The majority of the population in our society is farmers, and the economy depends upon agricultural production. Developments in agriculture will improve the socio-economic issues among farmers. Rural development is impossible without considering agriculture. Hence Manavlok is continuously working for farm and farmer development. Capacity building, input support, mechanisation, value chain development through group farming, etc. are the core activities we are trying to implement in our various projects for agricultural development.
Climate change amplifies threats to food security, hunger and malnutrition. It is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as floods and droughts, as well as heat waves that disrupt livelihoods.
MANAVLOK with Foods & Inns and with the support of ADM Cares, is implementing a project on Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives for Small Holder Alphonso Farmers of Konkan. The villages from Konkan are Bagmandale, Ghudge, and Panchanadi, an area of Raigad District. The aim is to support the smallholder Alphonso farmers to cope with climate change, become more resilient, and achieve higher quality output with limited input. The knowledge of the package of practices is given by taking various awareness programs and farmers' meets. The farmers are provided with crates for the collection of mangos, vermicompost beds, pruning equipment, an insecticide spraying safety kit, mango harvesting equipment, etc. The project also assures better prices for all grades of Alphonso.
At present, there are more than 28,000 FPCs in India which are largely promoted by NABARD, SFAC, and various state governments. The Government of India in its 2019 budget has announced the promotion of additional 10,000 new FPCs in the next 5 years. These 28,000 FPCs are expected to work directly with about 36 million small and marginal farmer households (indirectly touching 90 million lives). With farmers new to self-management, marketing, and next-stage value-addition roles as `beyond-producer-managers’, their leadership (Board of Directors and CEOs and staff) of about 250,000 people require attention from all the stakeholders.
With the vast experiential learnings from our past projects regarding the milk industry, Dal industry, etc. MANAVLOK is supporting various FPCs/FPOs for setting up Agro Based processing Industry clusters. This will generate sustainable employment opportunities for the overall development of this industry by strengthening entrepreneurship and adopting the best scientific and innovative technological interventions by the group of farmers.
Will I be able to get a loan from the bank now? Last year’s Kharif crop did not go well; we have unsold grains and produce from this Rabi season because of the lockdowns. I could sell them now but at a lower price which will not help sustain our needs.
MANAVLOK has implemented several projects for improving per acre production and productivity of major crops in beneficiary villages. Along with ADM Cares, we worked for the enhancement of Soybean production, productivity and better price for farmers.
This particular activity is taken-up in the developmental aspects to help the vulnerable farmers who are not able to buy basic needs (Seed and Fertilizers) for the coming crop season (Kharif-Rabi Crop). We are proud to see our beneficiaries make use of the schemes properly on time; they started working in their field without borrowing money for buying seed and fertilizers.
Agriculture is the main occupation in India. Two-thirds of the population is dependent on agriculture directly or indirectly. It is not merely a source of livelihood but a way of life. It is the main source of food, fodder and fuel. It is the basic foundation for most of the Indian population’s economic development. Unfortunately, farmers didn’t get good returns for the conventional produce they cultivate on their farms. The reality of the agricultural sector is that even if the production increases by 5%, the prices fall by 50%.
The concept of “Farm Mechanisation” for the “Accessibility of Farm Equipment’s to Small and marginal Land holders” was sprouted while dealing with socio-economic issues among them.
MANAVLOK works for the good health of farm animals by conducting different activities like Vaccination camp, we also provide help to farmers to raise their animals by providing them help during drought and scarcity times.
This activity is implemented in Agriculture Department of the organization. Ropwatika is employed in 5 places namely Organization’s headquarter at Ambajogai and organization’s sub-centers, namely Patoda, Pisegaon, Bhavathana, Poos etc. where various saplings are available in this area under the nursery. We provide these well grown, healthy saplings to farmers at very nominal rate.
Beed district in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra is a drought prone district with dry black soils suited to cotton. It is a hilly terrain with dryland ecosystems. The area has hard-rock aquifers which make groundwater relatively expensive to access.
In various villages of North Solapur taluka, a project is being implemented to support farmers for toxic-free-sustainable farming through group farming. Reduction of production cost, equitable, efficient, and effective use of water to achieve more profit, development of onion value chain, etc. are underway.
Soybean sowing with BBF increases productivity, water stress tolerance, Maintaining a plant population has many benefits.
Considering MANAVLOKs large work for custard apples in the drought-prone Beed district, the available expert team and available infrastructure(MAGNET) signed an MoU as the Center of Excellence (CoE).
For the last 38-39 years, micro and small landholders were being helped through the Krishak Panchayat in a lending manner, but last year we took a break in this project. An agreement has been signed with Rang De, a non-banking financial institution, to provide financial assistance to farmers. Through this Kharip help was allocated in 2023, including seeds and fertilizers to the farmers 1637500 was distributed to 138 members of 26 villages.