Mixed Farming Study in Wardha (MAH)

Over the last two and an half  years, the Chorao Farmers Club has been trying to research, through practical experience, different models of farming (crops and methods) to arrive at more sustainable models for agriculture in Chorao (Goa).

As a part of this process we decided to visit Wardha, where we had heard local farmers practice a model of mixed farming (called swavalmbhi sheti) that produces about 30 crops in just one hectare of land despite low water availability. This meets their grains, pulses, vegetables, oil and fibre requirements which was extremely interesting to our members Namita, Gita, Shilan, Sunita and Pallavi.

Seeing is believing - 30 crops from 1 Ha in one season

The visit to Chetna Vikas in Gopuri village in Wardha was organised by Miguel Braganza of OFAI and funded through TERI and the Toyota Foundation.

Subhash Sharma explains the benefits of contour planting

We also visited a commercially successful large scale farm (owned by Mr. Subhash Sharma) to study the practices employed there and collected seeds that we plan to use for a similar experiment by our farmers in Chorao this winter season.