New Delhi, March 4: A recent report highlights the transformative impact of an agroecological homestead model in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. This initiative has significantly improved production, nutritional outcomes, and income for tribal women in the region.
According to the Eco-Business report, the program led by the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program and Professional Assistance for Development Action (Pradan) focuses on cultivating various vegetables at different altitudes and maximizing land use.
The report references findings from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), indicating that production of diverse crops has surged by 350%. Additionally, the variety of food consumed has doubled, and the intake of nutrient-rich foods, such as leafy greens, has increased by 70%.
The report states, “There has been an improvement in protein intake from backyard poultry, and families are less reliant on external markets for produce and fertilizers.” This technique involves growing different vegetables, crop rotation, bio-composting, rainwater harvesting, and using organic fertilizers and crop residues for animal feed.
Women farmers have taken on the responsibility of production and decision-making on their family farms, challenging traditional practices. An analyst noted that most farmers in the Chimkatola and Keolari areas previously engaged in monocropping, primarily growing maize in higher altitudes and rice in lower fields near rivers.
Kusum, a resident of Chimkatola, shared, “Earlier, we used to buy from the market, but now we produce everything at home.”
Saurav Kumar, team coordinator at Professional Assistance for Development Action, explained that crops were previously vulnerable due to irregular rainfall, poor farming practices on steep slopes, and fluctuating market prices caused by unstable fuel costs. Backyard plots were often left vacant, with occasional maize cultivation.
The report indicates that under this project, each woman farmer cultivates approximately 400-500 square meters of land, utilizing bio-fertilizers like Jeevamrit and Panchagavya, made from cow dung and urine mixed with other organic materials.
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SCHE
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