Success Story of Santus Sinku – From Struggles to Self-Reliance

Santus Sinku, a resident of Noana village, lives with his wife and three children. He owns 3.75 acres of land, out of which 0.75 acre was lying fallow and the rest 3 acres was upland, used only for rainfed paddy cultivation. From paddy farming, he used to earn around ₹35,000–₹40,000 annually, which was not enough to meet his family’s basic needs. Life was full of difficulties.

In 2023, under the Climate Resilient Organic Agriculture Project implemented by Sambandh in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation, awareness programs and trainings were conducted in the village. During this time, Santus approached the Sambandh team for guidance on how to improve his income. After understanding his situation, the team supported him in converting his 0.75-acre fallow land into productive farmland.

With technical support and inputs from Sambandh, Santus started cultivating chilli and chickpea. From chilli, he earned ₹4,450 and from chickpea ₹8,600, making a total profit of ₹13,050. This experience increased his confidence and encouraged him to explore more farming opportunities.

He then consulted the Sambandh team to know how he could make better use of his 3 acres of paddy land. The Sambandh team advised him to cultivate watermelon in the summer after the paddy harvest. With input support from Sambandh, he cultivated watermelon on 1 acre and earned ₹70,000 from its sale.

Through consistent support and expert guidance from Sambandh, Santus adopted improved farming practices. Today, he grows three crops a year and has significantly increased his income. He is now able to take care of his family properly and lives with confidence and dignity. Santus Sinku has become an inspiration for many other farmers in Noana village.

Conclusion:
Santus Sinku’s journey reflects how timely support, technical guidance, and the willingness to adapt can transform a farmer’s life. From a struggling cultivator dependent solely on paddy, he has now become a confident multi-crop farmer practicing sustainable agriculture. His success story serves as a model of hope and motivation for countless small and marginal farmers across the region.

The Journey of Raju Kada Towards Self-Reliance through a Kitchen Garden

Introduction:
Raju Kada, a resident of Baria village under Jashipur block, is a smallholder farmer with a family of four, including his son, daughter-in-law, and daughter. He owns 1.5 acres of land, which he previously used only for paddy cultivation. Other than that, the land remained underutilized. To meet the daily vegetable needs of the household, his family relied entirely on the local market. This not only led to increased household expenses but also exposed the family to the risks of consuming chemically grown vegetables.

Turning Point:

community mobilizer (Didi) from Sambandh met Raju and discussed the concept and benefits of a kitchen garden. She explained the health hazards of market-bought vegetables and highlighted the nutritional and economic advantages of growing vegetables at home. Seeing the small patch of 0.1 acre near his house, she encouraged Raju to convert it into a kitchen garden.

With the support of Sambandh, Raju received assistance in the form of seeds, saplings, fencing materials, and training on preparing organic compost and using organic methods. This motivated him to begin work on his own kitchen garden.

Progress and Expansion:

After the training, Raju initiated his kitchen garden on the land adjacent to his house. He began growing a variety of seasonal vegetables based on the climate and cropping pattern. Over time, his garden flourished and started providing enough vegetables to meet his family’s daily needs. This reduced his dependency on market-purchased vegetables and significantly saved household expenses.

Moreover, the surplus vegetables were sold in the nearby market, earning him an additional monthly income of ₹1500–₹2000. This income became a crucial financial support for the family.

Diversity and Sustainability:

Raju grows at least 15 varieties of vegetables every season. He also planted fruit-bearing trees like papaya, lemon, moringa (drumstick), and fig around the garden. To ensure year-round availability of produce, he also cultivated climbers like ridge gourd and beans using bamboo support structures. His use of organic compost and sustainable practices has further improved the soil health and productivity of the land.

Community Impact:

Raju’s kitchen garden has become a model for others in the village. Many neighbors visit his garden, appreciate his efforts, and are inspired to replicate the same in their own homes. His initiative has triggered awareness in the community regarding health, nutrition, and self-reliance.

Conclusion:
Raju Kada’s journey from a mono-crop farmer to a self-reliant grower of diverse vegetables is a powerful example of how small initiatives, supported by proper guidance and training, can bring long-term benefits. His kitchen garden not only provides nutritious food for his family but also generates regular income, empowers him financially, and inspires the community towards sustainable living. His story proves that with determination and the right support, even a small piece of land can transform lives.

