The Resilience, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihoods Improvement (RELI) Project, succeeding the Nuton Jibon Livelihood Improvement Project (NJLIP), received approval in May 2021. This project aims to expand livelihood improvements for 750,000 rural individuals in 20 districts across 3,200 villages over five years, with a budget of USD 300 million. In collaboration with FAO, it focuses on enhancing nutrition outcomes, particularly through the distribution of vegetable seeds for kitchen gardens (USD 5.8 million) under Subcomponent A.3 Health and Nutrition.

Another initiative, the Chhattisgarh Inclusive, Rural, and Accelerated Agriculture Growth (CHIRAAG) project, seeks to increase income opportunities and improve nutrition availability in Chhattisgarh’s tribal areas, addressing high poverty and malnutrition rates. This project adopts a Nutrition-Supportive Agriculture approach, promoting household nutrition through activities such as kitchen garden promotion, behaviour change communication, and women’s empowerment under Subcomponent 1.2 Household Food Availability and Nutrition Practices. FAO wished to prepare a brief knowledge piece on kitchen garden intervention with the following objectives.

Objectives

The goal was to provide a succinct knowledge piece, outlining kitchen garden interventions in South Asian investment projects, especially in India and Bangladesh, while considering other relevant countries. It would summarize lessons learned, including integration benefits and challenges. Furthermore, it would present recommendations for enhancing kitchen garden initiatives within RELI and CHIRAAG, focusing on improving input packages for the most vulnerable beneficiaries with a priority on nutrition.

Approach and Methodology

We compiled key insights into home and kitchen gardens, combining primary data from consultations with project implementers, technical experts, and community representatives involved in homestead gardening initiatives in India and Bangladesh. Our discussions included Odisha-State Rural Livelihood Mission representatives, Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society, GIZ’s Securing Nutrition and Enhancing Nutrition (SENU) project, RELI project, FAO in Bangladesh, and kitchen garden and nutrition experts. We supplemented this primary data with an extensive review of literature, encompassing publications, reports, project documents, and assessment reports related to home and kitchen gardening. We used both primary and secondary data to draw meaningful conclusions. Additionally, we organized a brainstorming session to compare and evaluate insights from various homestead gardening projects, enhancing our theoretical framework.

Results

The outcomes of our efforts encompass a comprehensive understanding of Kitchen Garden Interventions within investment projects across South Asia, with a specific focus on India and Bangladesh. Importantly, we’ve formulated recommendations tailored to the RELI and CHIRAAG initiatives, emphasizing enhancements to the current input package to better address the needs of the most vulnerable beneficiaries while prioritizing nutrition considerations.

Welthungerhilfe (WHH), in collaboration with the EU Switch Asia Network, is implementing a project aimed at promoting sustainable, safe, and organic food consumption and production. This initiative supports Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by enhancing the value of their products through design, packaging, and eco-labelling, thus fostering sustainable food systems and value chains. The project also facilitates connections between FPOs and retailers/brand owners to expand their reach to consumers. Furthermore, it strengthens Bhoomi Ka’s online platform for farmer-retailer-consumer interaction. The overarching goals of the project include increasing ecological food consumption, improving market access for small-scale organic farmers, promoting eco-friendly food products, and advocating for local organic food protection policies. This project targets 500,000 beneficiaries through awareness initiatives, partnerships with schools and health groups, and citywide events. It collaborates with 20 retailers, benefits 3,000 PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) farmers, and establishes 5 FPOs and 5 CFCs (Community Food Centers).

Objectives

This assignment’s objective is to conduct an end-line survey to compare project indicators with the baseline data for evaluation purposes. The findings will be used to assess the project’s achievements in relation to impact indicators, helping establish its attribution and contribution to overall impact.

Approach and Methodology

The project evaluation employed a non-experimental methodology combining literature review and qualitative data collection. The endline study utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to measure impact relative to baseline.

Literature Review: This encompassed various aspects, including the project’s context, MIS and retailer data, baseline report, project design, interventions, theory of change, project log frame, key indicators, and partner reports. In addition, we reviewed government resolutions, policies, and relevant studies to gain a comprehensive understanding of the project’s broader context, which informed our data collection tools.

