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CONTENT1. Kitchen Garden ........................................................................................................................ 3

2. Vermi-Composting ................................................................................................................... 7

3. Amrut-Mitti ............................................................................................................................. 10

4. Agro Forestry ......................................................................................................................... 14

5. Rainwater Harvesting ............................................................................................................ 17

6. Organic Farming .................................................................................................................... 20

7. SODIS .................................................................................................................................... 23

8. Solar Lantern ......................................................................................................................... 25

9. People’s Biodiversity Register ............................................................................................... 27

10. Ground Water Recharge ........................................................................................................ 30

11. Efficient Irrigation Methods .................................................................................................... 33

12. Poultry Farming ..................................................................................................................... 36

13. Food Processing .................................................................................................................... 40

14. Waste Water Recycling .......................................................................................................... 43

15. Fuel Efficient Cook Stoves..................................................................................................... 45

16. Recycling ............................................................................................................................... 47

17. Seed Bank ............................................................................................................................. 49

18. Tree Planting ......................................................................................................................... 51

19. Formation of Self Help Groups .............................................................................................. 54

20. Nursery .................................................................................................................................. 58

21. Access to Information ............................................................................................................ 61

22. Biogas .................................................................................................................................... 64

23. Seed Treatment ..................................................................................................................... 68

24. Line Sowing ........................................................................................................................... 71

25. Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides ......................................................................................... 73

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Empowering WomenKitchenGarden

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A kitchen garden is one where you can grow vegetables, fruits, herbs and condiments for you and your family. It can be grown in the yard behind or in front of your house. It can also be started in pots placed on windows sills, along the doors or on the roof of your house.

Maintaining a kitchen garden will give you several advantages such as:

• Fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables

• Savings – as you will buy less from the market

• Improved health for you and your family

• Additional source of income – once you succeed, you can also sell extra fruits, vegetables, herbs, condiments, medicinal plants and flowers from your garden

• Additional source of food close by incase of any food shortages due to failure of rains/drought

What is a Kitchen Garden?

What do I need to set up a kitchen Garden?

- Time: 3-5 months

• Preparing the kitchen garden (clearing, land preparation) can take upto 2 days depending on the size and number of people available. Depending on what you plant, it can take from 3-5 months to a year to grow. For instance, beans, onions and peas take about 3 months while potatoes, tomatoes and squash can take about 5 months. You will also need at least 15-30 minutes each day to water, check the plants and harvest the ripe vegetables/fruits.

- Investment Required: Rs. 1500 to Rs. 3000

• Some money will be required to buy good quality compost and saplings for each season – this can cost between Rs. 1500 to

Things to remember before starting your own kitchen garden:

• Anyone can work and contribute towards a kitchen garden – an individual (you), your entire family or even several members of your community together

• It is better to start small and expand gradually

• Waste water from the kitchen and bathroom can be used to water the kitchen garden, provided they are free of soap and chemical detergent

• Crops which have high nutritional value and are suited to your local conditions need to be selected

• Ensure that no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used because these harm the environment and degrade the soil quality

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3000 depending on the size of the garden and number and type of seeds and saplings.

- Knowledge and Information:

• Basic knowledge of planting and harvesting and a keen eye to spot infections in plants.

• Knowledge of seeds and seasons, eg- what vegetables grow best in which season?

Steps

1. Site Selection: First, you need to choose whichever site is available and most convenient to you. Ensure that the site receives 6-8 hours of sunlight a day and is close to a steady supply of water. A good option could be the backyard of the house, so that your family can look after the vegetables during leisure and the wastewater from the bathrooms and kitchen can be diverted to the vegetable beds. Other options include the front yard or some waste land close to the community well.

2. Land Preparation: Clear the land and dig the garden area to a depth of about 8-10 inches to loosen the soil and remove any roots if any. Surround the garden with bricks, logs and rocks to make a raised bed. This area then needs to be filled with good quality soil and compost. Chemical fertilizers should be avoided. Fallen tree branches/ wood can be used to make square grids (approx. 40cm x 40 cm) in order to divide the garden into small plots. In case your land is at risk of being attacked by stray cattle, you need to surround it with a fence.

3. Sowing and Planting: Seeds need to be planted in each of the plots, however care needs to be taken with different types of seeds. Direct seeding plants such as bhindi and beans can be planted on one side and perennial plants such as drumstick, curry leaf ‘kadhi patta’, papaya etc. should be planted on another so they do not shade other crops or compete for nutrition. Certain seeds will require to be transplanted (eg. tomatoes, brinjal) and first planted in a pot or nursery bed and covered with top soil and, if possible, neem cakes to protect them from ants and then moved into the kitchen garden after a period of 30-45 days.

4. Watering: Crops need to be watered regularly, if you are using grey water from the kitchen or bathroom, ensure that it is free of chemical detergent or soap. Seeds and seedlings need to be watered gently, plants should never be drowned with water, if they require a lot of water it should be given in stages, ensure that the soil is watered and not the plants as water on the leaves can hurt the plants.

5. Harvesting: You should know if the crop must ripen on the plant or can also ripen off the plant before harvesting. Harvesting should ensure that the produce is fresh and undamaged. Use a knife or pruning shears rather than breaking or twisting the stems. Store a few seeds to sow again next season. Old plants can be left in the soil as compost.

Flow Diagram: Setting up a Kitchen Garden

Step 1Site Selection

Step 3Sowing and Planting

Step 5Harvesting and

Reseeding

Step 4Watering

Step 2Land Preparation

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A garden that can be managed by children can be made by cutting a car tyre in half. It can be filled with soil and manure and planted with vegetables. Heat from the sun warms the tyre and helps the plants grow and such a garden requires only 1 litre of water a day.

Govt. Scheme: Funds for your kitchen garden can be leveraged from The National Horticulture Mission which provides funds for vegetable planting.

Short Notes / Tips / Any other important points

• Kitchen gardens increase the diversity of your food crops

• Contribute to food security and additional sources of income for your household

• It reduces dependence on agricultural crops that may be affected by changing climate

• Since kitchen gardens are usually small and

How will a kitchen garden enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

manageable, it is easy to control pests and diseases through the removal of affected parts

• Improve the quality of the soil with the use of organic manure and without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers pollute the environment and contribute to climate change

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Waste to WealthVermiComposting

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Vermi-composting is the process by which earthworms’ species are used to convert organic wastes into vermi-compost, excellent organic manure.

Preparing vermi-compost has several advantages, these are:

• It provides nutrients to make soil rich and fertile, and keeps it moist and airy by opening up the soil, and trapping and draining water

• Vermi-composting helps ensure the reuse of organic waste as a resource

• It can also be looked at as an alternative to chemical fertilizers which not only cost money but causes water pollution and contributes to climate change

• It leads to the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms thus leading to better

What is Vermi-Composting?

hygiene and health in your area

Things to remember before preparing vermi-compost are:

• Most organic waste can be used for vermi-composting including domestic wastes (kitchen), farm wastes (crop residues, domestic animal, leaf litter, etc.), and wastes from public places like markets, hotels etc.

• The following materials should not be used – large pieces of wood, plastic, metal, glass, wire, coal ash, synthetic fabrics or very tough weeds

• The earthworm species preferred are Isinia Fiteda, Octofireno Cireta, Utreelus Ugeene and Uranix Exkeveta

• Protect the vermibed from animals and birds

Resources Required

• Duration: Initially preparing the compost bins requires 2 days, however it takes a period of 50 – 80 days for the preparation of vermi-compost and between 10-20 minutes each day to segregate and collect organic waste for the compost bin.

• Investment Required: Rs. 1500

2-3 Containers/bins

The container can be made of brick, cement, plastic, wood or stone (Rs. 1000). A conveniently sized container would have the dimensions of 1m x 1m x 0.6m. Another container is required for decomposition of organic waste, and a third can be used to store prepared vermi-compost.

ProcessFeed mixture

Dung is mixed with any organic wastes in the ratio of 1:8 and put in the container. If dung is not available, a little vermi-compost or soil can be added to the waste.

• Worms: Earth worms (Rs. 500 – 1kg). Alternatively, 500gms of jaggery (gud) and 500 gms of fresh cattle dung should be dissolved in two litres of water and sprinkled over an area of 1m x 1m surface soil. This should be covered with straw and an old gunny bag and left for 20-30 days during that time water should be sprinkled over it. Several native worms will collect at this spot which can be collected and used.

• Pre condition/ support condition: The processes should take place under an overhead cover to avoid direct sunlight and rain.

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• Vemi-composting is an excellent alternative to harmful and expensive chemical fertilizers. The manufacture and use of chemical fertilizers emit harmful gases that cause climate change

• The burning and open disposal of organic wastes from the kitchen, gaushala and farmland also emit gases that lead to climate

How will vermi-composting enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

change. You can effectively utilize these wastes to make vermi-compost to use in your garden or farmland

• Additional benefits of vermi-composting include an additional source of income if you sell the vermi-compost. This can be done at a household level or even through cooperative efforts of an SHG

Steps

1. Preparation of compost pit: Arrange two containers, one for decomposition of wastes and the other for vermi-composting with suitable protection and shelter. Allow the organic wastes to decompose partially for 15-20 days in one of the containers.

2. Preparation of ‘vermibed’: For ideal decomposition, a vermibed or bed for earthworms should be made by putting a good layer of moist loamy soil (5 – 6 inches) at the bottom of the pit. Earthworms can then be introduced into this bed. Some dung and the partially decomposed organic waste can now be introduced into the container including dry leaves, agriculture waste and chopped hay/straw. The bed should neither be dry nor soggy.

