NEW HOPE IN
BADABAN: INCREASING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH MIXED CROPPING
Shitulia village is one of poorest village of Sundarban. More than 95% of
total populations are either Schedule Tribes or Schedule Caste and this village
is surrounded by the two rivers Kalagachi and Raimongol. Shitulia is under
Sandeshkhali-II block of North 24 Parganas district.
The entire village was devastated by the super cyclone, AILA in 2009. Most
of farm lands were under saline river water. Swanirvar started intervention in
this village from 2015. Initially we encouraged the women farmers to make small
groups.
Dipali Das is one of the members of “Doltala Mohila Samiti”(Women farmers
group) of Shitulia village. She had 3(adult-2, Children-1) members in her
family. She had 1.3 acres of land but out of this 1 acre was low land and used
for paddy in monsoon. She could grow vegetables only in 3 katha (2160 sq. ft)
area from which she get few vegetables only in winter. She also had two cows.
From 2015, Swanirvar started its intervention this village and gave
extensive trainings to the farmers.
Subjects of the trainings were as follows:
1. Techniques to develop kitchen gardens – use of
Bio-composting, box- composting, bio-pest controllers, use of trellis, roof etc
2. Basic idea on Nutrition security
3. Mushroom culture – rearing of duck and country
chicken
After AILA, Dipali’s husband migrated to Kolkata like most other men of
Sundarban area. Dipali attended all the training programmes and got a ray of
hope to survive as well as start a new duel with poverty.
 |
| Dipali in her small Garden |
In October, 2015 she planted radish, pumpkin, long beans, Mukhi Kachu,
flat beans carrot, bins, coriander leaf, Brinjal, Turnip, spinach, chili, Red
amaranth, beets, ginger, potato etc in
her plot. ( Swanirvar supplied folk/op seeds to the women farmers).
She also made box compost and
bio-compost chambers and Amrit Pani in her home. She made rectangular and
circular beds in her plot. She also used live mulching for water conservation.
By, November, 15 she got few plastic bags from Swanirvar and also planted
vegetables in those bags.
From, December,
2015 she was getting vegetables and from November, 15 she was consuming leaves
and shags.
From December, 2015 she was getting leafy vegetables- 150
gm, Roots and Tubers- 150 gm, Vegetables-150 gm, Pulses-50 gm daily from her
gardens. She had only used Neem solution and kerosene –Ash mixture as pest
controllers. As per her records, last three months (November,2015- January,2016)
her family had consumed vegetables worth Rs. 6000/- and earned 3000/- by selling to local market. She
only spent Rs.500/- for making trellis and plastic sheets etc.
In January, 16 she made vermi-compost
pit in her home and unit to make amritpani and compost tea. She became role
model and resource person in the eye of local farmers. Many farmers are coming
to see Dipali’s garden and learning the art of mixed cropping, mulching, use to
trellis, roof etc.
Dipali are not only increasing their productivity by adopting the
mixed – cropping practice but are also investing their yield judiciously by
using bio-nutrients and bio-pest controllers. Earlier, the family’s consumption
pattern was poor as they could only afford rice and rarely could eat vegetables.
Further, Dipali is also investing in the education of her son by enrolling him
in the nearby school.
 |
| Bio-nutrient unit |
The
increased income has not only helped in increasing the food security of the
family but has also percolated in the other aspects and is contributing towards
improving the overall quality of life of the family.
Dipali
has inspired many women like Susama Baulia, Aparna Kayal, Laxmi Mistri, Puspa
Das, Kaberi Mondal, Rani Mondal etc. They
also got mantra of hope and living with dignity.
Reported by:
TEAM SWANIRVAR
From 1990, Swanirvar is working with some experimental models for rural development. From 2010-11 onwards are trying to spread the successful models by various means. Last two years we are working with marginal farmers on ensuring Food as well as Nutrition security. This was designed by our senior agriculture trainers and one medicine graduate. 
On 1st-3rd September, 2016 Our trainers went to the Stone Crusher Areas of Birbhum - Rampurhat - (NGO NAME: MSMHC, Run by Christian Missionary Sisters; SUPPORTED BY:IGSSS). They trained 148 tribal and Dalit women in three days on - making small vegetable gardens in fallow lands in the dry zone, Use of Biological and Botanical pest management, mushroom culture, multiple use of space, distributed folk seeds, introduced some basic ideas of Nutrition security, concepts on low cost nutrition food, etc). Next follow up in Nov-Dec,16
