Healthy soils, prosperous farmers

Building climate resilient and regenerative horticulture for smallholder farmers

The Healthy soils, prosperous farmers program supports smallholder farmers in tribal communities in central and eastern India, especially women and youth, to achieve improved self-sufficient livelihoods by improving the health and sustainability of the agrifood systems in which they are embedded. The initiative focuses on promoting the adoption of regenerative, climate resilient horticulture practices, including the diversification of crops grown and use of a more ecologically based approach to the management of soil fertility, pests and diseases. At the heart of the program is ensuring that all interventions are adapted to local climate, soils and the economic objectives of farmers.

This initiative has three main aims.

• Raise and stabilize household incomes by promoting sustainable vegetable farming and mixed cropping to create multiple income streams.
• Enhance climate resilience through diversified crops that reduce dependence on a single harvest and lessens vulnerability to market volatility and weather extremes, while introducing resource-saving techniques.
• Improve soil health and reduce pest and disease risks by fostering agroecological farming techniques and encouraging plant diversity.

To achieve these objectives, a training program has been developed for use in pilot projects, where lead farmers demonstrate best practices in demo plots, and community-wide training via farmer field schools supported by Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, ensuring farmers have easy access to essential information.

The project encourages participatory development, that empowers farmers to independently experiment with new technologies and techniques, and to actively exchange with fellow producers to maximize collective experiential learning. This hands-on approach lets them discover what works best for their fields, and that ultimately also benefits their families, neighboring farmers and the wider community.

Scale and reach

The project will work with 8,000 farmers across four states ̶ Assam, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha – including 3,000 farmers each in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, and 1,000 farmers each in Assam and Jharkhand. In each project area, lead farmers are being engaged to drive the project and serve as role models for the broader farming community.

Success hinges on strong local partnerships. BASF Nunhems will oversee and guide the project, working with the World Vegetable Center, and local partners in the different states.

• Solidaridad Network in Madhya Pradesh
• Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) in Odisha and Jharkhand
• Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) in Assam

These organizations will provide essential support and expertise to ensure lasting impact.

The role of the World Vegetable Center

As the training and technical partner, WorldVeg will provide services across all states, to ensure the project’s success.

• Develop guidelines and digital resources on improved cropping systems and best practices, to be shared through train-the-trainer programs and farmer field schools.
• Lead the train-the-trainer programs for lead farmers, field technicians and extension officers, ensuring knowledge is exchanged efficiently.
• Support local partners in setting up and monitoring demo plots, testing innovations such as vegetable grafting, mulching and a variety of other techniques, and providing guidance on their implementation.

WorldVeg will also focus on empowering smallholder farmers, especially youth and women, by introducing opportunities for self employment in vegetable production and postharvest processing. Additionally, WorldVeg will help to develop key infrastructure, such as vegetable nurseries and weather-based advisory services, ensuring that farmers have all the tools and information they need to succeed.

Through lead farmer demonstrations and community-wide training, many thousands of farmers will gain practical knowledge and skills that will empower them to improve their livelihoods. Overall, the Healthy soils, prosperous farmers program will lead to more resilient farming communities, stronger local economies, and a healthier environment, paving the way for sustainable agricultural development in India’s tribal regions.

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The Healthy soils, prosperous farmers program (2023–2025) is implemented in Odisha and Jharkhand by the Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI), in Madhya Pradesh by the Solidaridad Network, and in Assam by the Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA), under the leadership of BASF Nunhems India. The World Vegetable Center serves as the training and technical partner, providing expertise in climate-resilient and regenerative horticulture that supports local farmers, focusing on capacity building, technical guidance, and the development of best practices to ensure successful project outcomes.

2024, World Vegetable Center, BASF Nunhems India, CInI, SeSTA and Solidaridad Network

For more information:

Ravishankar M
Senior Horticulturist, World Vegetable Center – South and Central Asia ICRISAT Campus, Hyderabad, IN 502324
Email: ravi.manickam@worldveg.org
Phone: +91 9631500815