3. Maintaining the ‘vermibed’: The vermibed can be covered with an old jute ‘gunny’ bag to discourage birds; however plastic sheets should be avoided as they trap heat. Water should be sprinkled over the compost regularly to keep the pile moist. The worms

feed on the waste and assimilate 5-10% for their growth; the rest is excreted as small granular pellets at the surface.

4. Collecting the compost: The compost is ready when the material is moderately loose and crumbly and the colour of the compost is dark brown with an earthy smell. Either the earthworm castings may be collected twice a week once the process is complete, or the other way of collecting vermi-compost is at the end after 50-60 days. The material can be dumped on the ground and made into a heap and left for few hours in the sun. It forces the worms to move to the cool base of the heap. They can then be taken out and reintroduced into the next feed. The collected castings can be dried in the shade and sieved through a 3 mm sieve to separate cocoons and young ones.

5. Repeat: During the first cycle, organic waste is decomposed in the second container and the cycle is repeated. The cocoons and young worms sieved from the vermi-compost should also be reintroduced into the next feed.

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Learning from Nature

AmrutMitti

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Amrut-Mitti is the process which is adopted through imitating the natural system where nature uses its own resources such as leaves, vegetation, animal dung, animal urine, water etc. for enrichment of top soil. Just like the forest does not need any fertilizers or pesticides and yet the soil remains fertile, the same way if rich organic matter is retained in the soil, plants /crops can develop better resistance against pests and diseases and yield a good crop.

Preparing vermi-compost has several advantages, these are:

• Enrichment of top soil

• More water holding capacity

• No need of specific shed for preparation

• Farmers friendly (no need of specific skill)

• Zero waste emission

• Better quality of manure

• Strong, healthier and nutritional plant

• The inputs are made from natural materials

• Use of indigenous micro organisms

Things to remember before preparing Amrut-Mitti are:

• Don’t keep the Amrut Mitti unmulched or exposed to sunlight; if microbes are exposed to the sun even for a short period, they die, resulting in a loss of all the efforts taken to build them up

• Don’t use any chemicals along with this soil. This will result in poor soil quality

• Don’t till the soil as this leads in a loss of moisture and microbes

What is Amrut-Mitti?

Resources Required

• Duration: 100 days

• Investment Required: Water tank - Rs. 100 (Generally available in every house), Jaggery or excess ripe fruit - Around Rs. 50, Seeds - Rs. 50

• 10’x3’x1’ space for preparing Amrut-mitti heap

• Agriculture residues/ kitchen waste/ tree leaves/ waste of cattle yard: Around 50-60 kg

Process

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• Soil: 6- 10 kg

• Seed: 300 gm different type of seed for greening

For preparation of 60-70 litre Amrit Jal

• Cow dung: 750 gm

• Cow urine: 750 lit

• Jaggery: 50 gm

• Water: 60-70 lit

• Pre condition/ support condition: Basic knowledge of farming

Steps

1. Preparation of Amrit Jal: Mix cow dung, cow urine and jaggery in one drum for 3 days and stir 2 to 3 times a day, both clock and anti clockwise. On the 4th day mix with 50 to 60 liters of water and you will have Amrit Jal ready for use.

2. Preparation of compost heaps: For preparation of heap, put one layer (2”- 3”) of chopped and soaked (in Amrit Jal for 24 hours) agri residues/ leaves/ waste. Then put one layer of soil and spray Amrit Jal for moisture. Keep this way in alternate till 1’-1.5’ height or 10-15 layer and after that put last layer of 2” soil.

3. Greening of heap: Easily available seeds are to be used for greening. First of all collect the seed and soak in Amrit Jal for 24 hours. After that, broadcast seeds in top layer of heap and mulching of around 4” with dry leaves or grasses for fast germination and at last spray Amrit Jal for moisture. After germination of seed remove the mulch and spray Amrit Jal time to time to maintain moisture.

a. After 20-21 days of interval: Seed would have grown to some height, cut off around 25% of the greens, without disturbing the roots. After cutting it off, cut around one inch of the stem and put it back on the heap.

b. After second 20-21 days of interval: Cut the grown plant again (around 25 % of height), which will consist of matured leaves and put back (green cutting) in heap.

c. After the third 20-21 days of interval: Third interval that is 60-65 days, remove all the plants by uprooting. Chop them in 2”-3” and spread them out on the heap of compost. Leave for 3-4 days till they become yellow and then mix them into the heap. Composted heap is to be kept for 30 more days. However, after every 7 days it should be tilled.

Step 1Collection of

necessary items

Step 3Sowing of different seed &

spray Amrit Jal

Step 5On 100 days we can

get Amrit Mitti

Step 43 time cut off the plant (25%)

and put back in heapsStep 2

Preparation of heap

Flow Diagram: How to prepare Amrut Mitti

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• Amrut-Mitti is an excellent alternative to harmful and expensive chemical fertilizers. The manufacture and use of chemical fertilizers emit harmful gases that cause climate change

• Amrut-Mitti increases the water holding capacity of soil, keeping the soil moist for longer and thus conserves water

How will Amrut-Mitti enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• There is no need of tilling the soil when Amrut-Mitti is used and this conserves soil carbon which is important in fighting with climate change

• Emissions from livestock waste water are reduced

• It is not only safe for environment, but rejuvenates and rehabilitates the ecological balance of soil

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Trees for AllAgro Forestry

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What is Agro Forestry?

Resources Required

• Duration: 2-3 days for plantation between 3 months - 2 years for tree growth depending on tree/crops

• Investment Required: Rs 1500 for saplings/ seeds

Steps

There are a variety of options to practice agro forestry, the ones most relevant to semi-arid regions such as Bundelkhand are:

1. Agrisilvicultural Systems: In this system, agricultural crops are intercropped with tree crops in the interspaces between the trees. Under this system, agricultural crops can be grown upto two years under protective irrigated condition and under rain-fed farming upto four years. The crops can be grown profitably up to the above said period, beyond which it is uneconomical to grow grain crops. However, fodder crops, shade loving crops and shallow rooted

• Restoring farm soil fertility

• Provision of fuel and fodder

• Odour, dust and noise reduction

• Green space and visual aesthetics

Things to remember before practicing agro forestry are:

• Agro forestry has two functions. Productive functions include the provision of food, fodder, fuel-wood, fruits etc. The protective functions are windbreaks, shelter beds, soil conservation and soil improvement

• Ensure you choose trees that will not compete with your crop for sunlight, nutrients and water

Process

Agro forestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.

Agro forestry has several advantages, these are:

• Increased production of agro forestry products such as fruits, nuts and edible oils for home consumption and sale

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crops can be grown economically for longer. Wider spacing is adopted without sacrificing tree population for easy cultural operation and to get more sunlight to the intercrop. Performance of the tree crops is better in this system as compared to monoculture

Examples: Multipurpose – Butea monosperma, Azdairachta indica, Madhuca latifolia, Albizia lebbeck, Acacia leucophloea; fruit trees such as Ber and Grasses such as Sorghum, Guar, Pigeonpea Cowpea.

2. Silvopastoral Systems: The production of woody plants combined with pasture is referred to Silvipasture system. The trees and shrubs may be used primarily to produce fodder for livestock or they may be grown for timber, fuel wood, fruit or to improve the soil

This system is classified into three categories:

a) Protein bank: In this Silvipastoral system, various multipurpose trees (protein rich trees) are planted in or around farmlands

and range lands for cut and carry fodder production to meet the feed requirement of livestock during the fodder deficit period in winter

Example: Acacia nilotica, Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania grandiflora

b) Live-fence of fodder trees and hedges: In this system, various fodder trees and hedges are planted as live fence to protect the property from stray animals or other biotic influences

Example: Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania grandiflora, Erythrina sp, Acacia sp.

c) Trees and shrubs on pasture: In this system, various tree and shrub species are scattered irregularly or arranged according to some systemic pattern to supplement forage production

Example: Acacia nilotica, Acacia leucophloea, Tamarindus indica, Azadirachta indica.

• Agro forestry has the potential to help reduce climate change since trees take up and store carbon at a faster rate than crops

• Deforestation can be reduced

• Agro forestry has higher biodiversity than conventional agriculture systems. Biodiversity provides essential ecosystem services and builds resilience to climate

How will agro forestry enable me to adapt to the effects of Climate Change?

change by increasing the diversity of on farm tree crops and tree cover as a buffer against climate change

• Agro forestry can lead to increased productivity and economic benefits through the ecological goods and services such as water conservation, non-timber forest products etc.

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Solution for Water Scarcity

Rainwater Harvesting

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Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing of water for reuse. The water can be used to replenish groundwater as well as for drinking for livestock, and irrigation depending on the kind of structure, for example it can be stored in a rainwater tank or directed to recharge groundwater.

Rainwater harvesting has several advantages, these are:

• Rainwater is a relatively clean and free source of water

• It provides a source of water at a point where it is needed

Resources Required

• Investment Required:

a. Recharge pit of 1.5m x 1.5m x 2m (Total Rs. 1000)

• Excavation: Rs 200

• Perforated Brick lining: Rs 700

• Stone, Sand and Pebbles for filling: Rs 100

b. Cost of PVC Pipe: Rs. 40 per running meter (rm)

Steps

1. Catchment of a water harvesting system is the surface which directly receives the rainfall and provides water to the system. The best catchment area would be the roof of your house which could be flat or sloping. The way you construct your structure will depend on your catchment. For a sloping roof follow all steps given here and for a flat roof proceed to step 4.

