Small and marginal farmers face increasing challenges linked to climate change, declining soil fertility, water scarcity and rising production costs. Many rural households depend directly on agriculture for their livehoods, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental and economic shocks. Over the past decades, the widesspread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has contributed to soil degradation, reduced biodiversity, and increased production costs for farmers. At the same time, traditional agricultural knowledge, indigenous seed varieties, and sustainable farming practices have gradually declined.
The Farmers Cycle-Based Training Programs aims at strengthening sustainable agriculture, food security, and economic resilience among small and marginal farmers in rural Tamil Nadu. Here, VCDS supports farmers through practical field-based training, promotion of organic farming methods, access to micro-credit, and collective action through farmers’ federations. With seven acres of farm land in Vellakulam, three acres in Villupuram and its Farm Fiel School, VCDS trains farmers in organic agriculture techniques including vermi-composting, compost production, herbal pesticides, soil health management, rainwater harvesting and traditional seed conservation. The programme also promotes horticulture development, intercropping and multi-cropping systems, and facilitates connections between farmers and government agricultural departments.
Currently reaching 125 farmers across 5 villages and organized through 5 farmers’ federations, the program contributes to improved agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, climate resilience and increased household incomes while strengthening local food systems. In 2023-2024, VCDS harvested rice(Ponni & Gundu) and coconut palm, which gave a yield of 1,500 coconuts from which 1,000 was used for coconut oil production and 500 was sold as tender coconut. Other parcels are dedicated to banana plantations, Timber or mango trees (which gave in 2023-24 a yiels of Rs. 10,000).
Overall our program supports farming families, improves productivity while protecting natural resources and strengthening their long-term resilience.
VCDS has also started a social entreprise under the name MISeT-Martine Institute of Social Entrepreneurship and Training. Through this institute VCDS has started a reusable bag business. A small value addition unit of grain and food times started trough this entreprise, where grains and lentils procured from the local farmers is being processed and sold in the wholesale and retail market.