Organic and sustainable farming to secure livelihoods

To farm Smart, farmers need sustainable and climate resilient solutions. Supporting the poorest farmers with low-cost strategies which improve soil health and diversify income streams is vital to secure livelihoods into the future.

At Jeevika Trust, we are always looking to support farmers in ways that increase productivity using strategies that will sustain livelihoods into the future. Below are three ways in which we have recently been supporting farmers in tribal villages in Odisha:

Training farmers in vermicomposting to improve soil health

In July 2025, farmers in Gunduribari village undertook training in Vermiculture (worm farming) and Vermicomposting (organic waste composting using earthworms). The program emphasized improving soil fertility, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers, and enabling low-cost organic farming practices.

Setting Up Vermicomposting Units: Step-by-step guidance was given on preparing and maintaining composting beds using locally available materials.

Benefits Highlighted:

• Enhanced soil health and fertility.

• Improved crop yields with organic inputs.

• Reduced dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

• Environmental benefits and improved food safety.

Economic Viability: Each unit is capable of producing up to 2 tons of compost annually, adequate for 2 acres of farmland, with minimal additional investment. Women participants showed particular interest in adopting the technology, highlighting its accessibility and relevance to small-scale farms.

Scope for Replication and Scaling: The successful implementation in Gunduribari provides a replicable model for surrounding villages. With continued technical support and resource provision, this model has the potential to expand across the district, creating a broader impact on sustainable agriculture in the region.

Encouraging the integration of agroforestry into smallholdings

In July, Jeevika Trust enabled the planting of 200 fruit trees benefitting 50 farmers in Daspalla, Odisha. Varieties included mango, jack fruit, lemon and papaya. Encouraging farmers to grow trees contributes to improved soil health and climate resilence, whilst providing farmers with additonal income streams in the longer term and improved community nutrition. Our partners Jeevan Rekka Parishad (JRP) continue to support farmers in tree care and monitor the level of success of the project.

Diversifying crops to increase productivity and farmer incomes

In Daspalla, Jeevika Trust and partners JRP have been trialling the cultivation of grafted brinjal with 50 women farmers in order to increase yields and crop quality. The trial has been met with enthusiasm from recipients and we look forward to sharing the impact on crop quality and farmer income.