What is Rainwater harvesting? • It promotes self sufficiency and conserves

water resources• It can be used to water a kitchen garden,

increasing the diversity of food crops• Low running costsThings to remember before practicing rainwater harvesting are:• There are different types of Rainwater

harvesting structures that can be used for storage and reuse of water and for ground water recharge.

• The Rainwater Harvesting structure should be in place before the rainy season starts for effective utilization of rainwater

Process

2. Gutters are channels all around the edge of a sloping roof to collect and transport water to the recharge structure. Your Gutters can be semi-circular or rectangular and can be made using locally available material such as PVC material or Bamboo or Betel trunks. You can prepare semi-circular gutters of PVC material by cutting those pipes into two equal semi-circular channels.

3. Attach gutters to the roof and ensure they are adequately supported, so they do not sag or fall off when loaded with water. The way in which gutters are fixed depends on the construction of the house; it is possible to fix iron or timber brackets into the walls, but for houses having wider eaves, some method of attachment to the rafters is necessary. The gutters around the roof need to be attached to the conduit.

4. Conduit is a pipeline or drain that can carry rainwater from the flat roof or gutter to the

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• Rainwater harvesting provides cost efficient adaptation options for variable supplies in water as a consequence of climate change

• Enables the replenishing of groundwater

recharge pit. A Conduit of any material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or galvanized iron (GI) that transports water from the roof or the gutter needs to be constructed.

5. Construction of recharge structure for groundwater recharge is the final step. A simple and effective structure is a recharge pit/ percolation pit. It can range from 1.5m - 3m

wide and 2m - 3m deep. First this area needs to be excavated; next the excavated pit is lined with a brick/stone wall with openings (weep-holes) at regular intervals and filled with pebbles or brick jelly and river sand. The top area of the pit can be covered with a perforated cover such as concrete slabs, if necessary.

How will rainwater harvesting enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

that can lead to more water for agriculture and improved water and food security

• Provides an additional source of water and enables water conservation

Short Notes / Tips / Any other important points

Various recharge structures are possible - some of which promote the percolation of water through soil strata at shallower depth (e.g., recharge trenches, permeable pavements), whereas, others conduct water to greater depths from where it joins the groundwater (e.g. recharge wells). At many locations, existing structures like wells, pits and tanks can be modified as recharge structures.

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Preserving NatureOrganic Farming

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Organic farming uses techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or any people who live and work in it. Some of the most important methods used in organic farming include use of compost, crop rotation, increasing the diversity of crops and careful use of water resources.

What is Organic Farming? Organic farming will give you several advantages such as:

• Produce healthy and better tasting food, feed for animals and quality crops to sell at a good price

• Reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and saves money in the long run on the increasing need for fertilizers

• Quality organic produce fetches higher prices in the market

Things to remember before practicing Organic farming are:

• A “National Project on Organic Farming” scheme was launched by the Government of India during the 10th Five year Plan to provide Financial and Technical support for setting up of organic input production unit such as fruits and vegetable market, waste compost, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides and vermiculture hatcheries, capacity building through service providers, human resource development through training and demonstration, awareness creation and market development and quality control of organic inputs

• Funding for organic farming is available under the National Horticulture Mission and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna

• The National Centre for Organic Farming in Ghaziabad, set up under this scheme has 16 programmes for awareness, training and demonstration of organic farming standards and practices

Steps

1. Soil and Water Conservation: Soil and water conservation should be practiced through methods, such as bunding and hedging and improvement should be done

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• Organic farming improves soil quality because of the farming practices used

• Enables an increased diversity of crops, which increases resilience to climate change

• Contributes to food security and additional sources of income for your household

• It provides more opportunities for employment, as it requires more labour input. It also reduces periodical unemployment because of the diversification of crops and the different planting and harvesting schedules it involves

through plantation of legumes and mulching on the soil surface.

2. Manure: Manure should include compost form animal manure, leaf litter and vermi-compost. Chemical fertilizers should not be used.

3. Pest, disease and weed control: Crop rotation should be practiced, genetic diversity should be increased and monoculture should be avoided at all costs. Natural pesticides such as neem and useful predators that eat pests should be encouraged.

4. Choice of Crops and Variety: Crops need to be selected carefully, based on the amount and type of nutrients needed, water requirements as well as soil type, rainfall and temperature. Genetically engineered seeds should not be used.

5. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is an effective way of controlling pests and diseases and improving soil fertility. Leguminous plants such as beans, peas, cowpea and others improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil.

How will organic farming enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• The use of natural pest control techniques used in organic farming is effective in reducing pests and improving the quality of your soil without using chemical fertilizers that pollute the environment

• It ensures that your water sources stay clean and safe, increasing drinking water sources

• Organic farming improves the ecosystem, flora, fauna and increases biodiversity

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Safe, Affordable and Environment-friendly Water Purification

SODIS

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Resources Required

• Transparent scratch-free PET Bottles (Eg. Coke, Pepsi, Mineral water bottles

Steps

1. Wash PET plastic bottles well before using it for the first time

2. Fill the bottle with clear drinking water till half way, then shake the bottle 15 times

SODIS or Solar Water Disinfection is a simple low cost disinfection method that you can apply yourself, using the rays of the sun to make water safe for drinking. SODIS uses sunlight to kill bacteria in water. The UV-A rays in sunlight or solar radiation kill germs such as viruses, bacteria and parasites in just six hours.

SODIS has several advantages, these are:

• Safe and easy to apply even by children

• Reduces incidents of water borne diseases and epidemics

• Lowers mortality and morbidity rates

• Doesn’t change the taste of water

• SODIS purifies water, reducing water borne diseases and infant mortality, building overall resilience in households

• Contributes to savings of money and fuel-wood

Process

What is SODIS?• Relies on local resources and renewable

energy - environment friendly

• Replicable with low investment cost

Things to remember before using SODIS are:

• SODIS works only in full sunlight. In case, it is very cloudy like during the rainy season, you need to keep the bottles out in the sun for two days or boil the water instead

• SODIS only works on clear water (water with low turbidity)

• The method works better if the bottles are placed in an inclined position on a sun reflected surface. Eg. Aluminum sheets

and fill it until the water level is just below the cap

3. Put them in the sun on an aluminum sheet for six to eight hours under a clear sky (and for 2 consecutive days under cloudy conditions)

4. Once you collect the bottles, ensure that the water is either drunk straight from the bottles, or transferred into a clean prewashed container for storage

How will SODIS enable me to adapt to the effects of Climate Change?

• Can be used to provide safe water during natural disasters and extreme weather events (which may increase in frequency as a consequence of climate change) such as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes

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Enhancing Quality of Life

Solar Lantern

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• A solar lantern is an environmentally friendly way of accessing light, which can enable improvements in the household, such as the uptake of livelihood and education related activities in the evening

A solar lantern is a portable light fixture composed of a light emitting diodes (LED) lamp or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), a photovoltaic solar panel and a rechargeable battery. Solar lanterns generally charge during the day and give 4-8 hours of light depending on the kind of lantern. Some lanterns can be charged in a few hours, at a solar-powered charging station that is being set up all over the country.

Price: The price of solar lanterns vary, however they are in the range of Rs.400 to Rs.1000.

Availability: There are several types of solar lanterns available in markets today, a good example is ‘Kiran’ (Rs. 400-450) which is five times brighter than a kerosene lantern and can be fully charged in a day under the sun. It provides bright, 360-degree illumination for working, studying, or traveling. There are two light settings, which offer up to 8 hours of light on a full charge (7 hours of charging). It has a solar panel and a multiple-setting handle; the lantern is extremely flexible and easy to use.

What is a Solar Lantern?Solar lanterns have several advantages, these are: • Extends the working day for households,

allows enterprises, such as shops to remain open for longer

• Improves health issues by lowering fumes from kerosene lamps and reduces fire hazards

• Improves literacy rate• Saves energy• Reduces local air pollution and reduces

greenhouse gases as solar lanterns have no carbon emissions

How do I get a solar lantern? For households with access to grid electricity, Kiran can also be AC-charged with a standard Nokia phone adapter (fully charged in 4 hours).Other available solar lanterns in the market are the Reliance ‘CFL Based Solar Lantern’ and ‘Arushi Solar LED Lantern’, the TATA ‘Jugnu Solar Home Lighting’, and ‘Heera’.

Solar charging stations are being set up and solar lanterns are also being made available for a nominal fee through an initiative taken by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) in partnership with several organisations all over the country.

How will a solar lantern enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• Empowers women and children

• It runs on renewable energy and thus cuts down on costs of kerosene, which reduces GHG emissions and helps fight climate change

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Peoples Biodiversity

Register

Managing Biodiversity of the People, for the People, by the People

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Steps:

1. Formation of a Local Biodiversity Management Committee – A local biodiversity management committee needs to be decided at panchayat level. It can comprise of individuals who are knowledgeable about biodiversity such as Science School Teachers, Krishi Mitras, Forest Guards, Panchayat Representatives etc. The management committee can be decided upon during a Gram Sabha meeting by the members of your community.

2. Sensitization of the public about the survey and need for biodiversity conservation and possible management needs to be undertaken by the committee and other responsible members from your community.

