India - Training on agro-ecology for peasant families

India - Training on agro-ecology for peasant families

India - 1500 peasants improve their crops and restore soil fertility

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As of May 2009, 7200 peasants from the poorest families of Kurur in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India will receive grants to develop their crops and to restore soil fertility to the lands they farm. These aids, financed by the mobilization of young cyclists from DynamoS’olidaire and by Frères des Hommes, are set up by the association Trust for Rural Development (TRD), member of the Fedina network, which is a partner of Frères des Hommes.

India - 1500 peasants improve their crops and restore soil fertility

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First of all, 100 peasants receive training on natural resource management: the use of compost and manure, trees and nitrogen-fixing plants, natural pesticides and water management. 25 people also receive more in-depth training on their own land over a six-month period, putting the above techniques into practice.

100 others are trained in social resources management: budget planning as part of a general discussion on access to bank loans; information on how to follow government programmes so as to benefit from grants; debates on the processing and commercialization of local farm produce; the role of women in decision-making.

A system of revolving credit supports activities developed by peasants, by offering them loans. The reimbursement of these loans will then finance future participants.

A training farm has been set up on two hectares of land: peasants can thus practice the different types of farming (basic food crops; vegetable garden, orchards) and livestock management. In this way, they can rediscover traditional farming techniques and improve their production, in order to live off the land. This synergy between different types of farming and livestock breeding also ensures that the land remains fertile.

Finally, thanks to the seed bank, peasants have access to high-quality seeds, without having to use industrial seeds which are expensive and are genetically modified (GMO).

TRD has been working since 1995 to develop a sustainable farming. In 2009, 1,500 farming families in 11 villages, including many Dalit families, are involved. Small farmers have an average of 0.5 or 1 hectare of land, which are not always of good quality and some of which are not irrigated. All face the environmental and economic impacts of the Green Revolution, which promoted the intensive to the detriment of food crops.
TRD is a member of the network Fedina, partner of Frères des Hommes: discover the activities implemented in advancing the rights of marginalized populations.

Update: Tuesday 24 November 2009
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