Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

Agriculture and animal husbandry are the key occupations of the rural population in India. Especially in a drought prone and isolated region like Thar, reliance on agriculture and livestock is critical to the survival of people and despite that these are not considered to be very dependable occupations. Constantly failing crop cycles and inability to provide fodder for livestock are a cause of many severe issues like malnutrition and forced migration.

Lower yield means that the community will not be able to store grains and fodder to safeguard themselves against frequent drought-years. To top it all, the introduction of modern practices of cultivation have not solved problems for the local people, it has instead added new obstacles to their work and lives. Commercial seeds, chemical fertilizers, complex irrigation techniques which promised to boost yield and profits didn’t work as procuring these items became difficult and costly for marginal farmers and dependence on outsider support for their work made the concept largely impractical.

In response to this growing crisis, GRAVIS decided to revive the traditional methods of sustainable agriculture in the Thar to achieve food security as many farmers forsake some of the most efficient ancestral farming practices. We are also actively involved in research and development of innovations in sustainable dry-land agriculture and work closely with many research and extension institutions to disseminate the most relevant, efficient and sustainable farming techniques to the local farmers. Animal husbandry as well as trees and grasses intercropped with vegetables or fruit trees is considerably the most viable farming model for arid and drought-prone regions.

GRAVIS mitigates the effects of drought on agriculture and enhances the food security of the Thar by using a comprehensive approach that combines local knowledge with scientific understanding. GRAVIS has many strategies to combat food insecurity and malnutrition. Following are our key strategic interventions:

Construction of Khadin and Spillways

GRAVIS has been promoting a runoff-based farming system known as Khadin. A Khadin is an earthen embankment constructed on the farming land that prevents water run-off, thereby retaining rain-water within an agricultural area. Use of Khadin can not only improve the yield of crops but also allow to produce more than one crop a year in water scarce areas. Thus, aiding a systematic shift from rain dependent cultivation to sustainable methods of crop farming. Over the years, the success of this traditional practice is visible in areas where GRAVIS has promoted this structure through various programmes.

Khadins had been developed a few hundred years ago by the local farmers of Jaisalmer. Originally these structures are made on a cluster basis by communities and agencies. We made significant innovations and updated these by making them smaller in size such that the structure can be shared by a small group of farmers. We also motivate the construction of spillways to give a path to excess water for the next field as per the need. Necessary trainings are organized for the farming community on Khadin usages and benefits.

Community Seed Banks (CSBs)

GRAVIS develops seed banks as it allows communities to stockpile seeds in case of drought-related crop failure. The seeds stored are local variety of grains which are high in quality and drought resistant. These banks also act as a source for planting in the monsoon season as well as serve as reserves for rare and indigenous species of food crops. These seeds can be stored for many years as preserved using traditional methods.

Demonstration Plots

GRAVIS encourages building of demonstration plots of different drought resistant, water efficient and high yielding variety of crops. These farms serve as a visible result of efficient application of sustainable methods of farming. Through this exercise farmers can be trained in best techniques of line sowing, weeding, mixed cropping, etc.

Horticulture Units

While cultivation of grains is quite common in the region of Thar, cultivation of fruit and vegetables, essential elements of a balanced and nutrition-filled diet isn’t as prevalent. To ensure that people have access to extra source of nutrition and income, GRAVIS provides resources and expertise to establish Arid Horticulture Units (AHUs) units with plants that are possible to cultivate in an arid environment.

Animal Husbandry

Community Fodder Banks

Livestock development and allied activities are a potent alternative source of livelihood for the rural community of Thar. One of the important aspects of animal husbandry has been fodder security. Over the years, GRAVIS has worked with the community to develop mutual interventions like community fodder banks which act as buffers during dry spells and fodder depots to provide immediate relief in case of drought.

Pasture Land Development

We develop community pasture land to combat land degradation and soil erosion by educating the community about best practices and benefits of pasture land cultivation. These pasture lands and forests are developed on community land with the help of contribution from them and are aimed to support livestock-based livelihood by means of increasing fodder security. Other related activities include provision and distribution of bulls and milch cows.

Training of Para Vets

Various soil-moisture interventions led by GRAVIS have enhanced fodder production in these areas. These coupled with capacity building programmes for the community cadre have been instrumental in securing fodder requirements of the livestock. We train selected men and women to treat animals or refer them to a clinic. This ensures that animals have a better chance of survival as the local people have much needed knowledge to treat them.

Strengthening and training of Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

Women occupy a central role in livestock management and allied activities in the Thar. Training SHGs on various aspects including fodder production, nutritive value of fodder, types of breeds, importance of indigenous breeds, breed improvement have contributed phenomenally to ensuring fodder security and nutrition requirements of animal population.