Sponsor sustainable farm training and help prevent farmer-suicides

Reports suggest that a farmer commits suicide every 30 minutes in India. While 60% of the population relies on agriculture and agricultural jobs, they continue to struggle with issues such as debts holding high interest rates and dependence on rainfall.

Vidarbha, in the eastern region of Maharashtra, is included in the country’s 250 most backward districts, and is often referred to as the ‘suicide belt’ of India due to its high rate of farmer-suicides.

To help prevent farmer-suicides, we are trying to revive the traditional, low-cost farming practice PATA, in which the main crop is combined with strips of inter crops (fruits, vegetables, legumes and spices) to optimise the use of soil.

We provide extensive training to our volunteers and staff so that they can educate the villagers on advantages of PATA farming and initiate its first stage. The technique helps in controlling specific weeds, pests and diseases that are associated with particular crops. It also improves the structure of the soil by sowing different kind of crops and increasing soil nitrogen levels by growing legume crops.

The project is helping 12,300 farmers to improve their economic condition significantly, stopping them from giving up completely and leaving their children fatherless.

With just Rs. 80, a rural farmer can improve his living and banish all thoughts of suicide.