ARANYA PROJECT OVERVIEW:

Aranya’s projects have had an approach of identifying solutions that address both social and environmental concerns through a healthy synergy between the two. In addition, Aranya has endeavoured to bring to its stakeholders cutting edge knowledge and techniques in natural resource management (esp. water) and ecological farming methods. In this entire process, it has championed the cause of community/ farmers’ participation (esp. women) in natural resource management. It has vast experience in participatory irrigation management. Bridging the distances between community institutions and government departments has also been an important element in most projects.

The four elements described in this diagram are closely connected and their integrated working is what Aranya projects aim to achieve. Though certain projects are listed alongside each of these elements, every project incorporates the other elements too, as required by the project context.

Integrated Support Services for Health and Livelihood Improvement Project BY “THE HANS FOUNDATION”

Implementation area:Bidakanna Village, Jharasangham (mandal), Sangareddy (Dist), Telangana

Donor Agency: The Hans Foundation  

Objectives:

  • Support for Regenerative Agriculture systems
  • Training and capacity building of the Farmers .   
  • Support fro Milch animals
  • Value addition to Moringa seeds by extracting oil

IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Practices)

Implementation area: at Birsaipet, Dhanthanpalle, Ghanpur, Lakkaram Villages in Utnoor mandal, Adilabad district, Telangana

Objectives:

  • Planning and Building Micro watersheds
  • Facilitation and implementation of all water conserving and harvesting structures
  • Promoting tree-based farming systems and vegetation development
  • Avenue plantation
  • Formation and strengthening of CBO (watershed comities, user groups) community-based organizations

APDMP(ANDHRA PRADESH DROUGHT MITIGATION PROJECT)

Implementation area: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh

Aranya Agricultural Alternatives is a Lead Facilitating Agency (LFA) for the Government of AndhraPradesh ‘Andhra Pradesh Drought Mitigation Project’ (APDMP). The southern part of AP is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in India, exacerbated by limited irrigation: low surface water availability and over-exploited groundwater resources – borewell drillings often fail to strike water and/or borewells are running dry. Soils are generally thin with low soil fertility and low water holding capacity; however, farmers lack access to, and information on, drought-adapted technologies. 80% of farmers are marginal or smallholder farmers, predominantly growing rainfed oilseeds, pulses and cotton as cash crops. Typically, this generates a third of income – necessitating farmers to rely on public safety net programmes and/or seasonal migration to low paid jobs.

What Aranya Agricultural Alternatives does:

  • Aranya Agricultura Alternatives is the LFA for 4 Facilitating Agencies, 12 Farmer Produce
    Organisations (FPOs) across 36 gram panchayats (villages), covering 5025 farmers – 1696 female farmers and 3329 male farmers – with 1640 poorest of poor families identified.
  • Empowering farmersthrough FPO – participatory action – our collective vision is to remove market access hurdles andstrengthen production, productivity and profitability, so farmers can achieve right values of produce.
  • Women as AGENTS OF CHANGE is our cornerstone philosophy
APDMP

DST (Department of Science and Technology Govt of India) Livelihood Improvement

Implementation area: Lingapoor, Kadem (mandal), Niraml (Dist)

  • Training and Implementing permaculture practices for natural agriculture
  • Seed saving techniques
  • Livestock (Sheep/Goat/Chickens) training
  • Rainwater Harvesting
  • Establishing Community food garden
  • Establishing mini dairy farm
  • Machinery distribution and training for value addition to pulses.

 

CBC (Capacity Building Centers)

Implementation area: Krishna and Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

  • Impart training and render extension services to the farmers at village level and other stake holders at institutional level by establishing Livestock Resource Centers (LRC) in the selected district of Andhra Pradesh.
  • Facilitating smooth implementation of Milch animal distribution and in coordination with animal husbandry department and farmers.
  • Facilitating to avail inputs (Feed-Fodder-Health services)

LRC(Livestock Resource Center)

Implementation area: Nellore, Andhra Pradesh

  • Capacity building of livestock Owners and para vets in convergence with animal husbandry department
  • Building awareness among livestock rearers.