Climate Resilient Natural Farming (CRNF)
In collaboration with Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Department of Agriculture, Government of
Andhra Pradesh LAYA promoted and encouraged the cultivation of paddy, millets, pulses and
vegetables as well as horticultural crops like cashew, mango, banana and turmeric.
Introduced a five-layer model system in one acre
This comprises trees, shrubs, creepers, herbs and tubers being planted. The diversified
intervention helps to improve the coping mechanism of the farmer in the face of climate
variability.
Half-acre Annapurna model
This is an integrated model which involves perennial and seasonal vegetables ensuring regular
access to nutrition throughout the year and is managed solely by women.
Pre monsoon dry sowing in April 2019
This was demonstrated where a combination of seeds were sowed including ragi, sama, korra,
maize, jonna, kandi, alasandalu, aobbara, ginger, pumpkin, ash gourd, and dosakaya. The
outcome results have shown a good crop growth and that the plant's roots have been
established well and harvested early.
Continued the application of ‘Panchagavya’ natural farming practice on cashew trees
The outcome has been favorable in the flowering and fruiting of cashew trees using lesser
investment in fertilizers and pesticides and resulting in a 25-40 percent increase in cashew
nuts per acre.
Homesteads development
This was taken up with efforts to involve women-headed households. Each household received an
additional income of Rs 25000 - Rs 35000 annually because of this intervention.
System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
This intervention happened during the Kharif season, in 42 villages, in ‘pallamu’ (wetlands).
The harvest showed an increased average yield of 35% per acre compared with the normal
cultivated paddy during the sameseason. SRI cultivation was also facilitated in the Rabi
season 2019-2020. These farmers were also encouraged to use seed varieties that are drought,
pests and disease resistant.
Kitchen Gardens and vegetable cultivation
Households have been encouraged to start kitchen gardens by exchanging seeds among one
another. Local seeds were also procured and distributed. LAYA also facilitated vegetable
cultivation by providing seeds of brinjal, tomato, okra, beans, gourds and different leafy
vegetables. This intervention has increased the nutritious food consumption at the household
level.
Women were also able to earn by selling vegetables to others in the village and at the local
markets. The average annual additional income was raised from Rs.15000 to Rs.20000 rupees
for each household.
Mixed cropping
This has been promoted in ‘Podu’, ‘metta-garuvulu’ and ‘garuvulu’ (slope lands). The farmers
adopted methods of line sowing and were able to decrease seed rate in maize, red gram, and
dry paddy with an average increase in yield from 7 bags to 9.5 bags. This intervention has
helped to reduce drudgery in weeding and crop cutting.
Improved agricultural implements
Improved agricultural tools in SRI paddy cultivation for farmers, including women, was made
available by government schemes. These included markers, cycle weeders, horticultural tools,
hand saws, secateurs, crop harvesting sickles, tarpaulins, sprayers, drums for making high
humus manures, hand tools, hoes, ploughs, etc. The introduction of these tools has reduced
the drudgery in manual labor, especially for the women farmers.
Horticulture and Agro-forestry
Mango and cashew plantations were facilitated in 120 acres of 120 households in 28 villages
in the East Godavari district in collaboration with MGNREGS and SHM. By adding fencing
around the plantation the survival rate of the crops was 65%.
LAYA has also demonstrated agro-forestry models in 26 acres of 30 households in 12 villages,
3 of Y. Ramavaram mandal.
Broom grass cultivation has been promoted in 120 acres in East Godavari and Visakhapatnam
districts.
Alternate marketing models
LAYA facilitated 6 Millets Producers Groups (MPG) in East Godavari district and linked them
with Girijana Cooperative Corporation (GCC) and Manyam Grains to sell their millets. 4 MPGs
have also marketed their millets in collaboration with the GCC in Rampachodavaram.
Processing of the millets is being encouraged and some of the processed millets is made
available through the PDS in 2 Panchayats of Y. Ramavaram Mandal as well as sold to retail
outlets in Tulasipakalu, Addateegala and Rampachodavaram.
Pisciculture in water bodies
LAYA has facilitated 32 farmers from 12 villages to take up fisheries in the water bodies in
East Godavari district. They were supplied with 65,000 fish seeds purchased from the
Fisheries Department. The families that have harvested the fish were able to consume as well
as make sales.
Desi backyard poultry
In collaboration with WASSAN, ITDA, and TRICOR, the 1st and 2nd phase of the programme with
6200 households and 58 desi poultry breeder farms in Addateegala and Paderu saw a decreased
mortality rate of the poultry by 70%. Access and consumption to desi chicken and eggs for
the households has also increased. The income for each of the families involved in the
programme has increased annually by Rs. 5000 - Rs. 10000.
The plans for the next phase are to set up two breeder farms.
