Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) - Low-cost Greenhouses

This initiative involves collaboration between Jeevika, Kheyti (Earthshot prize winners 2022 and creators of the ‘Greenhouse-in-a-box’) and local implementation partner Jeevan Rekha Parishad (JRP) to implement Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). 12 greenhouses have already been successfully installed and early evaluation indicates significant yield increases for traditional vegetable crops, reduced need for irrigation and reduced threat pests allowing for minimal use of organic pesticides. Farmer training and capacity building is being carried out to encourage farmers to trial higher value crops (e.g. bell peppers) and low-income women farmers are being supported to share greenhouse cultivation through Self Help Groups (SHGs). Many of the farmers using the greenhouses are then following this up with use of the Solar Cold Storage to maximise produce quality and saleability.