3. Data needs to be collected for the biodiversity register. Data should be collected under the following heads –

Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. For example, in your particular area you will have different animals, trees, crops, insects, algae and microorganisms that may differ from the trees and plants of another region, for example the biodiversity in Rajasthan’s desert and the Himalayan Mountains will be different. Additionally within the trees, plants etc. in your area, you can have different variations. For example, there are several varieties of mangoes.

A Peoples Biodiversity Register is a document to record the existing biodiversity and traditional knowledge existing within your community on the use of bio-resources in your area. It is a document that can be developed together by

What is a Peoples Biodiversity Register? members of the community to share knowledge and better management of the conservation of your biodiversity to reap its benefits.

Things to remember before maintaining a Peoples Biodiversity Register:

• Biodiversity Management Committees are being set up by a State Biodiversity Board who also provide technical assistance and training for these committees for the preparation of biodiversity registers

• The absence of technical knowledge and training from the State Biodiversity Board should not stop you from initiating efforts to maintain a biodiversity register in order to document knowledge in whichever form it exists in your village and panchayat

How do I maintain a Peoples Biodiversity Register? • Agro-biodiversity – Crop plants, fruit

plants, fodder crops, weeds, pests of crops, markets for domesticated animals, people and their livelihoods e.g. – farmers, artisans etc., landscapes, waterscape, soil type

• Domestic Biodiversity – Fruit trees, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, timber plants, domesticated animals, culture fisheries, markets for medicinal plants, domesticated animals etc.

• Wild Biodiversity – Trees, shrubs, herbs, tubers, grasses, climbers, wild plant species of importance, aquatic species, wild aquatic species of importance, wild plants of medicinal value, wild relatives of crops, ornamental plants, fumigate/ chewing plants, timber plants, wild animals

Elders, women and the youth must be involved in the process because of the knowledge they can bring to the data.

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• A biodiversity register will enable better conservation and management of biodiversity that is rapidly being altered because of climate change

• The conservation and management of biodiversity provides several ecosystem services essential for improving your well-being. For example, bees pollinate crops, earthworms make compost, trees provide a range of services like cleaning the air, fruits, etc. These are especially important in the face of climate change since an increase in biodiversity acts as a safety net

For instance, elders must be consulted on the state of biodiversity. They can tell which important species have declined or possibly disappeared from the locality in last 10-20 years

4. Preparation of Peoples Biodiversity Register – All the data collected needs to be

collated in a format. Additional information relevant to each known species needs to be recorded, such as current management practices, uses, major users, associated technical knowledge and the member of the community who holds the knowledge regarding the species

How will maintaining a Biodiversity Register enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• Documenting traditional knowledge and the available biodiversity in your area, such as the use of certain species for medicinal or other purposes can enable you to conserve these resources and sustainably harvest them as a livelihood option

• It helps identify traditional species for agriculture and horticulture which can be promoted as they are generally more relisent to climate change

• It can help identify viable ways of increasing agro-diversity

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Improving Ground Water Management and Availability

Ground Water

Recharge1

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Several structures such as wells, ponds and tanks exist in villages for ground water recharge and storage; many such structures often fall into disrepair or dry up. Some methods of ground water recharge are:

1. Diversion of runoff to dried-up/ defunct wells

2. Building farm ponds

How can I recharge ground water?

1. Recharging through dried-up wells

Advantages:

• Cost effective

• Eco friendly and socially acceptable

• Easy to construct and replicate

• Useful in harvesting maximum runoff (about 80%)

• Effective use of defunct wells,

• Provides scope for life saving irrigation during dry spells

Resources Required:

Materials: PVC Pipe – 20ft length, 4 inches diameter, local stone for filling filter pit and pitching silt trap

Investment: Rs. 750; Earthwork for silt trap pond and diversion channel (Rs. 150), stone pitching for silt trap and conical pond (Rs. 150), cost of PVC Pipe (Rs. 300)

Steps:

• Construct a silt trap with the size 2.0 x 1.0 x 0.5 m

• Construct a conical pond/ filter pit with the top area: 2.5 m diameter or 2.5m x 2.5m and the bottom area 0.5 diameter or 0.5m x 0.5m and depth of 1m

• Length of pipe needs to be decided based on the site condition

• The silt trap should be cleared at regular intervals by the farmers

1 Ground Water Recharging Techniques (Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture)

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2. Farm Pond: This is a small water harvesting structure dug in the gullies/ waterways where the flow of water exists for considerable period of time.

Advantages:

• Cost effective

• Addresses drinking water needs of cattle

• For use in supplemental irrigation when stored water is available for longer period

Resources Required:

Investment: Cost of the unit: Rs. 5000, labour: Rs. 500

• Increases water availability for drinking purposes as well as irrigation

• Recharging ground water through infrastructure such as ponds or wells allows

Steps:

• The pond is generally constructed in a square shape. The dimentions of a typical pond for a catchment area of 2 Ha is a pond of 2.5 m depth and a capacity of 250 m3. The depth should be limited to 3m depending on the exposure of hard stratum

• The spoils should be collected and deposited around the pond as an embankment

• A berm should be provided between pond and embankment, so that the spoils will not fall into the pond, the soil should be deposited in thin layers and rammed properly for better stability

How will recharging ground water enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

water to be stored for future use for example, during dry spells

• Improves groundwater levels in overexploited aquifers

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Efficient Irrigation Methods

Improving Water Efficiency

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Resources Required

Cost of Sprinkler: Approx Rs 18,000 per acre

Cost of drip system approx Rs 35-40,000 per acre

Method

1. Sprinkler irrigation method distributes water to crops by spraying it over the crop area like a natural rainfall. The water under pressure

Efficient Irrigation methods include Drip and Sprinkler irrigation. These are micro irrigation systems that are engineered to apply water to the crop as per requirement, thus enhancing the water application and use efficiency and enhancing the production per unit of water (and energy for drawing water) drawn/lift.

What are Efficient Irrigation Methods?

Process

Water use efficiency Production Labor costTraditional System 25-40% 1 (bench mark) HighSprinkler System 70-80% 20-25% higher MediumDrip System 80-90% 20-25% higher Low

Efficient Irrigation will give you several advantages including

• Up to 70% saving in water use

• Less weeds

• 30-40% saving in fertilizer application (carbon reduction)

• Enhanced production

flows through perforations or nozzles and sprays over the area. The pressure is provided by a pump of suitable capacity and horsepower. With careful selection of nozzle sizes, operating pressure and spacing, the actual water required for maintaining the soil moisture at field capacity is applied uniformly at a rate to suit the infiltration rate of soil thereby obtaining efficient water application.

Crop Water Saving Production enhancement

Productivity Qt / Ha

Per ha increase (Qt)

Enhanced income

Wheat 35% 25% 24-32 6 to 8 Rs 8,000/-Chick pea 65% 40% 5-7 2 Rs 6000/-Ground nut 20% 30% 3-4 1 Rs 3200/-Total Rs 11,000 to Rs

14,000 per year

Approximate Rs 12,000/- per year production enhancement is possible through adopting sprinkler systems. This is in addition to the

Response of different crops under Sprinkler Irrigation:

water saving as mentioned in above table, which can be invested in other area to increase the cropping intensity of the area.

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• Installation of efficient irrigation methods such as drip and sprinkler irrigation improve control over water resources as compared to the practice of rain-fed agriculture which is becoming increasingly unpredictable

• It uses less water and energy than flood irrigation and is more equitable

2. Under the Drip Irrigation system, water is carried to the plant under low pressure,

Response of different crops under Drip Irrigation:

Crop Water Saving Production enhancewwment

Selling price total prod. (approx average)

Enhancement (Min)

Cabbage 50-60% 30-40% 2,20,000 Rs 50,000/-Tomato 40-50% 50-60% 1,25,000 Rs 60,000/-Chilly 40-50% 25-30% 1,50,000 Rs 30,000/-

How will efficient irrigation methods enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• It enhances the productivity of crops and income of farmers

• Decreases soil erosion, common in surface irrigation, making farming more sustainable

through small diameter plastic pipes and delivered at the root zone, drop by drop through drippers.

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Improving food security and nutrition

Poultry Farming

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What is Poultry Farming?Poultry farming is the practice of raising domesticated birds such as chickens for the purpose of meat and eggs.

Poultry Farming has several advantages, these are:

• Great demand for poultry meat and eggs in national as well international market

• The efficiency of poultry as a productive unit is more because of rapid growth of chickens

• A poultry unit can be started with small investment on a small piece of land

• Less manpower is required to start a small unit

• Credit may be accessed easily from various banks with insurance facility

• Poultry may be a full time enterprise or a subsidiary one of a general agricultural farm, in a village or elsewhere for men, women or children

• It can be started under almost any geographical condition

• It leads to the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms thus leading to better hygiene and health in your area

Things to remember before undertaking Poultry Farming are:

• The amount of net profit increases with the flock size, management of 1000 broilers can be carried out as an additional source of income by a single family

• Products from poultry farming include birds, manure and gunny bags

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Resources Required:

Cost of Rearing 100 Broilers (Fortnightly Batches) Total – Rs. 64,300

A. Capital Cost

1. Construction of shed – brick and mud wall, bumboo, purlins, thatched roof @ 1 sq. ft. per bird for 5 batches of 100 birds each

i.e. 500 sq. ft. @ Rs.70 per sq.ft. Rs. 35,000.

