Agriculture

BBKGSS is executing the CAIM initiative in 30 villages within the Hinganghat block of Wardha district, supported by the Government of Maharashtra, Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program focuses on enhancing rural livelihoods by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening community-based institutions. Village Development Committees have been formed to lead interventions such as watershed and drainage line management, construction of farm bunds, and the adoption of improved techniques like Broad Bed Furrow systems and Better Cotton production. By fostering collaboration with multiple government departments, the project seeks to mitigate agrarian distress in vulnerable regions and make farming a viable and rewarding

Through training programs and demonstration plots in Arvi and Ashti blocks of Wardha district, the organization educated farming communities on various organic farming practices including vermicompost preparation, jeevamruth, nimboli arka, dashparna arka, Non-Pesticide Management (NPM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and LEISA techniques. Practical demonstrations enabled farmers to grasp concepts easily, resulting in 160 farmers from both blocks transitioning to organic farming, with others following suit. Reducing cultivation costs by eliminating expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides—which degrade soil fertility—formed the project’s primary goal, while promoting cost-effective, household-producible organic alternatives that enhance crop productivity and farmer profitability.

BBKGSS participates in the Kisan Mitra Central India Network, a coalition of NGOs from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh dedicated to farmer upliftment and reducing agrarian distress through collective action. Funded by Action Aid India, the network conducts joint initiatives including dissemination of innovative farming techniques, capacity building through training and workshops, demonstration camps, agri-allied business development, and advocacy for pro-farmer policies. As a network partner, BBKGSS has implemented programs on organic farming, agri-allied occupations, innovative techniques, and demonstration plots, while organizing regional and state-level public hearings, workshops, and exposure visits for policy advocacy. Key demands include implementation of MS Swaminathan Committee and Narendra Jadhao Committee recommendations, incorporating farming activities from sowing to harvesting under MGNREGA, and establishing minimum support prices for all agricultural produce.

Funded by the Tribal Department, this program equipped tribal youths with technical skills in electrical wiring, motor rewinding, phase systems, electric water pumping machines, drip irrigation, sprinklers, and pipe fitting. Skill development in the farming sector aimed to provide decent livelihoods within their own villages, reducing migration to cities for wage labor while simultaneously strengthening regional agriculture through technical expertise in irrigation systems, water motors, and related infrastructure.

Small and marginal farmers cultivating similar crops were organized into collective groups and provided capacity building training on innovative farming practices, organic methods, seed varieties, collective procurement and marketing of agricultural produce, with encouragement toward establishing Farmer Producer Companies. Creating these interest-based groups enables collective deliberation on farm-related matters and unified decision-making regarding technology adoption, seed selection, input purchases, and produce marketing—ultimately reducing input costs and enhancing bargaining power.

Acting as facilitator and mediator, the organization assists farmers practicing organic cultivation methods by recommending their applications to the Regional Center for Organic Farming, Nagpur. Following verification and analysis procedures, certification confirming organic cultivation is issued through the Agriculture Department’s regional office, enabling farmers to command premium prices for their certified organic produce in the market.

With support from AFARM, Pune, this initiative distributed vegetable seeds—including tomatoes, spinach, coriander, cabbage, brinjal, and lady finger—for household backyard cultivation. Beneficiary households consumed homegrown vegetables and sold surplus produce in local markets, generating additional income while ensuring year-round access to nutritious greens through their backyard kitchen gardens.

A 30-day training program funded by the Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Project, was organized in collaboration with the Tribal Department to train tribal farmers and youths in nursery cultivation and development. Participants gained expertise in seed sowing techniques, soil enrichment with appropriate fertilizers, bio-pesticides, management of common plant diseases and pest attacks, greenhouse operations, and temperature control.