Agricultural Diversification
Over four-fifths of the rural households in CHIRAG's project area are dependant on agriculture for their livelihood. Traditional agricultural practices have been
unable to support growing populations and household needs, leading to
out-migration. Considering the altitude and climatic regimen of the area, CHIRAG
has felt that diversification from traditional grain-based farming into
vegetables, fruits, flowers, and medicinal and aromatic plants may be
the answer. Equally important is the establishment of direct marketing linkages.
These activities got a boost in the last four years through the World Bank funded Diversified Agriculture Support Project (DASP), being implemented by CHIRAG in over 150 villages in three hill blocks of Nainital district.
The organisational focus on improved agriculture includes
conducting of trainings and demonstrations to rejuvenate fruit orchards,
creating awareness for integrated pest and plant nutrient management, rational
use of pesticides, promotion of organic agriculture, experimental trials with stone fruits such as walnuts and almonds, and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants through direct
intervention with farmers and villages, and through its two experimental farms
(Orakhan and Dewaldhar Estate). These experimental farms, one each in Nainital and Bageshwar district, serve to act as practical demonstrations of appropriate technologies for people in neighbouring areas.
Self Help Groups (SHG's) have been identified as the vehicle for the promotion of these activities. In all, CHIRAG is currently
working with about 200 farmer Self Help Groups. In addition, three farmer federations, each composed of about 25 SHG's and three activity specific mini-federations form the core institutions of this project.
Some of the major achievements include the
introduction of 22 kinds of fruits and vegetables via trials and demonstrations,
from which 800 farmers in 100 villages have benefited. An effort has been made
to improve existing varieties of nut and stone fruit trees, and new varieties have been introduced. New pruning techniques have increased the yield
of fruit trees by 50 per cent in some cases. Eight different composting
techniques have been tested with a focus on organic methods of farming.
Alongside this, IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and IPNM (Integrated Plant
Nutrient Management) techniques have been demonstrated to 480 farmers.
Introduction of low cost technologies in the form of poly-houses, poly-tunnels
and drip irrigation technology have also been useful innovations especially in
the production of off-season vegetables.
The production of fodder grasses was an early inclusion in the
CHIRAG agenda. Beginning with three grass nurseries, this work spread to 156
farmers in 20 villages between 1992-95 and helped in alleviating the fodder
shortage in the region. Through protection work in the Suyalbari project area, a
ten to fifteen fold increase in grass production was observed between 1996-2000.
This not only helped save womens' time but also reduce pressure on forests. At
present, grass nurseries have been established at both the CHIRAG experimental
farms to provide seed and rootstock to interested farmers.
In-situ conservation and planting of medicinal and aromatic
plants, both as a commercial venture and as an effort to conserve and bolster
traditional medicine systems, is a recent step taken by CHIRAG.
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