Facilitating Agriculture Regenerating Measure(FARM)
Facilitating Agricultural Regeneration Measures (FARM Northeast) is being implemented in 15 villages under Laskien and Thadlaskien Block of West Jaintia Hills District. The main goal of the project is to ensure agriculture based livelihood security for the Tribal communities (Pnar’s) of Thadlaskein&Laskien Block of West Jaintia Hills District Meghalaya. FARM Northeast is one of the dream project of Jaintia hills District were around 70% of the population totally depend on agriculture. In these past 3 year one of major impact of the project is about sustainable agriculture through organic farming and preservation of traditional seeds. Three of the most important things that happened till now is that, farmers realise the importance of preserving their traditional way of cultivation for the future generation (Seeds and pattern of cultivating), second thing is that, how to cultivate in a more profitable way with eco friendly methods and thirdly what are the rolls of the government in order to achieve their goals (Grand/ Schemes).
Some of the major impacts achieved in the project are as followed:
Out of the 15 target villages PLDA approach activities is seen in 12 villages, though the impact of the activities may be small in some of the villages, needless to say that PLDA is being initiated.
2). Out of the 1862 farming families, around 1633 have already avail help from the Government Departments.
3). 80% of the target farming families have already sold their products in the local markets and 25% outside Meghalaya.
4). 90% of the target farming families have already been train in various Organic procedures.
5). People realise the important of various traditional practice and their role in sustainable agriculture although some modification may be needed.
6). Farmers started to become aware about their right and entitlement in various Government through various workshops, trainings & awareness programs in the FARM project.
7). Right based approach is being seen in many of the target villages of FARM North East through the activities carried out by the villagers and the Farmer’s Club.
8). Systematic and scientific method of cultivation patern is being observed in most of the cultivation areas of the Farmers through the contribution of various trainings especially from KVK and ICAR.
9). Multiple cropping is another visible impact which is observed in most of the FARM North East areas.
10) The rate of production has been increased to 60%