Empowering Jharkhand's Farmers: A Story of Innovation and Growth
Jharkhand, a fertile state in eastern India, boasts a rich agricultural heritage. However, traditional practices and limited irrigation often left farmers vulnerable to climate fluctuations and market changes. Recognizing this challenge, the Government of Jharkhand, in partnership with the World Bank, launched the Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth (JOHAR) project in 2017.
JOHAR, supported by Cropin technology, took an innovative approach to disseminate knowledge and empower Jharkhand’s farmers. By promoting High-Value Agriculture (HVA), the project aimed to improve and diversify income opportunities for rural communities, paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural future.
Cropin: Empowering Knowledge and Action
Cropin played a pivotal role in JOHAR’s success. We developed comprehensive training materials and the Package of Practices (PoPs) with expert guidance for ten key crops in both English and Hindi. Demonstration plots showcased the tangible benefits of these PoPs, leaving a lasting impression on Community Cadres.
Cropin’s impact went beyond mere knowledge toolkits. Over 3,100 Community Cadres were equipped with the skills to guide farmers in adopting HVA practices and navigating market opportunities. Furthermore, the project identified master trainers and agri-entrepreneurs from this pool of Community Cadres to develop a network of local experts. Cropin leveraged cutting-edge technology: deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model facilitated swift pest identification. We developed a rapid response system to minimize crop losses. Through this comprehensive approach, Cropin empowered both knowledge dissemination and effective action on the ground by
- Training and assessing Community Cadres and converting them into knowledge banks
- Developing master trainers to conduct training initiatives and empower farmers independently
- Creating agri-entrepreneurs as a one-stop solution for farmers
- Integrating a Pest & Disease Alerts system enabling swift response to risks
Results
JOHAR project transformed the livelihoods of smallholder farmers of Jharkhand by:
- Developed 3100 Community Cadres; 271 trained Master Trainers and 440 trained Agri-Entrepreneurs
- A dedicated smartphone app was developed and integrated for proactive intervention against pests and diseases.
- Over 5,800 demonstration plots were established to showcase the benefits of adopting scientific PoPs.
- Viable business opportunities were identified to promote income diversification for rural communities.