2. Equipment @ Rs.15 per bird for 500 birds Rs. 7,500

TOTAL – Rs. 42,500

B. Recurring Cost

1. Cost of day old chicks – 4 batches of 100 + 5% extra i.e. 420 chicks @ Rs.15.00 each-Rs. 6,300

2. Cost of feed for 4 batches of 102 birds each @ 3.2 kg. Per bird @ Rs.8.60 / kg. Rs. 12,852

3. Cost of medicines, vaccines and misc. charges for 4 batches of 102 birds each - Rs. 2,040.00

4. Insurance of birds – 420 birds at Re.1/- per bird Rs. 420.00

5. Insurance of sheds @ Rs.5.05 per Rs.1000/- per year Rs. 177.00

Total – Rs. 21,789

Finance may be available to the farmers in the following ways:

• Agricultural Cash Credit/ Kisan Credit Card/ Cash Credit: This type of finance facility is for those farmers who have already constructed shed and obtained equipments. It covers all the recurring expenses like cost of day old chick, feed cost etc. It is payable on demand i.e. at the end of each batch

• Agricultural Term Loan: It covers fixed costs like cost of sheds, equipments etc.

This facility can be given to those farmers who want to establish a new unit for poultry or are engaged in contract farming

• Financial Assistance from Banks/ NABARD

Steps

1. Poultry Shed Construction: Construction of a proper shed at a proper site is the primary requirement for starting poultry. The site should be dry and devoid of water logging, easily accessible (should be near the main road) for better marketability, water and feed should be easily available nearby.

2. Management practices for Poultry Husbandry: This includes

• Brooding: It is the care of chicks from one day old to six weeks of age. It primarily consists of provisions of adequate heat, air, water and feed to the chicks. Rearing is the period between brooding and the point of lay i.e. it is the process of development of growers

• Debeaking: It is mechanical removal of some parts of the beak of the bird when pecking or cannibalism is noticed in the poultry

• Culling: Removal of unhealthy or sick birds from the flock regularly is called as culling. It is necessary to avoid any risk of pests to the whole crop

• Sexing: Separation of males and females is known as sexing. It is necessary for economic advantage. The males may be marketed first and the females may be given the extra floor space and retained higher for heavier weights

• Routine checking and record keeping.

3. Post-production management including timely vaccinations for poultry.

Process

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• Poultry farming can contribute to improved food security

• Keeping poultry can provide an additional source of income

• Additionally, it provides quality food, energy, fertilizer and is a renewable asset

How will poultry farming enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• Poultry can provide a source of livelihood to women and have multiple benefits for the family

• It diversifies the agricultural economy

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Value Addition to Fruits and Vegetables

Food Processing

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Food Processing is the application of systematic management by applying different techniques on food for preventing losses through preservation, processing, packaging, storage and distribution. Examples of food processing are production of juice, jam, chutney and pickles. Food Processing will give you several advantages such as:

What is Food Processing?

• Raw material is easily available in the production season, therefore cost of production is low

• Preserved foods have a well established domestic and international market, therefore there is no problem of marketing

• Shelf life of preserved food is longer therefore there is minimum chances of spoilage

• A farmer who produces fruits and vegetables can earn more benefits

• Processing can help fresh produce change into new or more usable forms and make it more convenient for preparation and consumption

Steps

Pickling can be done in salt, vinegar, oil or with the combination of these. Here the details of two pickles that can be prepared in salt are given. Salt improves the taste and flavor of the vegetables and a salt content of 15% or above prevents microbial spoilage.

The details of preparing pickle are given below:

1. Lime Pickle

• Materials required:

Lime 1 KgSalt 200 gmRed Chilli Powder 15 gmCinnamon 10 gmCumin 10 gmCardamom (large) 10 gmBlack pepper powder 10 gmClove (headless) 05 numbers

• Process: Wash the limes and cut into four pieces, then squeeze out the juice from 1/4 amount of fruit and mix the salt and spices with the lime juice. Mix this juice with the limes and fill it in jars. Cover the jar with a lid, and keep the jar in the sun for 4-6 days and shake the jar at least twice a day. Then store in a cool and dry place.

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2. Mango Pickle:

• Materials required:

Mangoes green, peeled and sliced

1 Kg

Salt 200 gmRed Chilli Powder 10 gmAsafetida 05 gmCinnamon Powdered 10 gmCardamom (large) 10 gmBlack Pepper Powder 10 gmFenugreek 10 gmClove (headless) 06 numbers

• Process: Wash the mangoes, peel them and slice them. Put the sliced mangoes into a jar and sprinkle them with salt. Put it in the Sun for 1 week, shaking the jar at least twice a day to mix the salt. Then mix the spices and store in a cool dry place.

• Food Processing ensures greater availability of a wide variety of foods which would help food intake and nutritional standards during periods of low availability

How will Food Processing enable me to adapt to the effects of Climate Change?

• Contributes to food security and can contribute to additional sources of income for your household

• Reduces food wastages in times of a bumper crop or the lack of storage facilities

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Waste Water

Recycling

Smart Ways to Overcome Water Scarcity

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The reuse of greywater will be determined by amount and quality of the greywater available. The most simple and common use of greywater recycling are toilet flushing and irrigation especially in kitchen gardens. It can also be used for floor cleaning, washing of vehicles and construction.

1. Greywater reuse for Irrigation: The concept of greywater reuse for irrigation is simple, however certain guidelines need to be followed before directing greywater for irrigation purposes:

• Apply greywater directly to the soil, not through the sprinkler or any other method that would allow contact with the above ground portion of the plants which are eaten uncooked

Waste water recycling is the classification of used water and accordingly its reuse in an efficient and safe manner. The classifications are - freshwater (ground and surface water), greywater (used water from bathing, clothes and utensils washing) and blackwater (water from the toilet). Use of blackwater requires

• Waste water recycling enables the sustainable use of water leading to the conservation of water and savings in cost

• It can increase productivity and incomes when diverted for livelihood activities such

What is Waste Water Recycling?extensive sewage treatment systems before reuse. Here greywater reuse which can be done at a household level will be focused on. The advantages of waste water recycling are:

• Reduces fresh water requirement

• Reduces sewage generation

Process: • Root crops which are eaten uncooked should

not be irrigated with greywater

• Plants that thrive only in acid soil should not be watered with greywater, which is alkaline

• Use greywater only on well - established plants

• Disperse greywater over a large area and rotate with fresh water to avoid build-up of sodium salt

2. Greywater reuse for Toilet Flushing: The use of greywater is not a problem if it is used to flush toilets, because the water goes into the sewer or septic system where it would have gone had it not been reused. Grey water collected from the bathroom, washing utensils etc. can be collected in a bucket and poured into the toilet pan/ bowl for flushing.

How will waste water recycling enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

as agriculture, kitchen gardens, livestock, construction etc.

• Useful source of water during times of drought

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Fuel Efficient

Cook StovesImproving Health and Environment

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1. Approved Models of Biomass Cook stoves: Family type improved cook stove models which have been tested and passed Bureau of Indian

• Saves money otherwise spent on coal, kerosene etc.

• Improves household health and especially of women and children who are exposed to

Fuel efficient cook stoves eliminate indoor air pollution and save energy. Examples of such cook stoves are Biomass cook stoves and solar cook stoves. Biomass cook stoves are of two types; fixed type and portable type. The portable cook stoves are also of two types -

What is a fuel efficient Cook Stove? natural draft and forced draft.

Fuel efficient cook stoves have several advantages, these are:

• Reduces incidence of respiratory disease

• Reduces indoor air pollution

How do I get a fuel efficient cook stove? Standards (BIS) tests supplied by respective manufacturer under the National Biomass Cook stoves Initiative (NBCI) are given below:

2. Solar Cook stove: There are several types of solar cook stoves:

• A solar box cooker is a slow cooking device useful for small families. It can cook four dishes at a time and can save around three LPG cylinders in a year if used regularly. It is an ideal device for domestic cooking during most of the year except the monsoon season and cloudy days. The cooker can be used for preparation of all dishes except for frying or chapati making.

• The parabolic dish solar cooker is a fast cooking device useful for homes and small

establishments. It can cook all types of food including chapatis for about 10 to 15 people; each dish in about half an hour. The cooker can save around five to ten LPG cylinders depending upon its use in homes or small establishments

• The cardboard solar cooker (panel cooker) is a low cost foldable device and can be used for preparing one or two soft to cook dishes at a time in areas having good sunshine and low wind velocities. The cooker is lightweight and can be easily carried in a bag to any place. Its cost could be recovered in a couple of months

Sr. No. Name of the ModelI Natural Draft cook stoves1. CPRI design single pot metallic Vikram biomass stove2. IMMT design single pot metallic Harsha stoveII. Forced draught cook-stove3. IISc design single pot metal-clad-ceramic Oorja biomass stove4. Phililps Forced draft metal-clad-ceramic lining biomass stove

How will a fuel efficient cook stove enable me to adapt to the impacts of Climate Change?

high levels of pollution from cook stoves

• Reduces carbon emissions and helps fight climate change

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RecyclingRethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Steps:

1. Re-think: To re-think is to consider the impact of your actions on the environment, for example – you know that burning plastic and other rubbish is harmful for the environment. In this case, you should try and reuse the plastic, and if you don’t have any need for the plastic, try and avoid buying products that come in plastic.

