The geographical diversity of northeastern India translates into a wide range of agricultural practices, as farmers adapt to the varying terrain. From vast plains to rolling hills and elevated plateaus, each area demands a nuanced approach to crop cultivation. This underscores the importance of tailored solutions and innovative practices to ensure resilience and productivity. Within this context, Assam stands out as a crucial agricultural hub, though farmers must also contend with issues such as floods that profoundly impact crop yields and infrastructure.

Recognizing the need for effective interventions, WorldVeg collaborated with the State Government of Assam through the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART). This aimed to foster a more robust and sustainable agricultural future in northeastern India, particularly in Assam, and it achieved remarkable results. Adoption of improved farming practices led to yield increases of between 14% and 27% across five different vegetable crops, while also reducing pesticide use by 50-62%. This showed farmers that it was not only possible to use fewer chemicals, but that they could also increase their harvests at the same time!

Farmer with his mustard trap crop in his cabbage field

A farmer happy with his pheromone insect pest traps, and a good harvest!

Strong tomato seedling grown in seed trays

Through the APART project (2018-2023), WorldVeg played a pivotal role in providing bespoke technical advisory services to promote sustainable, adaptive, climate-resilient market-led vegetable production practices that mitigate the impact of floods and other environmental challenges. Stakeholders included the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing of Government of Assam, nursery entrepreneurs, and farmers.

A total of 438 on-farm demonstration plots were established across 15 districts that showcased improved agricultural practices to smallholder farmers for five target vegetable crops – eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, and pumpkin, and served as practical learning environments allowing the dissemination of knowledge. Technologies included the use of seedling trays and sterile potting media to produce high quality and robust vegetable seedlings, enriched vermicompost for enhanced nutrient availability and soil health, and biofertilizers and biocontrol agents to reduce the dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. To reduce pesticide use in vegetable cultivation, sticky traps, pheromone traps, trap crops, and border crops were also promoted. In addition, intercropping with other commercially valuable crops was encouraged to diversify and intensify vegetable cropping systems, utilize resources more efficiently with increased economic returns.

The hands-on, on-farm approach ensured that farmers witnessed the practical benefits of these techniques in real-world conditions, and this was particularly crucial in remote locations where communities face unique challenges and have limited access to knowledge and technological. The clear results of higher yields with less pesticides contributes to safer and healthier vegetables for consumers, a substantial shift towards more environmentally friendly farming practices, and economic benefits for the farmers that contributes to food security in the region.

Table 1: Pesticide reduction and yield improvement in various crops grown by smallholder farmers (2022-23), as a result of their adoption of practices learned from the APART project*.

* Data from 20% of the CRML demonstration plots, compared with those of control plots (farmer practice)

Staked tomato with pheromone traps

Farmers happy with increased eggplant yields

The success of this project highlights the importance of targeted interventions and collaboration between research institutions, government bodies, and local communities. By addressing the specific challenges faced by farmers in Assam, this showed that sustainable climate-resilient agricultural practices are not only viable, but essential, for the long-term prosperity of the region. Government partners will continue to link the farmers to larger markets through establishing vegetable production clusters by creating farmers interest groups and farmer producer organizations.

The collaborative efforts of WorldVeg, the State Government of Assam, and other stakeholders under the APART project show how the potential for positive transformation in the region’s agriculture can be realized. And through the adoption of new practices, Assam’s farmers can lay the foundation for a more resilient and productive farming future.