Supporting 100 poor farmers to double their incomes through climate change resilient livelihoods in rural NE India

Already helpless due to low farm productivity, thousands of small and marginalized farmers are being hardest hit by climate change. Large scale distress migration, due to lack of economic opportunities or adequate skills, is now a realty for thousands of families in rural India.  In remote pockets of rural Northeast India, these issues are even more prominent. Additionally, linkages to mainstream markets are limited resulting in poor returns for agriculture products. Therefore the poverty rates in NE (more than 30% in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur) is very high. 

There is an urgent need to introduce climate change resilient scientific organic agricultural practices in crops in communities integrating it with nutrition rich crops. Promoting diversity and sustainable organic agriculture through System of Root Intensification (SRI) in all crops combines traditional knowledge with cutting edge science to improve productivity. Introduction of other appropriate technologies like drip and machan/trellis in vegetables as well as promoting orchards can significantly improve incomes. Diversification of existing livelihoods portfolio for better animal husbandry practices and scaling up of existing options like piggery, goat rearing etc. can help communities withstand not only climate change related uncertainties but also open up new and better avenues of employment. 

The immediate impact of these interventions is year round food security, better availability of nutritious food at the household level, improvement in technical knowledge and skills related to livelihood practices in food crop as well as cash crops, animal husbandry and other areas leading to diversification and better financial returns. Families also report improved and increased flock of livestock like pig and goats. Household report increased food consumption and more wholesome diet with regular consumption of green vegetables and pulses. Women from the community also start micro-entrepreneurial activities along with reaching out to markets directly instead of depending on middlemen. A cadre of women farmers, equipped with technical skills, emerge. Livelihoods diversification and new practices also allows communities to withstand the uncertainties of climate. Under this project, SeSTA will support 100 families to double their incomes and come out of poverty.