Transforming Lives through Kitchen Gardening and Livestock – The Journey of Kapura Tudu

Name: Kapura Tudu

Village: Kathithikana

Family Members: 3 (Husband, Wife, and a 5-year-old son)

Land Ownership: Landless

Occupation: Daily wage labour and collection of forest produce

Kapura Tudu, a resilient woman from Kathithikana, lives with her husband and young son. Her family does not own any agricultural land. mainly depends on her husband’s daily wage work and the seasonal collection and sale of forest produce. With limited income, the family was dependent on the local market for vegetables, spending around ₹210 every week—amounting to nearly ₹10,000 annually—just to meet their basic dietary vegetable needs.

To grow some food of their own, Kapura had taken 0.5 acres of land on lease where they should cultivate paddy during the rainy season. However, the production was limited, and the family continued to face food and nutritional insecurity.

In 2023, with support from Sambandh, Kapura received two goats and  kitchen garden inputs like a variety of seasonal vegetable seeds, fencing nets. She also underwent training on compost preparation, organic farming techniques, and effective management of kitchen gardens and livestock.

As a result of these interventions, Kapura began cultivating vegetables throughout the year—successfully growing three seasonal crops using only organic manure and pest control methods. She established a kitchen garden that now not only meets her family’s daily nutritional needs but also produces surplus vegetables which she sells in the local market, generating additional income.

Moreover, the goats she received have become another steady source of income and ensuring a more stable livelihood. Today, through integrated farming and kitchen gardening, Kapura is not only food secure but also economically empowered. Her family’s dependency on market-purchased vegetables has drastically reduced, saving them money while also improving their nutrition.

Kapura Tudu’s story is a powerful example of how small but strategic interventions—like livestock support, organic farming training, and kitchen garden setup—can significantly transform the lives of landless and marginalized rural families.

Introduction

Ganesh Tiria, a small farmer from Ramsahi village in Jashipur block, once faced serious challenges in meeting his family’s needs through farming. With limited resources and little knowledge about sustainable practices, he was dependent on subsistence paddy cultivation and forest produce for survival. But today, through awareness, guidance, and his own dedication, Ganesh has transformed his land and livelihood, becoming a symbol of positive change in his community.

Initial Challenges

Ganesh lived with his wife and two sons. He had 2 acres of land, but only cultivated paddy on 1 acre, while the remaining land was left unused. During winter, he grows leafy vegetables on just 0.05 acres. Alongside, he kept four goats to support his family. The rice produced was only enough for household consumption, leaving nothing for sale. To manage daily expenses, he relied on collecting and selling forest produce, which was uncertain and offered very little income.

Turning Point

In 2023, Ganesh attended a village-level awareness meeting organized by Sambandh. The discussion focused on techniques such as off-season vegetable cultivation, organic manure preparation, intercropping, and multiple cropping methods. For the first time, Ganesh understood how better land utilization and eco-friendly practices could improve both productivity and income. This meeting became the turning point in his farming journey.

Training and Initial Support

After the meeting, Ganesh decided to act. Sambandh supported him seeds for maize and leafy vegetables, along with technical training on preparing organic compost using farm waste. He used the fallow land to grow maize and set up a kitchen garden near his home. The use of organic compost improved soil fertility, and his first harvest gave him confidence to expand further.

Adopting New Practices and Results

Motivated by early success, Ganesh started triple cropping. In the monsoon, he grew paddy along with chilli, okra, and maize. In winter, he cultivated tomato, leafy vegetable, radish, ridge gourd, and chilli. During summer, he cultivated tomato, which profit earned him ₹15,000. He used organic compost across all seasons, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and lowering production costs. Today, he farms throughout the year and earns over ₹95,000 annually.

Wider Impact

Ganesh’s success has not only improved his own life but has also inspired others in the village. Neighbours have started adopting kitchen gardens and organic practices after seeing his results. His family now enjoys food security, better health, and improved financial stability. He often shares his experience in community meetings, encouraging others to make use of their land and try sustainable farming. His journey is creating a ripple effect of awareness and change in the village.

Conclusion

Ganesh Tiria’s story shows that with awareness, support, and commitment, even a small farmer can bring big changes. His journey from a struggling cultivator to a year-round, income-generating farmer is a real-life example of how sustainable farming can transform rural lives.