2. Reduce: If you avoid making garbage in the first place i.e. at the point of generation, you don’t need to worry about disposal of waste later. The very first step towards source reduction is less consumption and less wastage. It also refers to segregation

• The reuse of resources such as paper, plastic, glass, clothes and building materials can help save costs in the household

• Several livelihood activities can be taken up by making products from recycled materials such as cloth, paper, plastic, glass etc. and provide an additional source of income

What is Recycling?

Recycling is making waste materials that might be thrown away into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need to throw away waste in rubbish dumps or landfills etc. Recycling also reduces green house gas emissions by increasing the life of materials.

Some good examples of recycling are:

• Reusing plastic bottles and containers to store water etc. (also see SODIS pg. 23-24)

• Using old rags as dusters in the house or stitching them together to make a cloth bag. Using this cloth bag rather than a plastic bag

• Reusing aluminum cans, tyres etc. for growing plants

How do I start Recycling? of waste at source which plays an important role in reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill. Most of the components of waste can be further processed (recycled, recovered or reused) if they are segregated, stored and collected in a proper way.

3. Reuse: Re-use means to use a product again and again for the original or some other purposes like re-using mineral water bottles to grow plants.

4. Recycle: Recycling means re-processing materials to make new products using natural resources all over again, e.g. recycling of paper by a recycling machine. This way, we can avoid cutting trees and save energy.

How will Recycling enable me to adapt to the impacts of Climate Change

• The burning of polythene and other waste materials contributes to climate change. The reduction in the usage of polythene and plastic can improve biodiversity and the environment and help fight climate change

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Seed Bank

Conserving Agricultural Biodiversity

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Steps

1. Management: A seed bank will first require an active group of people to manage the day-to-day functioning of the seed bank. This group could be a women’s SHG or any other interested group. The responsibilities for managing the seed bank are as follows:

• Storing seeds in the proper manner

• Lending seeds to those who require them

• Maintaining a record of seeds given out and returned

• Seed banks can be used to identify and store seeds with climate resilient properties (eg. drought resistant) that have been selected and developed by farmers over a period of hundred of years. These seeds are vital to overcome the agriculture crises caused by climate instability

How will a seed bank enable me to adapt to the effects of Climate Change?

What is a Seed Bank?

How do I start a seed bank?

Community seed banks are a storage facility where seeds are kept for distribution or marketing. They are important for safeguarding traditional seeds and maintaining genetic diversity in crop and plant species. A seed bank works very much like a traditional bank, except the currency involved is seed, not money.

Maintaining a seed bank has several advantages:• Increases knowledge of climate resilient varieties • Improves economic and food security • Increases agro-biodiversity• Can be used to promote organic agriculture,

through the prohibition of chemical fertilizers among seed bank members

• Increases productivity of crops

• Selecting quality seeds from those returned

• Maintaining records of seeds that are in demand

• Promoting the use of local seed varieties

2. Membership: Any villager can become a community seed bank member by paying a nominal annual fee. Seeds are given free of cost to members, who then sow the seed, harvest the crop, and later return to the bank double the amount of seeds borrowed.

• It can promote information and resources sharing within your community to increase productivity and overcome difficult periods that may occur because of changing climate

• It can provide a source of income to a group of members such as an SHG who maintains and manages the seed bank

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Tree Planting

Securing a Better Future for All

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1. Spacing: There are two aspects of tree space: above and below the ground. Above ground space is ensuring that tall trees are not placed where high tension wires or any other obstruction is overhead. Underground space is also important and medium sized trees should be planted at least at a distance of 4 meters from each other and bigger ones at 8 meters from each other. If the area is being afforested trees can be placed closer together and some trees can be gradually cut to allow more space for the remaining trees.

2. Season: The period of planting depends upon the species, region, availability of irrigation facilities, rainfall of the region, etc. Winter is the best time for planting deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves) as they are dormant at this period and hence less likely to suffer from damage. For evergreen and semi-deciduous trees, rainy season is the best time for planting. Trees may be planted during the following periods.

Tree planting is the planting of trees in an area. It is usually done by maintaining a nursery (see Pg. 58-60) of seedlings which are then transplanted into the plantation area.

Things to remember before tree planting are:

• The tree species can be decided according to the purpose, for instance, fruit bearing

What is Tree Planting?

trees, medicinal trees, trees for fuel/biomass etc. However, local species should always be preferred

• Trees prefer growing together as they assist each other mutually in many ways. So efforts would be not only to cover more area for tree plantation but also to plant more trees in a given area

How do I plant trees for maximum benefit? • During Spring (January and February):

At this time all the factors (especially the temperature), required for tree growth are present. Thus, this is a good time for young saplings to be planted

• At the onset of Monsoons: For most species and most areas, planting is carried out during monsoons. It is advisable to start planting work immediately after a good shower and when the ground is well moistened to the depth of planting. Thereafter any delay should be treated as loss of growing season

3. Species: Local tree species should always be selected as they will require less maintenance and have a better chance for survival. For instance the flora of Bundelkhand is of the tropical dry deciduous type. Examples of viable fruit trees are Ber (Zizyphus mauriitiana), Aonla (Emblica officinalis) and Kinnow (Citrus reticulata), Multipurpose tree species that can be used for fuel-wood, fodder and improvement of soil quality include Subabool and Anjan.

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• Tree planting can contribute to overall wellbeing in the long run by providing fruit, fuel wood and associated benefits

• They can also act as income security in emergencies. At that time they can be cut and sold as timber

How will tree planting enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• It can be used to regenerate and increase productivity of wastelands and common property resources

• Trees act as a carbon sink and can help fight climate change

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Cooperation for Livelihood Security

Formation of Self Help

Group’s

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Self-Help Groups are small voluntary association of between 10-20 people (mostly women) generally from the same socio-economic conditions. Members make small regular savings contributions over a few months until there is enough capital in the group to begin lending. Funds may then be lent back to the members or to others in the village for any purpose. In India, many SHGs are ‘linked’ to banks for the delivery of microcredit.

Advantages of being part of an SHG:

• SHGs enable women to grow their savings and to access the credit which banks are increasingly willing to lend

• SHGs can be community platforms from which women become more active in village affairs by being part of the local government and address social and community issues

• Improve access to information about Governmental/ Non-Governmental & Beneficiary Oriented Schemes /Programmes

• Resolve social and other disputes

• Inculcate the feeling of self-reliance leading to the development in the right direction

What is a Self Help Group?

How do I form a Self Help Group?

1. Formation of Group: This is generally focused towards deprived and less privileged sections of the society. However, the membership to a SHG would depend upon the objective of forming a group. This could be to grow a particular crop or make a particular product eg. Ginger group, Tailoring group

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Attention should be paid to the following facts before forming a SHG:

• The individual desires to become a member

• Member is an adult

• Better to have one member from one family

• Members enjoy the same socio-economic status in the society

• Members are local residents

• Do not belong to more than one group

The group should meet at least once in a month. The rules/ regulations should be formed in this regard, so as to clearly indicate in the beginning itself the day/date and the place for the group meeting.

2. Distribution of responsibilities among members: The following office bearers in a group should be elected unanimously/nominated by the group members unanimously and should have the responsibilities as indicated against each.

Chairperson/ convener/ group leader: The chairperson of the group should be such a woman who is wise, has leadership qualities and good communication skills and possess the capability of keeping the group active, intact, functional and can help/ facilitate the group members to take the decisions

Treasurer/ Cashier: The Cashier of the group should be such a woman who is literate and can maintain accounts. The duties of the cashier would include:

• Maintenance of savings in a group

• Opening and maintaining group members account

• Maintaining joint account and undertaking the bank transactions

• Operating the account and undertaking the bank transactions

• Maintaining account of loans/internal lending and re-payments

• Maintaining cashbook, ledgers, resolution book & other records in the group

• If there is no literate person in the group, the group can hire a book keeper/community organizer for maintenance of the group accounts/records/registers

Secretary/ Co-leader: The Secretary of the group should also be a literate person with following responsibilities:

• Organize meetings if the leader is not available

• Write the proceedings of the group meetings

• Sign documents on behalf of the group

3. Savings: Developing/ inculcating the habit of saving money is important in group formation. The nominal amount saved by the members can serve as a corpus to provide loan to the needy and desiring members to overcome his/her problems/difficulties in arranging loans at the time of crisis such as illness, crop failure etc. The group decides on the amount of savings as also its periodicity.

4. Setting up an account: An account is opened for-

• Appropriate management and safe handling of the total savings of the group

• Earning interest on the savings which can be subsequently equally shared amongst the group members

• Establishing strong linkages/bonding with bank. The members can subsequently formulate good viable projects and seek loan/credit from the bank

Following documents are required to open an account of SHG:

• Rule Book of the group detailing transactions (loan and recovery); composition of the committee and the proceedings of group meetings

• The amount (nominal) that group proposed to raise through saving

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• Three photographs of the members of the Management/Executive Committee of the group or their representatives

• Group resolution nominating Management/Executive Committee to open and operate the bank account

• The introduction letter of the person who owns an account in the bank branch in which the account is proposed to be opened

• The account can also be opened through an introduction by an office bearer of the NGO or the village sarpanch

Following can ease the process of opening of an account:

• Rubber seal/stamp of the group

• Proceedings of the group meetings

• Registers and records maintained by the group

• Necessary communications made with banks/other local agencies

5. Maintaining Records and Accounts: it is essential to maintain the following records:

• Attendance Register is required to record the attendance of all members of the group during the group meetings. The members may sign in this register

• Proceedings/Record Register along with the important decisions taken in each meeting are recorded in this register for the purpose of record keeping, reference and future planning

• Saving Register for details of the total/individual savings made by the group members

• Ledger-cum-cash book to record total group transactions

• Individual pass book which should be in the hands of individual members of the group. They should bring this pass book during meetings. Thrift and loan amount should be entered in the pass book by the book keeper

• Resolution for formation of Self Help Group should be maintained with the office bearers of the group

• SHG’s can take up various livelihood options that lead to additional incomes and livelihood diversification

• Formation of SHG’s lead to empowerment in social, economic and political spheres which is important for climate change adaptation

How does forming a Self Help Group (SHG) enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

• SHG’s generate savings within the group and are able to interloan this money and gain access to bank credit that can prove beneficial as a safety net for the adverse effects of climate change such as drought, crop failure, floods etc.

