The impact of COVID-19 on the people was adverse, they had to face unemployment crisis, people had to move around in search of livelihood. In 2022 an idea came up of working in the rural region under HLDRC working areas for their sustainable development. The program is called “Social Agriculture Project” (SAP) supported by SOS India. Most of the villagers have cultivated land in rural areas and they mostly grow only one seasonal paddy crop. After harvesting paddy crop (July to November), the land gets prepared for some other crops for rest of the 7 months. A plan is being projected which motivates to grow some vegetables for commercial purpose. The idea or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have to be signed with the terms and conditions (Project People Partnership) of the project proposal.
This is one of the best practices where women are collectively coming under one umbrella to help themselves. This can be a successful model to solve any issue related to community and through this project, land resource can be used throughout the year. Agriculture production is the main objective of this project but at the same time surplus production after consumption can be used for commercial purpose. Some vacant non-operational land is available in surrounded tea garden areas. If the local people show interest to cultivate in the vacant lands, HLDRC would support cost of ploughing and seeds. With this activity people can gain ownership on the vacant land in future.
SAP is bringing back the traditional system where people are self-reliant on consumption. This project is promoting organic farming method and minimum usage of chemical pesticides hence, reducing pollution. Unused vacant land are used for used for agriculture which is also a factor of climate change, as now a days agricultural land has become less, covering limited areas. We have seen kitchen garden in every house since our childhood and gradually all these farming methods are getting diminishing. If people continue with these traditional methods they don’t have to buy vegetables for consumption which in result will save around Rs. 200 per week.
