AGRICULTURAL & LIVESTOCK BASED PROJECTS

Agriculture has been the major source of livelihood and also secures the food for the tribal communities of the region. The major issues with the agriculture have been dependency on rain for irrigation, traditional sowing methods, low yield seeds, poor knowledge base in agriculture, poor market linkages. All these issues have led to seasonal unemployment and migration of men folk to the neighboring industrial towns to work as daily wage laborers, Major interventions carried out by PEDO to counter these issues were Seed replacement for the existing crops, diversification of Crops and introduction to new crops, Horticulture based agriculture like Vegetable and Spice Cultivation. Besides this PEDO also introduced wormy composting, for organic farming, PEDO also emphasized on better processing methods & marketing support to the farmers to get the best possible livelihood, PEDO is currently working about 20,000 farmers in the district under various programs. PEDO has also established a Rural Technology Centre for Agriculture, which specializes in providing training in improved agriculture practices. The centre also provides various tools and equipments needed by the farmers to practice improved and drudgery-less agriculture. Various government initiatives are also routed through this center. We are also in the process of establishing a organic fertilizer unit to provide cost affective and organic fertilizers products to the local farmers. 

Around 2200 farmers in the district have opted for turmeric cultivation in Dungarpur considering the cash crop cultivation as a livelihood option, Turmeric was cultivated traditionally, but only for household consumption, Turmeric was considered for promulgation as cash crop, instead of other crops and specially BT cotton as it was a low risk crop, and did not employ young children, Turmeric processing and marketing unit was established at PEDO campus in Mada, which offered the market link to the farmers, The raw turmeric was purchased at the best rates from the farmers and afterwards the processed turmeric was sold by the 5000 retail shops owned by the SHG members, The farmers were also trained in processing turmeric at their own homes and sell it in the markets available, Turmeric production has reached to 300 tons, in March 2015 after making an initial investment of 8 tons of good quality seeds in 2011 

The project was initiated after realizing potential in the livestock sector aimed to increase the productivity cattle through Improved Cattle management Practices and also providing veterinary Services for increased productivity and improved heath o the livestock, The program also aimed at providing Market linkages for sustainable livelihood and breed improvement for better milk production, PEDO is currently working in 55 villages on a project aimed to provide all the necessary support to the farmers to earn I we livelihood through investments in livestock, There is also a focus on fodder development and green fodder cultivation, PEDO has also established links with the cattle feed suppliers to provide cheaper feed to the cattle.  

12 Handloom Centers Employed about 200 tribal women, where they were trained to produce good quality products. All the necessary raw material, machinery and marketing support was provided to these women. The centers were handed over to the women’s collective to operate independently. The program aimed at developing entrepreneurship amongst the tribal women. These women had clientele like Fab India and other major brands.