An Effective Model for Small Farmers

One of the biggest development issues not only in India but globally is that of strengthening sustainable livelihoods of small farmers.

- BHARAT DOGRA

It is only on the strength of such satisfactory and stable livelihoods that other important objectives —of significantly and truly reducing rural poverty, hunger and malnutrition; improving availability of healthy food; protecting rural ecology and ensuring a robust climate response—can be ensured.

In India as well as in other countries there is concern regarding the growing crisis, indebtedness and gradual or sudden loss of land by small farmers, which in turn can result in discontent. This can be prevented only by strengthening sustainable livelihoods of small farmers.

Several voluntary organizations have been making sincere efforts in this direction, and important lessons have emerged from this which can be taken forward further for greater achievements. One such effort has been that of the Srijan organization whose work reaches out to hundreds of villages in various parts of central India.

One important aspect of this work is that it has moved steadily in the direction of promoting natural farming. The desirability of following the path of natural farming is increasingly emphasized even in statements of senior leaders and officials, even though they may not be entirely committed to implementing such policies. It is also interesting that several leaders of unions and organizations of farmers have also recently spoken in favour of natural farming.

Despite this increasing recognition, however, at the ground level the achievement is not great at the national level. The work carried out by Srijan that establishes the success of natural farming at a practical level, with its benefits and creativity, is important both for its achievements and learning experiences.