Primary Data Collection: Qualitative data collection involved KIIs with local government officials and IDIs with the project team. FGDs were conducted with farmer communities and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). These discussions provided valuable insights into program challenges, opportunities, impact assessment, sustainability, and the progress of consumer awareness activities.

Case Studies: We also conducted Critical Instance Case Studies that focused on unique situations, highlighting beneficiaries who experienced significant gains. This approach allowed us to deepen our understanding of cause-and-effect dynamics and the factors contributing to their success.

Results

The end-line survey assesses the project’s impact, highlighting its success in increasing the adoption of ecological food through outreach efforts, improving market access for smallholder organic farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), promoting eco-friendly food products, and advocating for the protection of local organic food markets.

SFI launched its flagship Agri-Entrepreneur (AE) Program in 2014. The Program was implemented for Agri-Entrepreneur (AEs) to strengthen economic outcomes of women groups and community collectives in India. To create transformational impact at scale, SFI created an Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF) in collaboration with Tata Trusts as an independent, not-for-profit organization in 2019. AEGF aims at developing 100,000 AEs in the coming five years to ultimately achieve the goal of serving 20 million smallholders. To identify the potential enterprise opportunities for the women AEs and measure the values of baseline indicators, Syngenta foundation commissioned a scoping study to Ecociate Consultants. The study was conducted in Dhar and Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Objectives

The primary aim of this study was to undertake a scoping assessment to gauge the awareness levels among farming households regarding regenerative agricultural practices, assess their inclination to embrace these practices, and understand the underlying motivations. Additionally, the study sought to ascertain the present status of income derived from agricultural and allied activities, along with the prevailing agricultural practices employed by farmers in the context of crop production.

Approach and Methodology

To conduct the assignment, a mixed-method approach was undertaken. Under the mixed method approach, a fusion of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies was applied to understand the ecosystem in which the project beneficiaries operate and measure the tangible factors which the project intends to influence and impact.

For the quantitative study, respondents were interviewed following a stratified random sampling methodology. We surveyed a total of 400 farmers from households (HHs), with 250 from the Dhar and 150 from the Jhabua. With ensuring validity and reliability, we developed a comprehensive structured questionnaire for collecting data at the HH level.

The qualitative field study engaged a diverse group of stakeholders, including the smallholder farmers, farmer organizations, the SFI project implementation team, extension agencies such as KVK, and local market players to understand the ecosystem, opportunities for AEs, constrains and way forward.

Results

The study meticulously recorded the distinct contributions of female family members to household income, highlighting that agriculture and various forms of casual labor were the predominant sources of income for the women in the households surveyed. Furthermore, the study helped Syngenta Foundation in gaining insights into the barriers, opportunities and motivations for promoting regenerative agriculture practices and identify opportunities for Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs) within the project’s geographical scope.

(GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is implementing “Enhancement of Smallholder Spice Farmer’s Capacities in Sustainable Farming” under the develoPPP.de program. GIZ, McCormick and AVT McCormick are jointly implementing this project in Six states in India, viz. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan covering 5 spices; Cardamom, Turmeric, Cumin, Dill seeds and Celery.

The project aims to enhance the sustainable production of cardamom, cumin, dill seeds, celery, and turmeric in these regions, with the goal of increasing the capacities of spice farmers and making production practices more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. Ecociate developed a training of trainers’ module and provided training to identified master trainers to build their capacity around sustainable and organic major spice production, focusing on turmeric, cardamom, and cumin. The training module covered comprehensive production practices related to organic and sustainable farming of these spices. This module serves as a great resource for master trainers to disseminate the knowledge and learnings to farmers for sustainable and organic spice production.

Objectives

The primary objective of this assignment is to take forward the agenda of sustainable/organic spice cultivation effectively and efficiently, leveraging the assistance of local youths and women. Additionally, the aim is to enhance the capacity and skills of small-scale farmers in the organic and sustainable cultivation of spices, including cardamom, cumin, and turmeric.

Approach and Methodology

The training module is designed to facilitate participatory training, emphasizing the sharing of knowledge and experiences between trainees and trainers. Various training methods, including group discussions, lectures, method demonstrations, and field visits, are employed to achieve this goal.

The training module encompasses different sessions that cover sustainable and organic farming practices for pre-production, production, and post-harvest management of the selected spice crop. Each session within the module defines specific learning objectives and outcomes.

