crop production in Western Orissa districts have been quite good. But unfortunately, prices of key agricultural produces are so low that the farmers do not find them remunerative. Because of this, many farmers are getting demotivated for further nvestment in agriculture and affecting adversely to the productivity in general. Many farmers particularly the small and marginal farmers are now opting to left the village and migrate to cities to work as labourers. To sustain agriculture in western Orissa providing a fair price for farmers’  produce and easy accessibility to market are two important factor to take care. SVA has been putting pressure on Government for enabling the farmers to get better price. And for this several rally, demonstration are being organized regularly. Because of the pressure from SVA and few other organizations with whom SVA is associated, during this year FCI started marketing of rice directly from the farmers in Bolangir district. This has slightly increased the income of the rice farmers. In case of cotton the Cotton Corporation of India has set up  marketyards in Kalahandi and Bolangir which has enabled the farmers to get a better price. However, for other groups the farmers are still getting exploited by the unscrupulous traders. Hence, SVA has initiated an alternative marketing structure. During this year SVA promoted marketing of onion, oilseed , edible oil and pulses in Kalahandi and Bolangir districts. Because of this intervention the farmers have obtained a higher price of their produces. In case of onion the onion price has gone up by 50 paise to 1 rupee per kg which has benefited more than 4000 farmers. In case of sunflower oil seeds because of processing of the seed the farmers have got additional Rs. 2 per kg of oilseed. In case of pulses the tribal farmers of Kalahandi have obtained Rs. 14/- per kg as against the normal price of Rs. 9/- to Rs. 11/- per kg. It is hoped that in the coming years the alternative marketing system will become stronger and the farmers will be getting better return of their produces. 

Promotion of Horticultural activities:

Agriculture in Western Orissa is rain-fed and dependent on monsoon which is again characterized by frequent dry spells leaving the area prone to drought. SVA has taken it as a strategy to promote tree based horticultural crops so that the farmers will be able to get assured income even during drought. In this regard, as usual SVA has been promoting plantation of Mango, Guava in large scale in the uplands whereas in the medium and low land farmers could take up vegetable and oilseed cultivation using ground water. This system as a coping strategy to drought has been gaining popularity with the farmers and with the pressure from SVA and its associated organizations Government has also taken up initiatives mainly for KBK region to promote horticultural plantation in farm land as well as in pasture land. During the year SVA organized eight numbers of training on horticultural activities which was attended by 99 women and 238 men. The resource persons included Consultants of SVA and officials from the Horticulture Department of Government of Orissa. Apart from this also SVA organized five interface meetings in which officials from Government Departments, Bank and local leaders encouraged with the villagers. In such meetings 21 women and 129 men actively participated during the year.