THE LIVELIHOODS AND DEVELOPMENT BIMONTHLY MAY–JUNE 2013 Volume 13 Number 3 Lead: Small Farmers, Prosperous Farmers—Hopes from Central India ASHOK KUMAR AND OM PRAKASH: Breaking the prevailing cycles of low production a few small farmers are becoming prosperous by transiting to a state of high returns; They are driven by a passion to grow by working on their existing lands, keeping themselves updated on the latest developments in the agricultural sector and choosing their crops with great farsightedness and perseverance. Ashok Kumar is based in Ranchi and Om Prakash is based in Singrauli. 01 Report: On the Path towards a Just Society: Challenging Ja ti P an ch ay at s and the Dowry System RANVIJAY KUMAR: Defying the ja ti pa nc ha ya t's decision was momentous for the women of DMMS, who, through their SHGs, are realizing the power of collective action in shattering age-old domination structures and in moving from passive acceptance to quiet assertion of their rights. Ranvijay Kumar is based in Koderma. 14 Opinion: Challenges of Livelihoods in Difficult Tribal Regions: Understanding Markets K.S. GOPAL: Underlining the fragile plight and future of the tribal people of the country, the article advises that the tribal community, its welfare and growth be included in the planning and implementation of development activities, schemes and projects. K.S. Gopal is based in Mumbai. 19 Case Study: Organic Farming in Balaghat: Power to the Community, Power to the Farmer! CHANDAN SARMA AND PANDIT ARJUN: Exploring the possibilities of introducing and implementing organic practices in several villages has resulted in better yield, higher income and an exponential increase in the confidence of the women engaged in organic farming, raising hopes for greater economic stability as well as gender equality. Chandan Sarma and Pandit Arjun are based in Balaghat. 31 Platform: Reflections: My Journey as a Development Professional DR. MINAKSHI DASTIDAR (SAHOO): Tracing her journey from her roots to the present, the author reconnects with her deep desire 'to make a difference' to the lives of people and reaffirms her decision to work to help the underprivileged rural poor. Dr. Minakshi is based in Gujarat. 46 1 Small Farmers, Prosperous Farmers—Hopes from Central India ASHOK KUMAR AND OM PRAKASH Breaking the prevailing cycles of low production, a few small farmers are becoming prosperous by transiting to a state of high returns; they are driven by a passion to grow by working on their existing lands, keeping themselves updated on the latest developments in the agricultural sector and choosing their crops with great farsightedness and perseverance ABSTRACT PRADAN, a national-level NGO working for the promotion of livelihoods of rural poor communities in tribal pockets of Central India for the past 30 years, joined a study called ‘Small Farmers, Prosperous Farmers (SFPFs)’. The study is focused entirely on the tribal belt of Central India, where the terrain is hilly and undulating and has poor irrigation facilities. Along with under-performing natural resources, these regions also have under-developed markets. Yet, there are examples of enterprising farmers, who have overcome the vicious cycle of poverty of this region, have created wealth for themselves and have helped many other farmers to prosper. A systematic study of a few selected representatives of this dispersed tribe of individuals has revealed the factors and forces that lead to small farmers (with less than 2 ha of land) doing well in such challenging circumstances. An overarching commonality found in the farmers interviewed was that they were all exceptionally entrepreneurial—being achievement-oriented, ambitious, knowledge seeking, willing to take calculated risks, mobilizing their own financial resources and building effective functional linkages with the relevant stakeholders. Another factor that has contributed enormously to their success is the availability of assured irrigation, which they developed either by investing their personal resources in setting up irrigation facilities or drawing funds from a government scheme. These farmers have also taken calculated risks and invested time and energy in gathering the latest available knowledge and know-how on agricultural practices and markets. The success stories were all of vegetable farmers, probably because of the opportunities accorded by the difficult terrain and the deficit markets. Interestingly, none of the farmers was linked in any large measure with any of the mainstream programmes or services of agriculture extension, bank credit or insurance. Many of them were part of PRADAN’s agriculture development programmes and were pioneers in their own right because PRADAN intervened in poverty pockets, where such entrepreneurs did not exist. NewsReach May–June 2013 2 There are a number of policy agenda is to work on livelihoods All the farmers lessons also that can be derived promotion, with the objective were exceptionally from these stories. First, in order of agency enhancement of entrepreneurial—being to work with small farmers in rural communities for larger achievement-oriented, rain-fed areas with a view