Tribal communities are identified with their farming, but loss of land, erratic rain and low returns from rain-fed mono-cropping have discouraged most of them. Tribal youth are exploring opportunities for their future in places other than their homeland.
Against this background SIGN broadly focuses on land rights, land development, food security and sustainable agricultural practices. SIGN works to ensure more of people’s participation, involvement and contribution, and to improve the chances of long-term sustainability through scientific agricultural practices. SIGN facilitates farmers to form Kisan Clubs and work with Kisan Mitras.
Our approach
SIGN’s effort is to move farmers from mono-cropping to multiple cropping. SIGN encourages communities to revisit the growing of papaya, ragi, moringa and parwal, which were very familiar to them a few years ago, while promoting intercropping. Farmers use vermicompost and, if needed, organic pesticides they prepare themselves.
Farmers sell their products as entrepreneurs and are able to fix the price of their produce themselves. The project also tries to promote unity among the villagers.
SIGN takes technical assistance from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Hazaribagh, Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Semina Agro and all other institutions that offer techniques to farmers for sustainable agriculture.
