Smart Tree Plantation Solution
WGF’s Livelihood & Sustainability Council’s (LSC) mission is to enhance rural economy through co-creating and advancing rural enterprises, using technology innovations and scientific processes, sharing best practices and developing techniques to foster trade and employment for rural populations.
Smart Tree Plantation Solution for Rural Farmers
Problem Description & Solution Approach:
The rural farmer generally depends on a single crop during the season and ends up working odd jobs in the other months. Crop diversification can help farmers to sustain themselves financially all through the year and reduce the risk of crop failure, increasing their income. The adoption of natural farming practices and their effect on crop yield enables farmers to have better livelihood options.
Solution and Approach: WHEELS is partnering with Gram Samriddhi Foundation (GSF), started in the year 2019 in Keshiary block near IIT Kharagpur, covering 100 villages and 800 farmers. On average 50 trees were planted per farmer covering 6000 Sq Ft, totalling 40,000 trees. Tree plantation trips are planned to Kharagpur on alternate days from Kolkata viz., 12 trips with 10-20 participants per trip. One to two villages are covered in every trip with a tree plantation photo with every member.
GSF evolved a tried and tested method and the steps that are followed are:
- * Select 10 farmers per village
- * Each farmer will plant 100 trees
- * Registration with proper documentation
- * Train them before tree plantation
- * Scientific site plan on planting specific plants as per the condition of the soil
- * Regular follow-up and monitoring
- * Concentrated approach with focus on organic farming
- * E-Certificate to all farmers participating in tree planting
Proper documentation is maintained. Farmer contributes Rs. 600/- and 6000-8000 Sq Ft of land and commits to dig a rain water harvesting pond (20x20x10) on his land to ensure enhanced water availability. A small compost pit of 12x4x3 is also planned. Proper layout planning is done and the plants are selected (15 varieties) depending on the soil, climactic zones and availability other resources.
Page on the WGF site: Gram Samriddhi Foundation – WHEELS Global Foundation
Achievements to-date
In the last 4 years GSF reached 8 blocks, 900 villages, 11,000 farmers planting 4,25,000 trees. Approx 75% of the trees survived and giving fruits. 3287 farmers were trained creating 95 biogas plants and 600 rainwater harvesting ponds.
Scale of Opportunity
There are about 160 million farmers in India, including 80 million small farmers holding less than 1 acre land. Most of them are stuck in a vicious poverty cycle, in need of interventions that are mentioned above to improve their living conditions and alleviate poverty.
- * Increase in income 5-fold compared to paddy cultivation in 2 years for farmers
- * Forward integration from Farm to plate
- * Organic fruits/vegetables for cities is increasing the market share.
WGF leaders providing oversight:
Ratan Agarwal
Call To Action
- * SPREAD the word about the organization’s activities among your contacts
- * Sponsor a farmer for Rs. 10,000 (Saplings + Rainwater Pit)
- * SHARE your knowledge or expertise on any of the following: tree plantation, biogas plants, rainwater harvesting, farmer training, cooperatives or skill development
- * VOLUNTEER with any of the organization’s activities
- * WRITE about the organization’s work to share among the external audience
- * BUILD teams in other states