Moreover, the module includes exercises related to crop production practices, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of sustainable and organic farming for spice cultivation. This knowledge benefits not only the trainees but also the broader farming community.

Results

The training modules, designed within the module, covered a comprehensive set of sustainable and organic crop-specific package of practices. These modules included illustrations and frameworks to enhance farmers’ comprehension. The formulated training module enabled an in-depth understanding of pre-production, production, and post-harvest management activities within the training program, incorporating prescribed training methods, frameworks, and content.

The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) is a global network with a shared goal of documenting, disseminating, and applying knowledge related to sustainable land management (SLM). As pioneers in transformative action for SLM, this network creates an innovative platform for sharing and scaling up best practices to combat land degradation, address climate change, and mitigate biodiversity loss.

WOCAT’s vision is to improve land resources, ecosystems, and people’s livelihoods by promoting the sharing and utilization of knowledge in SLM. Without effective knowledge management and evidence-based decision support tools and processes, land management may remain ineffective or lack sustainability.

Furthermore, WOCAT aims to facilitate local, national, regional, and global knowledge sharing and analysis to understand which good practices work, where they are effective, how and why they succeed, and what their associated costs and benefits are. Ecociate is assisting the WOCAT platform in documenting identified agricultural technologies and approaches across India.

Objectives

The primary objective of WOCAT documentation is to support adaptation, innovation, and decision-making related to SLM. It aims to promote the sustainable enhancement of land productivity and water use efficiency, thereby contributing to food security, supporting climate change adaptation/mitigation, reducing disaster risks, and encouraging the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Approach and Methodology

A pre-structured questionnaire from WOCAT was used to document agricultural technologies and approaches. The questionnaire includes questions related to general information, descriptions of SLM technologies, classifications of SLM technologies, and their natural, environmental, and human impacts.

Results

More than ten agricultural technologies and approaches have been documented across India. These technologies and approaches include multilayer farming systems, city compost as a solution for waste management, E-Prakriti as an approach towards GIS planning, biochar production from the invasive species Lantana camara, eradication of Lantana Camara, preparation of bio-inputs such as vermicompost and biofertilizers, Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS), improved cattle shed flooring, biochar production on homestead land, and sustainable biochar production in agro-forestry systems.

Sehgal Foundation initiated a project titled “Promoting Sustainable Agriculture with Effective Crop Residue Management (CRM)” in response to the annual issue of smoke engulfing India’s Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) during the months of October and November. This issue arises due to the burning of paddy stubble by farmers, particularly in the states of Haryana and Punjab. The IGP, often referred to as the ‘Food Bowl of India,’ spans across the states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. In this region, approximately 12 million hectares are dedicated to paddy-wheat crop rotation. Stubble remains in the fields after harvesting with combine harvesters, and farmers resort to burning it because manual removal is not cost-effective. However, crop burning has adverse effects on soil health, human well-being, and the environment. To tackle this issue, Sehgal Foundation is implementing a project aimed at providing sustainable solutions for crop residue management, with a primary focus on enhancing soil health and crop productivity.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the project are to promote the adoption of good agricultural practices, including sustainable management of crop residue without burning, demonstrate technologies and best practices to improve crop productivity, and build the capacities of farmers and communities at large in adopting alternatives to crop residue burning. To facilitate the promotion of good agricultural practices, an assessment of current socio-economic and environmental factors is conducted.

Approach and Methodology

The project was implemented in the districts of Kaithal and Kurukshetra. From the identified 100 villages under the project, a total of 25 villages were selected for the study, with 12 villages in Kaithal and 13 villages in Kurukshetra included. To conduct the baseline study with the stated objectives, the proposed methodology involved adopting a quantitative research approach to study farmer attitudes, behaviours, and practices related to crop residue management. Additionally, qualitative research approaches were employed for conducting interviews with custom hiring centers and factories using stubble as raw material, which are located near the villages. Some interviews were also conducted with government officials and soil testing laboratories in the district to gain insights into existing government programs, policies, and the status of soil testing samples from the covered villages.

Results

The baseline study conducted within the project ‘Promoting Sustainable Agriculture with Effective Crop Residue Management (CRM)’ served as a crucial reference point for monitoring and assessing key result level indicators. These indicators are instrumental in contributing to the enhancement of soil health and crop productivity while addressing the critical issue of paddy stubble burning. Furthermore, the study provided valuable local evidence and insights into best practices.

