In
the drought prone area of Singhbhum in Jharkhand, World Vision India's Singhbhum Area Development Programme (ADP) has done a
very innovative food security program. It promoted and helped around 2900
families to undertake kitchen gardening. They were able to grow varieties of
vegetables such as tomatoes, pumpkin, brinjal, ladies finger, snake gourd,
radish, etc…
The
outcome of this was that the families were able to have green vegetable for
nearly 9 months. Not only did the families harvest enough for their own but was
able to produce a surplus. The surplus vegetables were sold in the weekly
markets to supplement their income.
The
government officials of the Horticulture department visited this successful
program. They appreciated World Vision India for bringing such a change in the
behavior of the villagers who were earlier not use to such gardening.
Under this program many of the villagers took land
on lease for the vegetable cultivation as they did not have much space near
their houses. The ADP as part of the Cash for work program gave the
beneficiaries cash for preparing the ground and erecting fences around the kitchen
garden. Vegetable seeds were also given as part of the benefits by the ADP.
This innovative program has successfully addressed
two key issues faced by the people. Firstly, it ensured food security to the
poor families and secondly, it helped the families to supplement household
income.
