This is a sample description for Livelihood. For the purpose of testing I will use the word LivelihoodLivelihoodLivelihoodLivelihood.

Livelihood

This is a sample description for Community & Rural Development. For the purpose of testing I will use the word Community & Rural DevelopmentCommunity & Rural DevelopmentCommunity & Rural Development.

Community & Rural Development

DILASA

In the last 16 years, Vidarbha has recorded the largest number of farmer suicides. Farmers quickly lose hope when facing problems such as regular droughts and crop failure.In Yavatmal, farmers use reservoirs of water gathered in dams following monsoons. However, many of these dams have crumbled or cracked, with precious water flowing out unhindered. The water does not reach most of the farms, thus hampering the yield. 
 We identified Phad Irrigation as an effective and sustainable solution that does not depend on rain. It is a low-cost and eco-friendly method that uses rainwater from nearby rivers instead of electricity, through a diversion weir and contour canal or PVC pipe. The technique works remarkably well with areas that have comparatively low rainfall.Our trained staff and volunteers have implemented Phad irrigation systems at more than 20 locations in Yavatmal, repaired all dams in the region and help all farmers to build the system on their land. 
 With Phad irrigation, farmers have found that yields in their cotton fields have gone up substantially. Access to water also means that farmers don’t have to depend on rain and are able to grow a second crop of pulses or wheat easily.We plan to help 25 farmers and their families living in distress by investing around Rs. 500,000 in Phad irrigation systems.

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Sponsor a farmer to learn low-cost farming methods

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.

Sponsor sustainable farm training and help prevent farmer-suicides

Dilasa help initiate and sustain novel irrigation methods to support agricultural development for tribal people and small farmers in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. The Vidarbha region in Maharashtra has 3.4 million cotton farmers, of whom 95% struggle with debt and an unstable income. In 1995-2010 alone, 50,481 farmer-suicides were reported mainly due to the inability to repay debts, dependence on monsoons, small land-holding, and restricted traditional methods of farming. We provide low-cost technical solutions to address these issues using improved irrigation methods and mixed cropping. We have also created 7650 self-help groups (SHGs) for women and encourage locals to explore natural resources such as organic farming and creating medicine from natural plants. So far over 125,000 people have directly reaped the rewards from our programmes and over 100,000 others have in some way been positively affected.Dilasa is Non-governmental voluntary organization established in 1994. Dilasa works in close cooperation with 125 other smaller NGO’s in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. It runs Farmers Support Centre spreads information on various government schemes meant for the benefit of the farmers and rural population. Presently Dilasa has been reached out to 95000 beneficiaries from 1260 villages of Maharashtra State.

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

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Komal Madhukar Dhas

Dilasa Sanstha

Moroti Marekar, a resident of Waghapur, Yavatmal, has been a dry-land farmer for 15 years. Moroti relied on conventional methods of dry-land farming that produced an insufficient amount to support the six members of his family.

Dilasa identified her problem and set up a small Phad irrigation system for him. Now three acres of his land are using the system while other farmers in the area have taken on this innovative concept and grown crops of wheat using the technique. Moroti no longer depends on rain and grows crops in all seasons, doubling his annual income. The quality of life his family now enjoys far surpasses the way they were forced to live before.

Moroti revives his small farmland with Phad irrigation

One of the farming methods Dilasa has encouraged and supported in the region is the PATA method that mixes a variety of legume, cereal and vegetable crops to reap the benefits of the soil’s nutrients. It’s an ancient method that is helpful for small farmers to sustain their families as well as improve their income.

Mrs. Geetabai Choudhari, who hails from Sawarkheda, initially invested Rs. 5 into PATA. Now she has earned Rs. 6,000 from the growth of her sesame crop; a wonderful profit, unattainable without the use of this method. So far Dilasa has helped around 40,000 farmers adopt this method and looks to reach out to many many more.

PATA: a boon for small farmers

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

This nonprofit is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. This means it can accept donations from foreign nationals.

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