Karauli farmers show how development can strengthen local traditions

By Bharat Dogra 

When taking forward new development initiatives, it is important to remain conscious of the fact that rural communities possess important sources of strength that have sustained them for long periods, often in adverse conditions. While introducing new development measures is necessary, these should not disrupt existing community strengths. Instead, such initiatives should seek to build upon and enhance them.

I became particularly aware of this while interacting with a group of farmers in Gopalpur Andel village in Karauli district of Rajasthan. I had visited the village with some enthusiastic members of the voluntary organization SRIJAN to meet a farmer, Brijlal, who has been experimenting with traditional crop varieties using natural farming methods. There has been considerable curiosity about how traditional varieties perform and whether Brijlal can succeed while simultaneously shifting to natural farming. It was encouraging to learn that he appears to be achieving good results on his demonstration farm, inspiring several other farmers to consider similar changes.

At this point, one of the farmers who had been standing quietly stepped forward. Introducing himself as Ramswarup, Brijlal’s elder brother, he remarked that while it was good to motivate farmers to adopt natural farming, he himself had never abandoned it. Even as neighbours—and even his own brothers—shifted, to varying degrees, to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, he had remained steadfast in following time-tested traditional practices based on organic manure prepared on his own farm and traditional pest-control methods. He believed these were best suited to local conditions.

Here was a farmer who had long served as a living example of natural farming within the community itself. Perhaps this was one reason why SRIJAN’s work in the area had consistently received a positive response.

Later, over a cup of tea, Ramswarup and other villagers spoke with pride about their strong tradition of abstaining from alcohol consumption and gambling, a practice that continues to be followed successfully. They also expressed a desire to bring bullocks back into their farms, making use of a supportive government scheme.

This experience revealed that the local community of maalis—traditional gardeners and vegetable growers—has managed to protect important social and agricultural strengths and remains keen to sustain them.

When asked how new development initiatives could assist a community that already possesses such strengths, villagers responded that techniques such as multi-layer vegetable gardening had proved particularly useful. These methods demonstrate how a greater diversity of vegetables can be grown at different layers, increasing output from small plots of land. As farm sizes continue to shrink, such approaches are especially valuable. Importantly, these techniques are promoted through natural farming practices, helping to produce healthy food while protecting the health of both farmers and consumers. In addition, the establishment of bio-resource centres has facilitated improved and more efficient methods of producing organic manure and managing pests.

Overall, SRIJAN’s work in the area has strengthened existing community capacities rather than undermining them. This stands in sharp contrast to interventions driven by large business interests, which often disrupt traditional systems by imposing technologies that primarily benefit corporate actors rather than villagers.

In Bajna village, Rishikesh Meena and his wife, Beena Devi, have worked diligently to create an impressive and productive multi-layer garden using natural farming methods. Around a dozen vegetable crops are already being grown on just one-fifth of an acre, with plans to add more in the next season. This has provided the family with both a steady source of income and improved nutrition. As Suneel Patel, a senior member of the SRIJAN team, explains, the organization initially supports farmers by providing quality seeds, technical guidance, ropes, wires, and bamboo to create layered growing structures. Farmers then adapt and innovate further, as Rishikesh did by constructing a protective tunnel to shield plants from extreme cold.

These initiatives, along with others such as community-managed forests and the promotion of irrigation through solar pump sets in Daulatpura village, are being implemented under a project supporting small and marginal farmers through the CSR fund of Axis Bank. The work is expected to expand to several more villages in Karauli district in the near future. As Jyoti, a young member of the SRIJAN team who recently completed her education at Delhi University, observes, being part of such collective efforts has been both heart-warming and inspiring. With the inter-generational division of land leading to a growing number of small and marginal farmers, such support has become increasingly important.

---

The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, A Day in 2071, Planet in Peril, and Man over Machine