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Nurturing Nature Nursery

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1. Investment Required (for nursery at a commercial scale):

a. Workshed: The workshed of 6m x 4.5m with thatch roofs and locally available materials like bamboo, wood, etc. may be constructed. Total amount of Rs.6750/- @ Rs.250 per sq.m. has been considered for this purpose.

b. Polyhouse: The polyhouse of 9m x 4m dimension with 90cm brick wall, 3.6m tall rhombus netting with expanded metal and polythene roof supported by local materials like bamboo, wood and planks, may be constructed. The cost estimated for such a house is approximately Rs.300.00 per sq.m. An additional lumpsum amount

What is a Nursery?

A nursery is a place where new plants are created by various means such as seeds, cuttings etc. and used for purposes such as agriculture, forestry and others. For instance, a nursery could be used to grow saplings for an orchard, multipurpose tree species for wasteland reclamation or vegetable and medicinal plants, shrubs and flowers for sale in the market or to plant in your own kitchen garden. A nursery can be planted by a household for their own use, or run as an enterprise by an individual or SHG for profits.

Advantages of a Nursery are:

• Additional Source of income

• Plantation of saplings ensures higher survival rate due to existing root system, hence there are lesser fail pits

• Transplanting of saplings ensures a more uniform and better planned plantation

• Undesirable varieties can be removed at the nursery stage

Process

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of Rs.2000.00 may be considered for construction of wooden racks inside the poly house.

c. Compost and saplings for each season: This can cost between Rs. 1500 to 3000 depending on the size of the garden and number and type of seeds and saplings.

2. Knowledge and Information:

a. Basic knowledge of planting, transplanting and a keen eye to spot infections in plants

b. Knowledge of seeds and seasons

Steps

1. Establishment of Nursery: A nursery is developed gradually. Important factors considered for establishing a nursery are agro-climatic conditions, soil types, soil pH, location, area, irrigation facilities, communication, market demand etc. The establishment of nursery consists of the following steps:

a. Selection of Site: The site of raising a nursery depends on your purpose – if you are raising saplings for your kitchen garden or to plant around your house, you can raise a small scale nursery in a shaded area in your backyard. However for commercial purposes the site selected for raising a nursery should preferably be located near marketing centres for the convenience of transportation of the products with minimum or no damage. If need arises, wind breaks of tall plants like eucalyptus, aonla, seedling mango, etc.

may be planted to provide necessary shade and protection and it is necessary to have a constant supply of water for the nursery.

c. Selection of Product: The choice of products will also depend on your needs as well as the market demand in your locality.

d. Methods of Propagation: Plants may be raised from seeds or by vegetative propagation. Safe methods of vegetative propagation include cutting, grafting, bulbing etc.

2. Management of Nursery: The management of a nursery includes: preparation of nursery beds for raising seedlings as well as storing plants that need to be kept for sale, collection and planting of mother plants which must be true to the type and true to the variety. In case of a commercial nursery these plants should be labeled and their collection should be a continuous process. Storage of dried, cleaned soil and compost because in rainy season, collection of dried soil and manure is very difficult and without these, the seedlings cannot be raised during rainy season. Marketing the plants is an important part of the management and plants should be free from pests and diseases, and vigorously growing

3. Maintaining the Nursery: Critical steps for maintaining the nursery are manuring, watering, ensuring good drainage to prevent water logging, plant protection from any observed diseases, harvesting the seeds, bulbs etc. at the right time, cleaning and storage of seeds after drying in the sun.

• Maintaining a nursery can increase the survival of plants and trees and increase over all productivity

• They are also a sustainable livelihood option

How will establishing a nursery enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

and certain saplings can be sold as an additional source of income

• Nurseries encourage the plantation of trees and other plants and help fight climate change

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Access to

InformationKnowledge is Power

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1. Farmers Helpline: Climate Change has the potential to considerably impact farmers and food security. Thus initiatives are being taken to help farmers all over the country by setting up farmers’ resource centers and help lines where farmers can access information and advice over the phone. The government has set up a ‘Kisan Call Centre’ which can be accessed by Farmers all over the country on a toll free number: 1800 - 180 - 1551. This call centre service is available from 6 AM to 10 PM on all days except Sundays and gazetted holidays. Another initiative is the Lifelines India Project. The project provides voice based information to rural communities via a phone and voice mail-based Q & A service available from both landline and mobile phones. Specifically it provides farmers with access to a network of agricultural experts and database of knowledge that has both an understanding of the local context and the global expertise necessary to enable farmers to resolve issues, boost productivity and develop their businesses.

Access to information, in the context of climate change adaptation includes information on what climate change is and its potential impacts, meteorological trends (rainfall and temperature), how communities can undertake disaster risk reduction and any information on initiatives at all levels that will facilitate climate change adaptation. This information can be made accessible through all modes such as television, radio, internet, local NGO’s, village resource centres, panchayats and shared between individuals and groups in the community.

What is Access to Information?Advantages of Being Informed:

• Information about Climate change can enable you to prepare for any potential impacts that may affect you, your household and your community

• You can bring about certain changes in your practices based on inputs from experts, such as which variety of seeds to plant, improved agricultural and water management practices that will enable you to adapt to the impacts of climate change

How do I gain better access to information? 2. Right to Information Act (2005): According

to this Act, a citizen has the right to seek information including documents, advice, opinions, papers etc. from any public authority. These public authorities have designated a public information officer (PIO) and a request for required information may be sent to the PIO along with a demand draft or banker’s cheque of Rs.10. Members from Below Poverty Line (BPL) category do not have to pay anything. This Act has also prompted several government agencies to put their information online, and these can be accessed through the internet.

3. Community Initiatives: The impacts of climate change are usually at a local level and thus community based initiatives for information collection and sharing can be the most significant step in increasing access to information. Some initiatives that can be taken are outlined in this guide and include maintaining seed banks (Pg. 49-50), maintaining biodiversity registers (Pg. 27-29), formation of SHG’s (Pg. 54-57) and sharing information on climate change, its impacts and how to best adapt to it.

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• Information about climate change and its impact is the first step towards planning for adaptation

• Information on temperature and rainfall trends, drought resistant crops etc. can

How will access to information enable me to adapt to the effects of climate change?

make the difference between a bountiful harvest and crop failure

• Access to information about government schemes and other opportunities can benefit communities and enhance livelihoods and incomes

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Biogas

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Biogas is an alternative source of energy, derived mainly from organic wastes. In India, the use of biogas derived from animal waste, primarily cow dung is mostly used. Biogas is a clean fuel produced through anaerobic digestion of a variety of organic wastes: animal, agricultural, domestic, and industrial.

Anaerobic digestion comprises three steps.

1. Decomposition (hydrolysis) of plant or animal matter to break down complex organic materials into simple organic substances

2. Conversion of decomposed matter into organic acids

3. Conversion of acids into methane gas

Biogas technology has several advantages, these are:

• Provides a non-polluting and renewable source of energy

• Efficient way of energy conversion (saves fuelwood)

• Saves women and children from drudgery of collection and carrying of fire-wood, exposure to smoke in the kitchen, and time consumed for cooking and cleaning of utensils

• Leads to improvement in the environment, and sanitation and hygiene

• Provides a source for decentralized power generation

• Reduces indoor air pollution and reduces incidence of respiratory diseases

What is a Biogas?

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1. Components of Biogas Plants

• Mixing tank: The feed material (dung) is collected in the mixing tank. Sufficient water is added and the material is thoroughly mixed till homogeneous slurry is formed

• Inlet pipe: The substrate is discharged into the digester through the inlet pipe/tank

• Digester: The slurry is fermented inside the digester and biogas is produced through bacterial action

• Gas holder or gas storage dome: The biogas gets collected in the gas holder, which holds the gas until the time of consumption

• Outlet pipe: The digested slurry is discharged into the outlet tank either through the outlet pipe or the opening provided in the digester

• Gas pipeline: The gas pipeline carries the gas to the point of utilization, such as a stove or lamp

2. Types of Biogas Plants

The fixed-dome biogas plant consists of

Processone lower segment (for the digester) and a hemisphere over it (for both digester and gas holder). The mixing tank is connected to the digester by a 15-cm asbestos cement pipe. Through the outlet hole provided in the digester, the slurry is pushed into the outlet tank and overflows through another hole provided in the outlet tank.

The floating-drum biogas plant consists of a deep well-shaped underground digester connected by inlet and outlet pipes. A mild-steel gas storage drum, inverted over the slurry, rises and falls around a guide pipe corresponding to the accumulation and withdrawal of gas.

