Summary

Naandi, a social sector organization working to eliminate poverty in India, is active in 17 Indian states and is working towards building sustainable social models that deliver critical services to underserved communities. Its economic model – Arakunomics – was one of the Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored 'Top 10 Visionaries' in the world for the Food Vision 2050 Prize for their dedicated work in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh. In the last 20 years, the initiative has brought profits to farmers and quality to consumers through regenerative agriculture.

Considering the overarching objectives, this collaborative project between ICRISAT and Naandi Foundation will deal with soil health assessment, restoration of soil fertility, and crop quality analysis in active project sites in Maharashtra, Araku valley, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

The objectives of this partnership are to:

• Monitor soil health and plant nutrient status in select geographies across a few states
• Suggest measures to improve soil, crop management practices, and compost application based on analysis
• Set standards for organic soil amendments

Build the capacity of farmers in best nutrient management practices and of field teams in the use of technology in soil sampling, its tracking and mapping

Summary

Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) is a registered autonomous society working under the aegis of Panchayati Raj Department of the Government of Odisha for enhancing the socio-economic conditions of the rural poor through promotion of sustainable livelihoods. The OLM aims to focus on primary sector of livelihoods of rural poor and work intensively both in agriculture, non-agriculture & livestock sectors under the programme “Mission Samrudhi”. For smooth and successful implementation of program, three Krushi Mitras (Farmer Friends) are engaged to support the poor households in different agriculture and horticulture activities and two Prani Mitras (Livestock Friends) are engaged to support the household on livestock interventions (poultry birds & small ruminants) at one Gram Panchayat Level Federation (GPLF).

Objectives

• To strengthen the process of sustainable soil management through soil test-based nutrient application for enhancing agricultural productivity across the target GPs in four districts of Odisha viz. Raygarah, Gajapati, Koraput and Nabarangpur;
• To demonstrate productive potentials of science-led interventions in selected crops as a means to improving rural livelihood in the target GPs across these five districts;
• To build the capacity of grassroots level OLM functionaries to translate proven science-based practices for scaling up of successful crop-based interventions.

Summary

The project aims at improving crop productivity and rural livelihoods through science-based Natural Resource Management in the State of Odisha. Soil health mapping through the collection of about 40,000 representative soil samples by stratified sampling methods across 30 districts provides a sound base for precise nutrient management for macro and micro nutrients. It also envisages economic and environmental benefits by avoiding indiscriminate use of NPK fertilizers. GIS mapping of analysis results and use of ICT tools like tablet-based modules will facilitate informed decision-making by policy makers, farmers and other stakeholders. The two laboratories selected in the State will be upgraded to state-of-the-art referral laboratories of international standards to cater to the state future requirements of swift and precise quality analyses of a sizeable number of soil, water, fertilizer, and plant samples.

The project will facilitate science-led developments through capacity building of department of agriculture (DoA) officials, farmers, stakeholders and harnessing the synergies of consortium partners like Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Department of Agriculture and NGOs. The project will establish pilots as sites of learnings in the districts to scale out improved agricultural practices in collaboration with department of agriculture as the nodal agency.

Objectives

• To upgrade two existing soil analytical laboratories in the state to serve as referral laboratories and run them efficiently with government support;
• Identify the best soil, crop, water and nutrient management options for sustainable intensification of major crops in different agro-ecoregions to increase productivity through demonstrations in pilot sites and scaling-up in partnership with DoA and other partners through convergence;
• To assess the nutrient status of soils in the 30 districts of Odisha through stratified soil sampling method;
• To build the capacity of DoA staff in undertaking soil analysis, handling data and that of other consortium partners including farmers for scaling-up science-led holistic development strategy using ICT tools.