GIZ under the project “”Support for Agroecological Transformation Processes in India (SuATI)” aims to support agroecological transformation processes towards a sustainable agriculture and food economy in India. It focuses on knowledge generation, validation and dissemination of existing agroecological approaches, in particular the strengthening of a demand oriented, market-based and agroecological oriented food system as well as the political framework for agroecological approaches and principles at national and state level. Three focus states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Assam have been taken under this project.

Objectives

• Identify 20 agroecological models and approaches in India with the highest potential for integration into the agroecological transformation processes.

• Develop triple level assessment tool based on key agroecological principles and indicators pertaining to the SuATI project, and rate the identified agroecological models to determine the key success factors, that can be replicated in the focus states.

• Organize state level and national level workshops to disseminate the key understandings.

Approach and Methodology

A three-tiered rating tool consisting of a rapid rating tool, comprehensive rating tool, and detailed field level assessment was conducted to analyse 100 selected projects and finalise 20 projects for the development agroecological models. The projects are assessed on the basis of key SuATI indicator and agroecological principles as per ACT tool.

Results

The study identified and assessed projects and approaches across India on Agroecological practices to map various pathways and key success factors towards sustainable agriculture based on agro-ecological principles adapted to Indian conditions.

Care-India is implementing the HDFC funded CSR programme called “Building Climate Smart Integrated Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers” in the two blocks of Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh namely: Batiyagarah and Pathariya, and Three blocks in Bathinda district of Punjab namely: Bathinda, Phul and Maur. The project aims to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers by building climate-smart integrated agriculture through the establishment of social capital, adoption of improved agri-allied practices, promotion of collectives in an entrepreneurial way and enabling the ecosystem resulting in increased income for smallholder farmers.

In this context, a detailed value chain analysis was conducted by Ecociate to identify potential enterprise opportunities and understand the scope and feasibility of the community-based enterprises across agriculture and allied activities.

Objectives

The study objectives were as follows:

• Map the value chains, identify the key bottlenecks and potential entry points for Producer Enterprises

• Identify the key value chain actors at different stages with whom the proposed enterprises can develop relationships in the future

• Identify the most potential business activity in each value chain (some business activities may be common for more than one value chain)

• Develop bankable business plans for the identified business activities

Approach and Methodology

We employed a non-experimental evaluation approach, utilizing a mixed-methods methodology that combined both qualitative and quantitative techniques. This comprehensive approach was chosen to gain a holistic understanding of the project’s results, derive valuable insights, and formulate recommendations for expanding the impact of the Agri-Entrepreneurship (AE) project.

On the quantitative side, we conducted surveys among Agri-entrepreneurs to assess the project’s impact on their income, agricultural practices, perceptions of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and access to CRM machines, among other aspects.

Simultaneously, we engaged in illuminating Focus Group Discussions (qualitative) with farmers. These discussions aimed to evaluate the project’s outcomes, identify challenges faced, highlight successes, and pinpoint areas where improvements were necessary. This qualitative approach provided a comprehensive understanding of both the subject matter and the local geography. To round out our assessment, we facilitated small group discussions with the project team and conducted in-depth interviews with government departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and other pertinent stakeholders.

Results

The assessment study provided TNC with valuable insights into several key aspects, including the utilization of rental services and the adoption of HS/CRM technologies among farmers. It also shed light on the reduction in crop residue burning within villages served by Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs) and assessed the income and profitability of these AEs.

Furthermore, the study has paved the way for addressing challenges that hinder the adoption and effective utilization of HS/CRM (Customer Relationship Management) technologies by farmers.

The project “Reducing crop residue burning and promoting regenerative agriculture practices in Punjab’ seeks to address the challenges impeding the adoption and optimal utilization of the HS/CRM technologies by farmers and strengthen the service delivery system to address the broader level issues related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions due to crop residue burning, soil health deterioration, loss of organic content of the soil, declining crop productivity, depleting groundwater table, etc. and the impact of the two-year project.

