Livelihood Enhancement Under Natural Resource Development!

In the Southern Rajasthan the situation of natural resources (Land, water, livestock, agriculture) is poor, facing problem of low productivity and high degradation resulting into limited work opportunities. RBKS focuses its intervention in reducing drudgery of poor household and to enhance income through intervene in the area; Agriculture, floriculture, medicinal plants, horticulture ; Water Resources Development for irrigation to support agriculture, Awareness Campaign, livestock management, fodder management, pastureland development.

RBKS is working with 9500 families for livelihood enhancement through wadi (orchard) program under NABARD TDF wadi. The program is running at Dungarpur, Udaipur and Sirohi district. The ultimate goal of the project is “Sustaining Livelihood for vulnerable community with Resource Management in Agro Horticulture and Agro Forestry (wadi) and assisting 9500 vulnerable families in enhancing their livelihood economics so as to bring them above poverty line.

Project Period: 2007-2024

Project Area : Bichhiwara, Dungarpur, Gamdi, Ahara, Khempur and Kahari Cluster of Dungarpur district, Gogunda-Surajgarh, Morval Cluster and Chali Cluster at Udaipur Dist., Paba and Rohida at Dist. Sirohi Supported by : NABARD Beneficiaries : 9500 Tribal families

Specific Objectives are –

• To take-up Integrated WADI management for sustainable livelihood of
9500 families.
• To promote water efficiency, organic farming as a tool for improved
agriculture for food security of poor tribal families.
• To formulate agro-horticulture production groups & village planning and
development committee.
• To initiate process of gender balance in the project villages.

The project is working with family bases approach. One family is one unit and for one family 40 horticulture and 100 forestry plants are planted. The family get support for pit digging, plants purchasing, manure, pesticide, soil water conservation measures for the wadi plot, irrigation source creation, tree basin, tree guard, irrigation support, cash crop and vegetable cultivation by providing seeds, capacity building, awareness for use of new technology, women and health component, education, group formation, income generating activities, skill training etc. Therefore smokeless chullah, grain storage, glass roof tiles also distributed to the families which help the women in and also support for horticulture plants, support for girl’s higher education. Hence, under the project for livelihood enhancement wadi established and process ongoing with 9500 families. Under women development pressure cooker distributed, awareness program taken on traditional health system, strengthen women SHGs in the project area. Computer training for girl’s organized, for food preservation training on pickle making, poppadum making organized and women day celebrated.

Pro Organic Vegetable Cultivation

RBKS is working to promote vegetable cultivation so that the farmers can get good income and they will also use it in meal. Generally Framers have limited availability of vegetables mainly they use lady finger, Lima bean but many new vegetable introduced in the area so that they can grow it and can earn money by selling it in the market. Initiative on adoption of scientific method of vegetables cultivation including using improved variety of seed, maintaining crop geometry, seed treatment and providing timely inputs was also started in the village. The program is supported by Give India and KOLAM Spain.