Presenter : Alfred Daniel Vellore

1. SAFE Network – An Initiative to
support Smallholder Farmers
VILLAGE SMALLHOLDER
FARMERS – PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE-AN OVERVIEW
WITH A CLIMATE CHANGE
PRESPECTIVE

2. Climate Change – An opinion…

3. A CONSULTATION WITH FARMERS AND THE VIEWS
EXPRESSED BY THEM

4. THE PAST
 FERTILE LAND – NATURALLY
 PROPER RAINFALL
 CLEAN WATER/SUFFICIENT WATER BODIES WITH WATER
 SUFFICIENT WATER FOR IRRIGATION OR RELIABLY
RAINFED CULTIVATION
 ORGANIC FARMING METHODS
 MAINLY DEPENDENT ON RAIN AND WATER BODIES FOR
IRRIGATION
 PREDICTABLE YIELD
 FAMILY LABOUR/MUTUAL SUPPORT
 FARMING WAS POSSIBLE EVEN IN OFF-GRID SITUATION

5. THE PRESENT
 INFERTILE LAND
 DEPLETED GROUNDWATER TABLE
 ERRATIC OR NO RAINFALL/ DRY, FEW OR NO WATER
BODIES
 LURED INTO CHEMICAL FARMING - HIGH &
UNCALCULATED USAGE OF FERTILIZERS
 EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF BOREWELLS WITH LESS
OR NO WATER AND INJUDICIOUS USE OF WATER
 UNPREDICTABLE YIELD DUE TO VARYING EXTERNAL
FACTORS
 OFF GRID OR INCONSISTENT SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY
 SUBSISTENCE FARMING /MIGRATION TO CITIES/
DESERTED AND /OR SHRINKING FARMLANDS

6. THE FUTURE OF FARMING
 ENERGY DEPENDENT FARMING
 FARMING COULD BE POSSIBLE ONLY WITH
CONSISTENT SUPPLY OF ENERGY
 TAPPING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
COULD BE A VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE OPTION
 SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
 DESILTING WATER BODIES TO RECHARGE
GROUNDWATER TABLE/CREATING FARM PONDS
 AFFORESTATION

7. WHY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS???
 As much as 67 percent of India's farmland is held by
the marginal farmers with holdings below one hectare,
against less than 1 percent in large holdings of 10
hectares and above, the latest Agriculture Census
shows.
 Another cause for concern is that in 2010-11, the
proportion of net irrigated area to net area sown was
45.70 percent, which shows that for half the country's
farmland, irrigation is yet to reach farmers, who rely
entirely on rains for their crops.

8. The importance & Roles…
 India’s agro-climatic regional planning has
documented the zones of maximal opportunity for
diversified agriculture on smaller farms. Planning (at
local and regional scales) to utilize those opportunities
- and to provide the supportive agro-processing and
market and communications facilities - must involve
farmers’ representatives and cooperatives,
administrators, extensionists, researchers, inputs
suppliers (public and private), and NGO's; it must
address on-farm and non-farm features.

9. Coping with changing climate ..

10. Earthquake,
Drought & Floods
The three ugly
faces of Climate
Change drastically
affecting the lives
of small famers in
the developing
countries who are
also the most
vulnerable
communities in
the world.

11. Drought
 Water conservation methods are promoted and
practiced – Example SRI method of rice cultivation
 Construction of farm ponds with subsidy from the
government under 100 days labour scheme.
 Drip and sprinkler irrigation methods are promoted
 Seeds of Millet family is distributed and promoted
 To create awareness about De-siltation of public
ponds, canals and reservoirs among the farmers and
with support from government to conserve water.
 Traditional ploughing methods are promoted.

12. Floods
 Deep water & Lodging resistant varieties of paddy is
promoted
 Proper drainage facility around the farm lands leading
and connected to the mainline canals is promoted.
 Delayed / Early sowing of seeds recommended
depending on the region and based on weather
forecast.

13. The Art of Climate change…..

14. Climate change…

15. Power games…..

16. Inequality….

18. What we grow…… Cash crops
Paddy Colacacia tubers

19. Diversified farming practices
Adult Piglets

20. Orchards
Guava Trees Guava fruits

21. Some Success Stories & Best
practices

22. Drum seeder & SRI method of
Paddy cultivation

23. Access to Irrigation through Solar Energy
Irrigation -Cooperative farming

24. Issues….
Equal wages for women Women centered labour

25. manually by women

26. Chemicals Vs Organic manure
Chemical fertilizer
Green Manure & Organic
inputs

27. Traditional Agricultural practices vs
Modern ones
Tractor Country plough

28. What’s our role as an organisation
..
Practice Promote

29. On Ground…..
 Conduct a baseline survey to understand off-grid situations and
promote sustainable models and replicate best practices.
 More Farmers federations and associations should be formed to
advocate their causes with the government while also show
support to each other during calamities for horizontal learning.
 Use existing Networks of Grass root NGOs to pilot, promote and
replicate smart village concepts and success stories.
 Our existing network of NGOs have already established rapport
and other agricultural activities among nearly 12000 farmers
across 5 districts which are always at the forefront of calamities
caused by climate change.

30. Extension and farmer’s support
services to name a few…
 Seed banks to support small farmers from getting into
debts.
 Vet care for animals to avoid mortality in turn
economic havocs to small farmers
 Promote more of sustainable agricultural practices to
mitigate and/or minimise the effects of climate
change.

31. Thank you…