Organic agriculture practices now a days has become a buzz word of every Agricultural Scientist, Think Tank, Social Activist, Development Workers and government machinery as well. The challenge before every body is how to enable ordinary farmer to adopt the modern sustainable organic agriculture practices. Blue Green Algae production and its application is one of the organic agriculture practices which adds nitrogen to soil, maintains soil health and creates conducive atmosphere for growth of micro organism. This process is also not very expensive and it is very cost effective.

SVA has constructed two Blue Green Algae (BGA) production units - one at Bilenjore (Nuapada) and one at Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi) with assistance under Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) from Department of Agriculture, Government of Orissa. It has the capacity of producing 4.5 quintal of BGA from each unit every year. It has also published literatures for awareness among the farmers regarding use of BGA in paddy.

Blue Green Algae (BGA) production unit at Bhawanipatna, 
Kalahandi (Under Construction)

During kharif 2009, SVA has the plan to provide BGA to about 40 farmers for trial. Subsequently, it will help farmers to set up their own BGA production plant.

Sustainable Agriculture

Keeping to the tradition and commitments envisioned by the founders of SVA, efforts have been made by the governing body and the staff members to enhance our role in promoting participatory rural development. While the efforts are on, but we realize there must be some mistakes/lacunae in our work for as the saying goes, “to err is human”. It has been and it will be our sincere endeavour to overcome our shortcomings and make a meaningful contribution to the society. Below we briefly present the activities carried out over the year 2005-06. 

The economy of the operational districts of SVA is agriculture and forest based. Agriculture in these districts is traditional, rain fed and paddy centric. Livelihood of the people in this region is dependent on Agriculture. The area is drought prone. Periodic drought and large-scale deforestation during the past several decades have seriously affected the livelihood of the poor people in this region. As part of sustaining livelihood of the poor and marginalized sections SVA since from its inception has been promoting as well as advocating sustainable agriculture and organic farming. During the last one year SVA and its associates worked on the followings:

Promotion of Organic Farming: 

To promote organic farming SVA organized 24 numbers of training programmes for farmers and community leaders in 4 operational districts i.e. Bolangir, Kalahandi, Bargarh and Nuapada. A total of 32 days of training was provided to them. Trainings on preparation of compost pits included classroom training as well as demonstration. In these trainings focus was given on Nadep Compost and Vermi Compost. Apart from preparation of Compost pits number of trainings around Bio-fertilizers and integrated pest management was also organized. All the above trainings were residential and apart from regular resource persons of SVA, individuals with years of experiences were out sourced from the Agriculture department of State government. During the year a total of 829 farmers out of which 595 male and 234 female farmers were trained on various themes of Organic Farming and few of them are successfully organizing such trainings at G.P and Village level. See Table-1.

Table: 1

Introduction of Cash crops, Horticultural Plantation and Vegetable cultivation:

To increase income from agriculture SVA promoted cash crops like onion, sunflower, Mushroom, yam and few other crops suitable to the area (please refer to SVA’s policy/position on Agriculture). It also promoted plantation of some horticultural species i.e. Mango, Guava etc. both in agricultural land as well as in wasteland. Again as most of the small and marginal farmers in this area do involve in vegetable cultivation SVA promoted large scale cultivation of certain vegetables. To promote the above SVA organized 16 nos. of training during the year. It imparted trainings to 246 male farmers and 196 female farmers over a period of 22 days of training in phases. See Table-2

Table: 2

Interface between farmers and functionaries of Credit/ Governmental Institutions:

Farmers of the operational district of SVA are so poor that unless credit is available to them they are not able to improve their agriculture. Even if a number of Credit Institutions are there and they also extend credit to farmers for agricultural purposes, farmers do not avail credit from them. The main reason behind is that the farmers are not aware of the scheme and they do not have good experiences with the bankers and officials of line departments. To break the ice SVA organized 5 nos of Interface workshops between farmers and functionaries of Regional Rural Banks, NABARD and other nationalized banks operating in the area. Interface between farmers and officials of Agriculture and Horticulture department of the State was also organized. A total of 279 male and female farmers had interface with officials on various issues relating to agriculture. See Table-3

Table: 3

Processing, Marketing and Management of Agricultural and Forest Produces:

In this region farmers do not get a fair price of their produces and are being exploited either by the market or by not having a market. To add value to produces of farmers and to enable our farmers to meet various issues and challenges relating to market, SVA has organized 45 Nos of training on processing, marketing and management of agricultural and forest produces this year. Training on Dal processing, Training on medicinal herbs, Training on storage and harvesting of onion are some of the important trainings conducted by SVA this year. A total of 1160 farmers out of which 384 are male and 776 are female participated in the above trainings. See Table-4

Table: 4

 Promotion of Pisciculture:

Keeping in view the water resource potential and ample scope for fishery, SVA continued to promote pisciculture as an alternative livelihood option for small and marginal farmers in the area. Along with agriculture pisciculture can also be practiced. With a small investment a high return can be achieved. To promote pisciculture, SVA organized 11 nos. of training on nursery raising, management of farm pond as well as nursery pond etc. A total of 320 farmers out of which 195male and 125 female farmers attended the training programme in phases. Senior Scientists of Krushi Vigyan Kendra, Bhawanipatna, FEOs were among the external resource persons for these trainings. See table-5

Table: 5

  Exposure visit of farmers and community leaders:

Realising the tremendous impact of exposure visits on farmers, SVA organized the same for them this year also. Farmers visited demonstration field and agricultural farms managed by Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) and Regional Plant Resource Center (RPRC) in Bhubaneswar and Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Cuttack. They also visited various units managed by Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture (CIFA) in Bhubaneswar. A total of 8 teams visited different places in phases.

Table: 6

Lobby and Advocacy:

Advocating on various issues relating to agriculture on behalf of the farmers is one of the important activities of SVA. The various issues that are consistently taken up are (a) issues on landlessness (b) issues on forest land (c) issues on Pricing of agricultural produces (d) issues on processing, marketing and storage (e) issues on agricultural credit (f) issues on crop insurance etc. To do the same SVA is mobilizing opinion at the grassroot level and simultaneously facilitating discussion at policy level. As part of its advocacy intervention SVA has facilitated the formation of Paschim Orissa Krushijeevi Sangha (POKS) which literally means Organisation of the farmers and agricultural workers in Western Orissa. This organization has over 70000 farmers and agricultural workers who have come together to take up collective action for their socio economic development. It is registered under the Society Registration Act of 1860 of Government of India and works as a non-profit making development organisation.

The following are the primary objectives of POKS.

1. To take up educational and extension activities aimed at socio-economic development of farmers and agricultural workers in general and of the members of POKS in particular.

2. To undertake action research which may be necessary for the socio-economic development of the farmers and agricultural workers in general.

3. To initiate experimental and pilot projects to develop agricultural production on sustainable basis.

4. To take up any activity which is deemed necessary to ensure food sovereignty in the region.

5. To take up activities that may be necessary to remove injustice prevailing in the local agrarian system.

6. To promote activities which will enhance participation of women in economic, social and political fields and remove the prevailing discrimination against them on the ground of gender.

7. To take up activities such as policy advocacy, lobbying, campaign etc so as to influence for enactment of appropriate policies at regional, national and international level, in the interest of the members of POKS and the humankind in general.