The Mission of VAAGDHARA is to create and nurture vibrant institutions of poor and tribal peoples in the Western India so that they have sustainable livelihoods through scientific, indigenous and appropriate knowledge and technologies and their children are well educated and nourished and free from bondage.
Monsoon rains between July and September contribute most of the average rainfall of 710 mm.
Great variations of rainfall occur from year to year and droughts are common.
The major crops of the Kharif (summer monsoon) season are maize, rice, black gram), soybean and cotton, while wheat, gram and barley are major Rabi (winter sowing season) crops. Cereal crops constitute 88% of all crops, and pulses 11.5%. Poor adoption of sustainable production technology is associated with poor productivity and profitability.
The initiative nurtures peoples’ institutions and empowers the communities to manage development interventions in a sustainable way. The ‘Sustainable Integrated Farming System’ (SIFS) approach supports farmer groups to transform their farms into more productive and sustainable systems. Farmers use multiple natural resource-based strategies to get more benefit from their produce through sustainable agroecological production, improved post-harvest management, value-addition and marketing.
SIFS focuses on increased farming system productivity based on agroecological combinations of crops, horticulture, agroforestry, livestock and aquaculture. Use of external inputs is minimized by enhancing the recycling of materials within the farm system. Participatory farmer-based learning processes underpin the design of improved faring systems by farmer groups in collaboration with identified experts and facilitators. Choices are determined by available local natural resources, knowledge and skills, as well as household and nutrition needs and market opportunities. Women’s empowerment is advanced by providing micro credits through Self Help Groups.
