MPRLP UPDATE SERIES NO.
2
BOOSTING AGRICULTURE
Boosting
agriculture in
remote areas
of Madhya
Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods
Project's (MPRLP's) pioneering
approaches are raising many
thousands of farmers and landless
men and women out of poverty. The
project's work shows just how much
can be done when agricultural
development takes advantage of
market opportunities, works with
existing village, district and state
institutions, and aligns with
government policies.
Stimulating fresh vegetable
production
India's growing small- and medium-
sized cities and towns are a ready
market for fresh vegetables. Working
with Gram Sabhas, MPRLP and the
Agriculture Department have
distributed improved vegetable seed
starter kits and provided training to
help farmers take advantage of rising
demand. Since 2007, 5119 farmers
have added vegetables to their double
cropping systems on more than 18,000
acres of land.
Intensifying production
of rice
MPRLP has also introduced the highly
productive System of Rice
Intensification (SRI) method into
traditional paddy farming. Starting in
A flourishing crop grown using the System of Rice Intensification. Photo: © MPRLP
"Farmers are now
harvesting twice as much
by double cropping"
2006 with 50 farmers in five villages,
by 2010 this way of producing more
rice had spread rapidly to 23,418
farmers in 940 villages, and now covers
12,018 acres.
Bringing more land under
agricultural production
Other demonstrations have shown
farmers who have very little land how
they can boost harvests by cultivating
areas they would normally leave fallow
in some cases, and in other cases by
growing two crops a year instead of
one. By following up with farmers who
have begun cropping this previously
unused land, MPRLP helped them
overcome any problems they
encountered.
Producing quality seed
Thanks to the farmers' responses to
MPRLP training in seed production and
the help given to cooperatives in
becoming registered, seed producer
cooperatives are now giving farmers in
remote areas access to quality seed,
thus boosting harvests of wheat, soy
bean and gram.
Example achievements
Fresh vegetables 5119 farmers are
now selling vegetables grown on
18,058 acres*.
More rice In eastern districts,
intensive rice-growing techniques
are boosting net returns by, on
average, Rs. 6625 (£240) a year
per acre.
Crops from fallow land Farmers are
now growing crops on 41,380
acres previously left fallow.
From one crop to two crops a year
Farmers are now harvesting twice
as much by double cropping
31,995 acres.
Quality seed 93 farmers and one
producer company are now
producing quality seed in five
districts.
Organic crops 1172 farmers in 88
villages are working towards being
certified organic crop producers on
2898 acres. And 637 acres
belonging to 186 farmers have
already received their certificate for
the first year of the transition to
organic status.
Producer companies A producer
company has been registered in
Dindori.
* 2.47 acres = one hectare
MADHYA PRADESH RURAL
LIVELIHOODS PROJECT
Going organic
In eastern districts, MPRLP is helping
small farmers take advantage of the
emerging demand for high-value
organic rice, wheat, maize, pigeon pea
and kodo/kutki. In this case, MPRLP
helped them learn organic farming
methods and become certified organic
producers to get access to markets.
Working with existing
institutions
Better tools and equipment for
the very poor
To reach the poorest of the poor,
MPRLP worked through Gram Sabhas to
identify farmers who lacked even basic
farm and irrigation equipment. Now,
2556 of the poorest farmers are using
better farm tools and another 2121 are
using better irrigation equipment.
Training and supporting farmers
MPRLP has also worked with the
Agriculture Technology Management
Agency and Gram Sabhas to provide
basic training and support systems for
farmers in remote districts. This gives
them opportunities to learn new and
better ways of farming.
Seeing is believing 928 demonstra-
tions given, 389 exposure visits.
Learning by doing 113 farmer field
schools run.
Learning from others 105 farmer-to-
farmer sessions run.
Professional training 1564 training
sessions run.
Learning together Learning sessions
run for farmer organisations.
Aligning with government efforts by MPRLP were recently
recognised by an award from the state
policies government.
Participatory irrigation
management "Seed producer
With the help of MPRLP, Water User
cooperatives are giving
Associations (WUAs) are taking farmers in remote areas
responsibility for water management in
the command area. Using funds
access to quality seed"
channelled from the National Rural
Employment Guarantee (NREG)
Scheme, the user groups are repairing
and maintaining canal systems in the
Mann and Jobat irrigation schemes.
The approach is so successful that
more and more farmers are becoming
paid-up members of WUAs. These
The way ahead
 Further strengthen the
capacity of Gram Sabhas to
manage and distribute funds
and resources equitably to
farmers.
 Work with the Agriculture
Department to provide poor
farmers with more basic
agricultural training and
support services.
 Continue to encourage
businesses and NGOs to help
farmers and farmer
cooperatives break into high-
value markets.
 Organise more farmers into
Contact
seed producer cooperatives to
Telephone: +91-(0)755-2766812,
ensure that quality seed is
814, 815
available on their doorstep.
Fax: +91-(0)755-2766818
 Further promote organic
Email: mprlp@mprlp.in
farming in the Shahdol,
Website: www.mprlp.in
Dindori and Mandla districts.
 Organise more farmers into
producer companies to help MPRLP is funded by the UK Department for
them market their products. International Development (DFID).
 Focus more on increasing the
This publication does not necessarily represent
area under double cropping. the views of the Department for International
 Promote more vegetable Development.
farming to improve nutrition
and boost incomes.