Empowerment of Farmers

A Wadi is local word for a piece of land. Land holdings of farmers in the Palghar district is abysmally low. Problems such as scarcity of water for irrigation in non-monsoon months, and lack of knowledge in appropriate farming techniques add to their woes. Documented in recent history are cases of farmer suicide in nearby due to inability to repay loans taken on account of good agricultural produce throughout the year

The key objective of SEWA programmeme is to make a paradigm shift in perception of villagers towards farming. Tools adopted for this shift are

Village surveys
Exposure visits to peers
Training
Continued guidance and handholding for improved quality of life.

Continued guidance and handholding for improved quality of life.

The outcome of this programmeme is that it has improved the economic condition of the farmers and influenced the social landscape in the villages.

GRDP has joined hands with Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Maharashtra and local NGOs to conduct "Farmers Training Program". By design, the training programmeme, trains not only farmers but Govt. officers also in the concerned department, in various practices of Organic Farming.

Sensitisation and orientation of different stakeholders on the importance and economics of Organic Farming as a sustainable income generation activity, is the primary focus.

Guidance on regarding water resource development and soil conservation is given to the farmers

Farmers need their own seeds to grow their own crops. Lack of proper seeds has resulted in farmer distress, vulnerability to pest attacks and reduced biodiversity. To address these issues Govardhan Rural Development Program has started "Seed Conservation Program" under which farmers are provided with indigenous variety of seeds for large scale production.By doing this, farmers can produce their own seeds.

Availability of seeds prevents them to spend on purchasing genetically modified seeds from the market every time. This reinforces the fact that 'money saved is money earned.'

Seed banks are created both, at the institutional as well as farmer's level.

While Government has huge subsidies for the welfare of the farmers, the multiple layers in the system prevent them from reaching the farmers in time.

Govardhan Rural Development Program(GRDP) team acts as a mediator between the government and the farmer to help bridge the gap between the two

Thus serves dual purpose of farmers benefit, and implementation of government schemes at the grass roots.

At Govardhan Rural Development Program we believe that cows are extremely critical for success of the food chain and organic farming.

Under this programme, farmers are connected to GRDP SEWA model for Organic farming support, trained in the importance of cow based farming, and equipped with basic support for cow care.

This is a Spiritual Retreat Center, please respect the sanctity of the place.
All meals are vegetarian (no onion, garlic, mushrooms or meat served). Special requests (Jain/Vegan) or Diet restrictions has to be intimated in advance. GEV is not obligated to fulfil all requests.
GEV can deny the confirmed reservation on Arrival.
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Personal Vehicles are not allowed beyond the security check post.
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Consumption , possession any of these product is strictly prohibited inside the campus - meat, fish, eggs, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg, caffeine and other illegal contra band items / products etc.
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Do not pluck any flowers, fruits from the trees or damage them.
Dress respectfully (no tank-tops, short, tight or revealing clothing, etc.
Carry necessary items as per season like hats, rain coats, umbrellas, warm clothes, torchlight, batteries, and personal water bottles to fill and carry around, swimming costumes, any specific medicines needed.
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Pets are not allowed.
During Ekadashi (11th day of waning or waxing Moon) we serve non-grain meals.
GEV reserves the right to deny entrance or cancel bookings (even while on going – with appropriate compensation) upon the breach of any of these T&C.

Empowerment of Farmers Programme equips farmers appropriately and adequately for converting their challenges into opportunities, without compromising the ecology of the space, where a blend of traditional and modern practices in horticulture, floriculture and rice production are followed.

Economic conditions of the farmers are a really poor due to various reasons. Agriculture being the major occupation of almost all the rural areas, the issue is humongous and needs immediate attention. Problems such as scarcity of water for irrigation in non-monsoon months, and lack of knowledge in appropriate farming techniques add to their woes. Documented in recent history are cases of farmer suicide in nearby due to inability to repay loans taken on account of good agricultural produce throughout the year.

Our efforts focus on making a paradigm shift in the perception towards farming and the people involved in this occupation.

Product

Selection of Flowers & Fruits like jasmine, papaya, and mango that command good prices round the year.

Prototype

Farm layout design is based on research on various categories of land and customized to local conditions.

Process

The organic methods harness the symbiotic relationship between various crops as well as natural systems of soil nutrition, seed and water conservation.

Promotion

Route to market (nearby urban / semi urban places) strategy is designed by farmers along with the NGO. However, after initial support for a year, the farmer groups will take it over.

Our Progress

1100+

Farmers adopted

6000+

Farmers trained

131000+

Horti-Floriculture planting

2000 Census -- 10.67 crore Landless agriculture labours

2011 Census -- 14.4 crore landless agriculture labours

OUR SOLUTION

Our initiatives under this program aim to make a paradigm shift in the perception towards farming by providing them the required support in terms of both knowledge and financial aids.