sustainable
livelihoods
We endeavour to promote sustainable livelihood options for increasing household income, enhancing food and nutrition security and the overall quality of life of excluded communities.
SEEDS facilitates climate smart practices, entrepreneurship and gainful self-employment among the young. Vocational training and preparation of small business plans for group/individual, skill and entrepreneurship development training equips the trainees to start/ improve their occupation and enhance the family income.
In line with the SDG, to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and productive employment, we focus on increasing agricultural and economic efficiency.
In particularly,
- Setting up of seed banks;
- introduction of less water sensitive crops of minor millets and coarse grains such as bajra, kodo, madua, makai and legumes like sutli, arhar, romha, roots and tubers, oilseeds in the forest villages having an undulating topography;
- use of organic pesticides; organic treatment of seeds prior to sowing;
- system of rice intensification;
- garbage compost pit and vermicompost pit at household level;
- fish, poultry, goat, pig rearing;
- value addition to farm/forest produce; catering, hand pump repairing, motor driving, welding and carpentry.
Sankura Vikas Samiti
In the dense Saranda forests in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, the initiative of channelizing a perennial uphill stream (using boulders and mud) with full community participation was accomplished in record time. This led to a spurt in agricultural activities.
Ecstatic on receiving for the first time – nine types of vegetable seeds, the young farmers distributed the packets equally among all the 28 families. A farmers group – Sankura Vikas Samiti, has been constituted and each member is contributing Rs 30 per month in the Samiti fund.
Sustainable agriculture
This year over 130 marginal farmers from 14 farmers groups got oriented in systematic vegetable and oilseeds cultivation. Thereafter they were given oilseeds and vegetable seeds (flaxseed, sesame, mustard, garlic, chilli, bitter gourd, red and green pumpkin, spinach, tomato). They have reaped a good harvest and also saved the seeds for the next season.
Self confidence of those trained, is being reflected in their work, gait and interactions.
Story of Change
Radheshyam Samad, a 37 years old tribal farmer from Tantnagar village, produced 321 kilograms mustard this year. He stated, “ I will never forget 2021 (COVID year) when SEEDS gave us training in cultivation of oilseeds. For the first time I received mustard seeds which I had never cultivated earlier. I harvested 53 kg of mustard. In 2022 I produced enough to get mustard oil for the year plus I sold mustard seeds which fetched Rs 7000-10000. Now I am self-sufficient. He says, beej bachain, beej barahen aur pariwar bachain –ehi mera nara hai.” [save seeds, multiply seeds, save family – this is my slogan].
WALK WITH US
At SEEDS, no contribution is small. Become harbingers of change by affirmative action.