Improved Food Security and Increased Incomes
The major goal of AKRSP’s agricultural programmes has been to ensure food security, increase net incomes and reduce risk for farmers. AKRSP achieves these goals by working to improve the quality of land, increase the availability of water for irrigation and introduce new inputs or technologies that improve agricultural productivity. Focusing on landless farmers, families with small holdings and farmers with three acres or less, it has introduced a range of options from systems to improve rice and wheat yields to small scale vegetable farming. In 2010, for example, farmers adopting intensification techniques proposed by AKRSP reported a 30 percent rise in yields. Landless farmers have planted creeper vegetables such as gourds and beans. Composting and fertiliser production have also been demonstrated. Drip and sprinkler irrigation techniques have been piloted and scaled up. In Gujarat, the rising demand for vegetables and dairy has spurred farmers to change crops; in other areas, AKRSP has helped farmers to begin growing fruit trees including papaya, sapota, mango and lemon to meet shifting demand. It has promoted village organisations to take up collective agri-input supply and marketing to ensure that poor farmers are not exploited by local traders and have access to timely and quality seeds and other inputs and are linked to market. Animal husbandry and care are also important parts of the programme.