The bag-type biogas plant is a portable unit, made of rubberized nylon fabric, which can conveniently be placed at any location. The appropriate model is selected on the basis of technical requirements such as location, distance between kitchen and cattle shed, availability of dung and water, preferences of the beneficiaries, and so on.

3. Model household biogas plants and appliances approved for promotion under the National Biogas Programme.

Sl. No. Name of the ModelI Fixed Dome Biogas Plant 1. Deenbandhu model with brick masonry2. Deenbandhu ferrocement model with in-situ technique3. Pre-fabricated RCC fixed-dome modelII Floating drum biogas plant1. KVIC floating metal drum type2. KVIC type plant with ferrocement digester and fibre glass reinforced plastic gas holder3. Pragati ModelIII Bag-type biogas plant1. Flexi Model

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• Saves money otherwise spent on coal, kerosene etc.

• Reduces carbon emissions and helps fight climate change

How will Biogas enable me to adapt to the impacts of Climate Change?

• Production of biogas and organic manure can increase incomes

• Production of organic manure can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers further reducing carbon emissions

4. Applications

• Cooking: Biogas can be used for cooking in a specially designed burner. A biogas plant of 2m3 capacity is sufficient for providing cooking fuel to a family of four to five

• Lighting: Gas lamps can be fuelled by biogas. To power a 100 candle lamp (60 W), the biogas required is 0.13m3 per hour

• Power generation: Biogas can be used to operate a dual-fuel engine and can replace up to 75% of the diesel

• Biogas Digested Slurry: The use of biogas digested slurry as organic manure can supplement the usage of chemical fertilizers. The effluent manure does not produce any odour and hence does not create any pollution. The biogas slurry is rich in nitrogen, the essential nutrient for plant growth. Moreover, this nitrogen is in water-soluble form and can be easily absorbed by the plants

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Seed Treatment

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Two natural – chemical free methods of seed treatment are mentioned below:

1) Seed treatment for improving germination:

• Soaking the seeds in water before sowing will improve the germination percentage

• You can improve the disease resistance by soaking these seeds in compost mixture or in cow urine (1 or 2 litres for 100 kg of seed)

• For any variety of seed, spraying of cow milk and water mix with 1:9 ratio and drying under shade will be beneficial

• Sprinkling of ash and water and drying under shade

• Duration of soaking depends on the nature of the seed coat. Some examples with soaking time required are:

i. Paddy: 12 hours soaking and drying of seed under shade for 4-5 hrs

ii. Maize: 24 hrs

iii. Wheat: 7 hrs

iv. Ground nut: 5 min

2) Coco peat treatment for Hybrid seeds: Coco peat media is made up of coconut fibre or husk and a by product from coconut harvesting process. It is an excellent treatment for improving the germination of vegetable & floriculture crops. The pro-tray of 104, 88 and 50 cavity tray are available in the market @ range of Rs.20-25/tray. This clean coir has natural rooting hormones and anti-fungal properties. It is a 100% organic product.

Advantages of Coco peat are:

• Coco peat can be used in seed starting mixes, bedding plants, planters, soil mixes, gardens, container plants. Anywhere you

Seed Treatment is the application of fungicide, insecticide or a combination of both, to seeds so as to disinfect them from seed-borne or soil-borne diseases and harmful insects. It also refers to the subjecting of seeds to solar energy exposure, immersion in conditioned water, etc. to increase productivity.

Advantages of Seed Treatment are:

• Prevents spread of plant diseases

• Protects seed from seed rot and seedling blights

• Improves germination

• Provides protection from storage insects

• Controls soil insects

What is Seed Treatment?

Methods of Seed Treatment

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would use peat moss. The properties of Coco Peat make it resistant to bacterial and fungal growth

• Coco Peat holds water rather than shedding it, it holds 8-9 times its weight in water

• Coco Peat has the ability to store and release nutrient to plants for extended periods of time. It also has great oxygenation properties which is important for healthy root development

• It has a pH of 5.0-6.8 which is neutral to slightly acidic. This makes it great for alkaline garden soils

• Easy to use - Just put your compressed Coco Peat brick in a container, add 4 quarts of water and let it sit until the water is absorbed, fluff it up and you are ready to use Coco Peat

• The Plastic pro tray can be reused for up to 3 years

• Coco Peat is very slow to disintegrate

• Seed treatment can increase the rate of germination in seeds and increase productivity of the crop

• It leads to increased incomes and increased food security

How will Seed Treatment enable me to adapt to the effects of Climate Change?

• In the case of hybrid seeds, increased germination can lead to higher profits

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Line Sowing

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Resources Required:

• Equipment: Seed Drill

• Price: Can be rented at approximately Rs.80/ day

• Time: 1 acre of land takes 8 hours by tractor and 12-14 hours by bullock

Line Sowing is a method of sowing seeds in a straight line through implements such as a seed drill, seed-cum-ferti driller or mechanical seed drill.

Line Sowing has the following advantages such as:

• Increases space utilization and productivity

• Along the rows, interculturing can be done

• Line sowing can improve productivity and reduce wastage of seeds

What is Line Sowing?

• Uniform row to row spacing is maintained

Things to Remember before practicing Line Sowing:

• Line sowing is applicable where proper spacing and depth within seeds can influence productivity

• Crops like Jowar, Wheat and Bajra can be sown using the method

How do I practice Line Sowing? Steps

1. Seeds are sown in a straight line using a seed drill, seed-cum-ferti driller or mechanical seed drill

2. Seeds are then covered by a wooden plank or harrow to have contact with the soil

How will Line Sowing enable me to adapt to Climate Change?

• Leads to increased incomes

• Improved food security

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Organic Fertilizers

and Pesticides

Environment-friendly and Safe Farming

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1. Vermiwash: This is liquid manure obtained from earthworms and can be used as a foliar spray. It contains plant growth hormones and micronutrients that act as a fertilizer as well as a growth promoter in plants. It increases the quality and quantity of produce in fruit and vegetables and helps to reduce many plant diseases. A mixture of vermiwash (1lt) with cow urine (1lt) in 10 liters of water also acts as an organic pesticide.

Steps:

• Select a large container such as a plastic bucket or earthen pot and drill a hole at the base of the container to fix an outlet to it

• A base layer of gravel or broken small pieces of bricks should be placed at the bottom of the container till a height of 10-15 cm, after which a layer of coarse sand of 1-15 cm should be placed. Over this place 40-45 cm pre-decomposed organic wastes and moisten the layers by using water

• Introduce 2000 earthworms into the container

• Fill the container with 4-5 litres of water everyday

• After 10 days vermiwash starts forming in the container; 3-4 litres of vermiwash can be collected everyday

Organic fertilizers are naturally occurring fertilizers for instance - compost and manure; they do not contain any chemicals. Naturally occurring organic fertilizers include manure, slurry, worm castings, peat and seaweed. Similarly, organic pesticides are natural, chemical-free solutions to controlling pests.

What are Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides? Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides will give you several advantages such as:• Improved soil and plant quality• Easy to prepare with locally available ingredients • Additional source of income • Improves water quality as there is no leaching

of chemicals into the water

Ways of preparing and using organic fertilizers and pesticides

• To get vermiwash continuously, suspend the container/ pot with some holes with cotton wicks/ bamboo sticks so the water can trickle down them

2. Pitcher Khad (Matka Khad): Pitcher Khad is a convenient, cost effective and easy way of making compost using a pitcher or “Matka”, which is easily available.

Steps:

• Collect 15kg cowdung, 15 litres of cow urine, 15 litres of water and 250 gms of Gud in a pitcher or matka

• Mix these in the pitcher and cover it with a cloth or gunny bag

• Leave it to ferment for 4-5 days

• Mix the compost with 200 litres of water and spray this over the crops. This quantity is sufficient for 1 acre

• 2-3 sprays are sufficient for short duration crops

3. Chilly-Garlic-Ginger Extract: This is a natural insecticide that can be used for immediate control against leaf eating caterpillar, pod borer and sucking pest. The solution should be sprayed regularly at an interval of 10-12 days during flowering and

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• It improves soil fertility and productivity with the use of organic manure and without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Chemical pesticides and fertilizers pollute the environment and contribute to climate change

• The preparation of organic fertilizers and

fruiting stage and is most effective on crops like Paddy, Redgram, Field bean, Banana and vegetables.

Steps:

• Select a container such as a mud pot or plastic bucket and collect the following ingredients – green chilly (500 grams), ginger (500 grams), garlic (1kg), tobacco leaves (500 grams), neem oil (200ml), and a packet of shampoo

• Crush the green chillies, ginger, garlic with required quantity of water

• Soak the tobacco leaves in 1 litre of hot water overnight and take the solution for use

• Mix 200 ml neem oil with one packet of shampoo (use of shampoo is to mix thoroughly neem oil and water)

• Mix chilly garlic and ginger extract, tobacco leaf extract and neem oil in a mud pot or plastic bucket and close the lid

• The solution will be ready in 1-2 days and can then be applied to the crops. The solution should be used within 3 days of preparation

• 10 ml of the solution is diluted in 1 litre of water and sprayed on crops

How will organic fertilizers and pesticides enable me to adapt to climate change?

pesticides can be taken up as a livelihood option to earn additional income

• Uses locally available ingredients, stimulates the local economy and increase incomes

• Reduced use of chemical fertilizers improves health

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