Madwa 2014 . . .

As part of our Community Development project targeting Climate Change, our team has facilitated the reintroduction of finger millet cultivation in the region. Last year (2013), we had about 40 farmers who cultivated in a total of about 4 acres. This year, we had about 230 farmers who cultivated a total of about 12 acres.

Last week, during the US-led “Dialogue on Nutrition” held at the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), FAO Deputy Director-General Daniel Gustafson highlighted that "good nutrition must begin with agriculture." 

It was a privilege to have Professor Z A Haider from the Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi visiting the region, to follow up on our work among the farmers. The program becomes all the more significant in the light of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. I’m yet to go through the whole report. But, from a  news-item of the same in Down To Earth, the future looks pretty grim.

Snaps of the visit . . . and more discussions later . . .  

At Patna village . . .

Walking into the fields . . . 

Another field . . . Prof. Haider was very much impressed . . .

Prof. Haider interacting with the farmer . . .

This plot of ground was a major revelation for the entire team. More on this in the next post . . .

Going further . . . 

More interaction with farmers . . . 

Field at Charwadih . . . 

Quite a large field at Murma . . . 

The field at NJH campus . . .

Field at Bohita village . . . 

Interacting with people from potential new cultivation areas for the next year.
We had a very interesting dialogue. Shall write in detail about it in the next post.
Looking forward for madwa cultivation in Barwadih block next year.