Efforts that Brought Happiness:Stories of change from the people

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is implementing a project
supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) for the last ten years in the states of Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan and a project supported by Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) in four districts of Madhya Pradesh
and Jharkhand for improving livelihoods of small and marginal farmers through sustainable management
of natural resources. ICRISAT has adopted consortium approach in partnership with Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Government line departments in the
respective states. The project interventions have piloted science-led farmer-centric integrated watershed
management for enhancing natural resource use efficiency for crop production. Based on the various
interventions for improved management of land, water and crops, the consortium team identified the
success stories from different districts covering various activities such as balanced nutrient management,
farmer participatory selection of improved varieties, enhancing water-use efficiency, using improved
landform treatments, minimizing rainy season fallows, income-generating activities like goat rearing,
vermicomposting and improved livestock breed rearing including vegetable farming which can be shared
with other areas for benefiting the farmers. This compendium of success stories is based on the detailed
interviews with the farmers, collecting required information through targeted visits and interacting with the
community in the districts, their capacity enhancement and the continuity of the technology. The analysis
is based on factual data from the users and other views.
The success stories clearly revealed that crop productivity significantly improved with improved
management and also resulted in increased family incomes through use of intensification of the systems
with balanced nutrient management, water management, improved seeds of high-yielding short-duration
cultivars and crop diversification; microenterprises benefiting women, self-help groups and individuals also
enhanced the family incomes and empowered women in the project areas. This compendium comprises
many success stories from districts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.