SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY- MODEL FARM: With the basic intention to stop the migration of the small and marginal farmers, to control their cultivate lands to become barren, to prove to earn a regular income through traditional organic integrated agricultural practices even from a barren land, to free them from the clutches of money lenders who swallow their property if they fail to repay in time due to monsoon failure, and above all to train the small and marginal farmers on improved agriculture practices to increase their income from agriculture and animal husbandry practices, we created a model farm in two acres of land which has been years together neglected barren land at Kaandai Village in Thirumangalam Taluk. By
organizing the small and marginal farmers under farmers clubs and self help
groups, we helped them to avail bank loans for nominal rate of interest which
helped them to implement the skills they have learned through the trainings
into practice. The integrated agriculture and animal husbandry practices
brought about a drastic change in their socio economic conditions and free from
the clutches of money lenders and own their own property. This also enabled the
migrated farmers to return to their native and involve in agriculture and
animal husbandry improved practices.
SINDHUPATTY WATERSHED: The Watershed Development project has been implemented in collaboration of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in Sindhupatty area. The project covers in Sindhupatty, Thummakundu and Vepanuthu Panchayats in Chellampatty Block of Usilampatty Taluk in Madurai District. We have promoted Dry Land Horticulture by
supplying 1700 seedlings involving 32 beneficiaries and promoted Agro Forestry
by supplying 700 seedlings involving 17 beneficiaries. With the purpose to
provide intensive concentration and accelerate the activities of the target
community with their involvement for their own development, we have promoted 13
farmers clubs, 32 women self help groups and 15 youth groups in the watershed
development areas. They are tie up with banks to avail loans towards their
sustainable development. A total of 540 farmers and 320 landless
people have benefited under full implementation phase. So far we have spent Rs.
36, 42,245/- for all these activities.Apart from this, Village Watershed Committee
and Women Federation for livelihood promotion in Sindhupatty Watershed area have
been formed and registered under Tamilnadu Societies RegistrationAct 1975to speed up socio economic activities for the entire target community to
ensure their economic sustainability by developing their agriculture and allied
activities.Both Village Watershed
Committee and Women Federation have been started to function independently. Rs.3,24,755/- has been provided as loan from livelihood fundand they have circulated the amount to 87
women to a worth of Rs. 10,97,500/- to promote livelihood activities.
KALLAPPANPATTY WATERSHED: Kalappanpatty watershed comes under Usilampatty Taluk under which 1070 Hector land of the farmers get treatment for various activities. So far under interim phase and full
implementation phase, 26.4 land’s jungle was cleared, 24 .4 barren lands are
disk ploughed, 23,014 in cubic meter field bund has been raised, 1848
Horticulture seedlings and 1531 Agro forestry seedlings were provided, 19 Farm
ponds were dag. A total of 135 farmers and 98 landless people have benefited
under full implementation phase. So far we have spent Rs. 19, 88,178/- for all
these activities.Apart from this, Village Watershed Committee
and Women Federation for livelihood promotion in Kalappanpatty Watershed area
have been formed and registered under Tamilnadu Societies RegistrationAct 1975to speed up socio economic activities for the entire target community to
ensure their economic sustainability by developing their agriculture and allied
activities.Both Village Watershed
Committee and Women Federation have been started to function
independently.Rs.2,40,500/- has been provided as loan from livelihood
fundand they have circulated the amount
to 21 women to a worth of Rs. 3,15,000/- to promote livelihood activities.