Objectives

The objective of the study was to understand the outcome of the project across the following criteria-

• Percent AEs providing HS rental services

• Percent reduction in crop residue burning in villages served by AEs

• Percent increase in AE income and profitability

• Number of farmers adopted HS in villages served by AEs

• Number of farmers served at the end of both Kharif and Rabi

• Number of acres covered at the end of both Kharif and Rabi

Approach and Methodology

We employed a non-experimental evaluation approach, utilizing a mixed-methods methodology that combined both qualitative and quantitative techniques. This comprehensive approach was chosen to gain a holistic understanding of the project’s results, derive valuable insights, and formulate recommendations for expanding the impact of the Agri-Entrepreneurship (AE) project.

On the quantitative side, we conducted surveys among Agri-entrepreneurs to assess the project’s impact on their income, agricultural practices, perceptions of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and access to CRM machines, among other aspects.

Simultaneously, we engaged in illuminating Focus Group Discussions (qualitative) with farmers. These discussions aimed to evaluate the project’s outcomes, identify challenges faced, highlight successes, and pinpoint areas where improvements were necessary. This qualitative approach provided a comprehensive understanding of both the subject matter and the local geography. To round out our assessment, we facilitated small group discussions with the project team and conducted in-depth interviews with government departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and other pertinent stakeholders.

Results

The assessment study provided TNC with valuable insights into several key aspects, including the utilization of rental services and the adoption of HS/CRM technologies among farmers. It also shed light on the reduction in crop residue burning within villages served by Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs) and assessed the income and profitability of these AEs.

Furthermore, the study has paved the way for addressing challenges that hinder the adoption and effective utilization of HS/CRM (Customer Relationship Management) technologies by farmers.

Care-India is implementing the HDFC funded CSR programme called “Building Climate Smart Integrated Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers” in the two blocks of Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh namely: Batiyagarah and Pathariya, and Three blocks in Bathinda district of Punjab namely: Bathinda, Phul and Maur. The project aims to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers by building climate-smart integrated agriculture through the establishment of social capital, adoption of improved agri-allied practices, promotion of collectives in an entrepreneurial way and enabling the ecosystem resulting in increased income for smallholder farmers.

In this context, a detailed value chain analysis was conducted by Ecociate to identify potential enterprise opportunities and understand the scope and feasibility of the community-based enterprises across agriculture and allied activities.

Objectives

The study objectives were as follows:

• Map the value chains, identify the key bottlenecks and potential entry points for Producer Enterprises

• Identify the key value chain actors at different stages with whom the proposed enterprises can develop relationships in the future

• Identify the most potential business activity in each value chain (some business activities may be common for more than one value chain)

• Develop bankable business plans for the identified business activities

Approach and Methodology

The study was conducted by deploying qualitative research methods. The research methodology tools included Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), direct discussions with progressive farmers, In-Depth Interview (IDI) with various value chain players and Key Informant Interviews. The objective of these discussions was to elicit the status quo of the selected key value chains in the landscape.

Results

The study captured the existing and potential livelihood profile of the landscape and suggest value chains that can be strengthened for the economic betterment of the local communities. Furthermore, the study highlighted the key bottlenecks in the value chains and proposed strategies to overcome them, thus paving the way for increased efficiency and profitability. By mapping the value chains and identifying the key actors at different stages, the study provided valuable insights into potential partnerships and collaborations for the proposed enterprises in the future.

The analysis also identified the most promising business activities within each value chain, taking into consideration the local context and market demand. This information was used to develop bankable business plans that can guide the implementation of these activities and ensure their long-term sustainability.

Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) is working in 12 states and 50 districts across the nation and reaching 2.8 million people in various geographies. ACF has been working in the Haridwar district since 2006 in 36 villages through various community development programs. ACF started the organic farming program in 2011 to promote the availability of safe and healthy foods to farmers, reduce the negative impact on the environment and reduce the farmer’s cultivation cost. It started with 6 villages, 50 farmers, and 20 hectares of land in the Bhagwanpur block of Haridwar district. ACF is promoting organic and natural farming practices under the agro-based livelihood program. One Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has been formed in 2018 and is working in the entire value chain of organic production, certification, and marketing with 654 farmers.

Objectives

The core objective of the study was to conduct a comprehensive baseline report for establishing the current status of both short term and long-term indicators in organic farming.

Approach and Methodology

To conduct the baseline study, we employed a mixed methods approach that included a literature review, as well as quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. The study focused on gathering information from 5 villages in the Bhagwanpur block and 20 villages in the Narsan block, both located in the Haridwar district.