to change. As of today, PRADAN ambitious, knowledge making them rich, and not just works with around 2.25 seeking, willing to food secure, the intervention lakh families belonging to take calculated risks, has to be comprehensive and disadvantaged communities mobilizing their own holistic. Agriculture extension spread across seven states in financial resources cannot be a top-down supply the country. PRADAN was and building effective of knowledge and technology invited to participate in a study, functional linkages with but needs to be a process of conceived and coordinated by the relevant stakeholders systematic hand-holding. Such the IWMI (International Water extension will need to deal with Management Institute), on change in the behaviour of the farmer, to small farmers, who have been able to break develop entrepreneurial qualities in him, and the prevailing cycles of low production and create enabling conditions and linkages. transit to a state of high returns, to reach prosperity. PRADAN decided to participate When developing irrigation sources, an in the study because it would build greater approach of creating a large number of small internal understanding among colleagues structures offers far more dividends than a on why some farmers are able to break the small number of large structures. Moreover, cycle of low production and poverty, and using a cluster approach when working with achieve prosperity. The study was conducted farmers rather than working with individual in PRADAN’s field operational areas by those farmers in a discreet manner proved to be working in the area. more productive. Government schemes and the financial institutions have to address how INTRODUCTION TO THE AREA they can be more effective in supporting small farmers in their efforts to achieve The study was conducted across ten prosperity and create wealth, rather than districts (two each in Odisha, Jharkhand and being constrained by existing schemes. Given Chhattisgarh and four in Madhya Pradesh) the limitations of the state machinery and the of four States, where PRADAN has a field markets, the role of civil society organizations presence. These districts are in central and (CSOs) becomes crucial in scaling-up efforts to eastern India, with tribal communities create wealth and prosperity for a very large forming the major population. The area has number of small and marginal farmers in these hilly to undulating terrain and an irrigation endemic poverty regions. percentage ranging from 2–3 to 10%. Many of these districts are in the list of the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) and also in the list BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY of districts affected by left-wing extremism. PRADAN is a public service organization, Tribal people in these areas, as is the case set up with the belief that in order to bring elsewhere, are second or, at best, third or about change, educated and motivated fourth generation farmers. Agriculture in people need to work directly at the grass- the area is marked by the predominant use roots with rural communities. PRADAN’s of own seeds and a negligible fertilizer/ Lead: Small Farmers, Prosperous Farmers—Hopes from Central India 3 pesticide usage, characterized of two hectares or less, are able Agriculture extension by a ‘low-input, low-output’ cannot be a top-down to generate a net income of Rs cycle. A significant chunk of supply of knowledge 2–2.5 lakhs/year (US $ 4,000– household income comes from and technology but 5000/year) mostly from farming collecting forest produce. needs to be a process and make a decent livelihood for Despite an average landholding of systematic hand- their family. of one hectare or more, food holding. Such extension security at the household level To understand the will need to deal with is for four to eight months from demonstration impact of such change in the behaviour their own land and the rest of it successful farmers, who on other of the farmer, to develop comes from wage earnings and farmers in the village, area, or entrepreneurial qualities forest produce collection. The in him, and create community. educated younger generation, enabling conditions To identify and study however, is drawn more to the and linkages examples of several farmers, market-based economy in urban who have emulated and gained areas, seeking government from the entrepreneurial success of a employment or opportunities in the formal job market. pioneer small-farmer. To identify and study examples, in which LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY systematic interventions by NGOs/GOs/ co-operatives/businesses have helped The study was conducted by PRADAN professionals, who have been working in the entire groups of small farmers to operate area for a long time. Although familiarity at a target level of annual household net with the socio-economic-cultural context income. is an advantage, it may have led to some To derive lessons and implications about assumptions being made and also may have what NGOs, the government, donors, created a bias towards a particular framework financial institutions, and research groups or way of thinking.