Farmer's Action for Sustainable Agro-based Livelihood (FASAL) Project in Siddharthnagar, UP

Project Budget and time period:

The project had a total cost of Rs 28,28,990. which was fully funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). It was implemented between February 1, 2012, and January 31, 2015.

Objectives:

The main objective of the FASAL project is to empower farmers in Siddharthnagar district by building their capacity on different issues, including technical skills, so they can ensure their food security and sustainable livelihoods without any discrimination and live in society with dignity. To achieve this, the project aims to:

• Promote livelihood programs for farmers
• Encourage SHG-based GP level federations to take regular initiatives to realize their entitlements related to the right to work/livelihood and the right to food
• Link farmers to different social security schemes
• Train youths in different trades and provide them with financial assistance for enterprise
• Engage farmers in different farm-based activities to make a significant change in their livelihoods through crop production

Projects Implemented:

Under the FASAL project, various projects have been implemented to improve the livelihoods of farmers in Siddharthnagar district.

• Capacity Building: The FASAL project provides capacity building to farmers through training sessions and workshops to improve their technical skills in agriculture. The project has trained over 100 farmers in different agricultural practices, including crop management, soil health management, and pest and disease management.
• SHG-Based GP Level Federations: The project has encouraged SHG-based GP level federations to take regular initiatives to realize their entitlements related to the right to work/livelihood and the right to food. The federations have been instrumental in promoting social security schemes and advocating for farmers' rights in the region.
• Social Security Schemes: The FASAL project has linked farmers to different social security schemes to provide them with a safety net in case of unforeseen circumstances. The project has helped link 35 farmers to different social security schemes, including pension schemes, health insurance schemes, and accident insurance schemes.
• Youth Training: The project has trained 5 youths in different trades, including tailoring and carpentry. Out of these 5, 4 youths have received financial assistance for starting their own enterprises.
• Farm-Based Activities: The FASAL project has engaged 20 farmers in different farm-based activities, with the objective of making a significant change in their livelihoods through crop production. The project has provided farmers with technical assistance, including advice on crop selection, soil management, and marketing.

Key Achievements :

The FASAL project has made significant achievements in empowering farmers and improving their livelihoods in Siddharthnagar district. Some of the key achievements of the project include:

• Livelihood Promotion: The project has covered a total of 126 families through different livelihood promotion programs, including capacity building, social security schemes, and farm-based activities. This has resulted in a significant improvement in the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
• Social Security :The project has helped link farmers to different social security schemes, providing them with a safety net in case of unforeseen circumstances. This has helped reduce the vulnerability of farmers to economic shocks and has provided them with a sense of security.
• Youth Empowerment: The project has trained 5 youths in different trades and provided financial assistance to 4 of them for starting their own enterprises. This has resulted in increased economic opportunities for the youths and has contributed to reducing youth unemployment in the region.
• Improved Agricultural Practices: The project has trained over 100 farmers in different agricultural practices, resulting in improved crop management, soil health management, and pest and disease management. This has led to increased agricultural productivity and food security for farmers in the region.
• Conservation of Natural Resources: The project has promoted the conservation of natural resources by encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming and the use of natural pesticides. This has resulted in the production of chemical-free fruits and vegetables, leading to improved ecological health in the region.

The FASAL project has made significant strides in improving the livelihoods of farmers in uska bazr Siddharthnagar district by empowering them through capacity building, technical assistance, and collectivization. The project has promoted livelihood programs, encouraged SHG-based GP level federations, linked farmers to social security schemes, trained youths in different trades, and engaged farmers in farm-based activities. The project has made notable achievements in promoting livelihoods, youth empowerment, improved agricultural practices, and the conservation of natural resources. Overall, the FASAL project has contributed to sustainable development in the region and has brought a positive change in the lives of farmers.