For the quantitative data collection, we surveyed a total of 400 farmers from households (HHs), with 100 from the Bhagwanpur block and 300 from the Narsan block. To ensure accuracy and consistency, we developed a comprehensive structured questionnaire for collecting data at the HH level.

In addition, we utilized qualitative data collection methods to gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystem, gaps, and challenges. This involved conducting focus group discussions with farmers and members of the Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Furthermore, in-depth discussions were held with government officials, extension service providers, the certification agency, and the project team.

By combining these different methods, we aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the current situation, enabling us to identify potential areas for improvement and formulate effective strategies moving forward.

Results

Through the implementation of a comprehensive baseline study, ACF successfully established and documented the fundamental values of the project indicators. This achievement has paved the way for ACF to actively collaborate with farmers, encouraging the adoption of organic and natural agricultural practices.

BAIF Institute of Sustainable Livelihood Development (BISLD) implemented the CSR interventions of Welspun India Ltd in 20 identified villages of Anjar Block in the Kutch district. The CSR interventions focused on women empowerment-based initiatives to enhance the livelihood of local communities. The intervention worked on the issues of agriculture, livestock, watershed management. The project intended to increase the participation of women in economic activity and growing the contribution of women in financial responsibility of family. BISLD commissioned the ‘Baseline cum need assessment study’ to Ecociate consultant to understand the existing scenario of the project area, and potential needs and suggest recommendations that can be implanted over a period of 5 years.

Objectives

The specific objective of the study is given below:

• Baseline survey of 20 villages selected for the project on the theme of work.

• Need identification and recommendation as per the survey finding.

• Identify the indicators which help in measuring the social return on investment (SROI) and the impact of project in long run.

Approach and Methodology

The study embraced a participatory approach, actively involving all stakeholders destined to play pivotal roles during project implementation. To ensure a comprehensive data collection process, we adopted a mixed-methodology approach.

In our data collection, we achieved a harmonious blend of quantitative and qualitative information. Quantitative data was diligently gathered from all 20 project-selected villages, with a robust sample size of 1,500 respondents, enabling us to gain a quantitative perspective on targeted issues. We utilized stratified random sampling to select households, ensuring representative data.

In parallel, our qualitative data collection efforts spanned across all proposed villages. Here, we delved deep into the socio-economic profiles, agricultural conditions, and livelihoods of the villagers. To grasp the nuanced ground-level needs, we conducted detailed Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in each village. Furthermore, we conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and other key stakeholders. This comprehensive approach allowed us to paint a holistic picture of the project’s landscape.

Results

Based on the survey findings, critical needs were identified within the communities and these needs were instrumental in shaping the project’s objectives and interventions. Also, the indicators were meticulously crafted to measure both the Social Return on Investment (SROI) and the long-term impact of the project. These indicators will play a crucial role in assessing the project’s effectiveness and its lasting influence on the community.

Regenerative Production Landscape: People, Nature, and Economy is an innovative initiative conceptualized by the Laudes Foundation, IDH- The Sustainable Trade, and WWF-India to promote regenerative agricultural practices among the small and marginal farmers in 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Under this project RPCL selected major crops (majorly cultivated by farmers) in each of the project districts, and regenerative cultivating practices were promoted for these selected crops. Ecociate has worked in identifying these different cohorts of crops and developed a set of Package of Practices (PoP) for them in alignment with regenerative principles.

Objectives

• Promotion of practices around major crops that have a synergistic relationship with the local environment.

• Promotion of landscape level approach through community participation that can positively contribute to the local farmers in the long term (enhanced ecosystem services).

• Introduction of crops based on a balanced approach taking into consideration the ecosystem and market potential.

Approach and Methodology

Ecociate has undertaken extensive secondary research, qualitative discussions through physical visits, and online consultations to develop curricula and extension strategy. The qualitative research consists of FGDs, SGDs, KIIs and team discussions with IDH covering smallholder farmers, FPOs, extensions agencies, local market players, regional market players, research organizations etc.

Results

The curricula and extension strategy for the Regenerative Production Landscape: People, Nature, and Economy (RPCL) contributed to the following outcomes for farmers:

Increased Crop Yields: Farmers experienced improvements in their crop yields as a result of this strategy.

Implementation of Cost-Saving Measures: This approach also encouraged the adoption of cost-saving practices, which in turn contributed to the development of resilience within the farming community.