The document discusses several problems with India's current agricultural practices and rural development approaches. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have rendered soil infertile and caused health issues, while corporate agribusiness is promoting dependency. Many farmers have committed suicide due to financial distress. Proposed solutions include establishing "edu-tainment centers" in rural-urban interface areas to facilitate knowledge sharing, an incentive system to encourage farmer participation, and learning initiatives like call centers, knowledge sharing networks, and documenting traditional techniques. The overall approach aims to address systemic issues undermining rural ecosystems and development.

1. USIDCollaborative & Immersive learning experienceTeam 7 MentorsMrVinaiKumar Acting Dean at the National Institute of Design (NID) GandhinagarMrSrinivasMurthy G Founder, Hyderabad Architecture Foundation

2. Problem Analysis

3. The so-called green revolution has resulted in a massive loss of on-farm biodiversity

4. Agro-business conglomerates are promoting a cycle of dependence, which, if not stopped will carry with it disastrous affects for the entire country.

5. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers had rendered the soils infertile. Organic matter in Punjab’s soil is almost close to zero per cent..

6. Birth Defects Higher in Babies Born to Families Living near Farming Areas using Pesticides..

7. Number of farmers who have committed suicide 1997 and 2007 - is staggering 182,936...

8. Women farmers are not normally accepted as farmers,“This classification enables governments to exclude countless women farmer suicides. They will be recorded as suicide deaths – but not as “farmers’ suicides.

9. Employment growth in agriculture – the biggest employer – has fallen to virtually zero during the period of the reforms. Also the large scale survey shows that given a chance almost 40% farmers are willing to quit farming permanently.

10. Problem Drafting

12. Current scenario

14. Problem StatementAddressing systemic degeneration of village Eco-systems and inappropriate development practices.

15. Approach to the Problem

16. Village Eco- system

17. Solution Approaches

18. The solution is a three pronged attack on the current problem explainedEdu-tainment centersIndirect incentive based systemKnowledge and education reforms

19. Edu-tainment CentresConcept of urban-rural interface areas or learning spaces where there is a confluence of urban and rural activities and ecosystems. The focus of such a space would be to address urban-rural issues at a more holistic level through various ways such as: Film screenings

20. Cultural activities

21. Education museumsThese activities will ensure that there is a constant flow of people, information, knowledge, income and resources between villages and cities.

22. Incentive based systemIntroduction of a system which will encourage active participation of farmers in the villages in the edutainment centers.HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK ?The main aim of this system would be the accumulation of activity points by the farmer through active participation in the various activities of the edutainment centers.The accumulation of certain number of points would enable the farmer to obtain access to discounts, govt. schemes, subsidized health care facilities etc.