A farm rich with opportunities
K. Rama Rao is busy at work, collecting leaves of pongamia, a leguminous plant. He is collecting these leaves to make liquid manure, which he uses to apply in his farm. Rama Rao is the proud owner of a farm rich with 19 varieties of fruit and forest species.
Rama Rao belongs to P. Thadiput village in Araku Valley. Araku Valley is tucked away in the Eastern Ghat, almost near the border of the state of Odisha, and is home to several tribes. Many of these tribes prided on the mutually supportive relationship they shared with their surroundings and environment.
Today, they have almost lost that symbiotic relationship. With deforestation, dependence on the government for subsidised grains, and lack of access to mainstream opportunities, have all contributed to the tribes' decline in the bond with their surroundings.
Going back to their roots
In 2001, seeing the current state of affairs within Araku valley, Naandi Foundation decided to step and help out. Naandi realised that most of the problems prevalent were because of poverty, and lack of education and primary healthcare. Some research into this showed that the bond between the community and its naturally nurturing forest environment had been severed and their diet suffered as a result.
The only way forward would be to start reforestation of the entire Araku Valley. As a part of this initiative, Naandi Foundation along with The Global Livelihoods Fund and Mahindra & Mahindra launched the Araku Agroforestry project in 2010, where it is in partnership with the local community to create their own portfolio of fruit and forest trees that will sustain a healthy carbon rich ecosystem and new found prosperity in this resource rich eastern mountain range of peninsular India.
How you can help
Araku Valley still needs help in bringing back functioning forests to sustain the families. With your help, we may get there faster. Every donation made is matched by Mahindra & Mahindra, creating double the impact.
A donation of Rs. 500, Naandi will help plant 10 fruit/ forest species saplings towards creating their own portfolio of fruit and forest trees that will sustain a healthy carbon rich ecosystem along with delivering a sustainable nutritional security and assured prosperity to the farmer families of the region.
A donation of Rs. 5,000, Naandi will help plant 100 fruit/ forest species saplings towards creating their own portfolio of fruit and forest trees that will sustain a healthy carbon rich ecosystem along with delivering a sustainable nutritional security and assured prosperity to the farmer families of the region.
A donation of Rs 50,000 Naandi will help 6 Acres of fruit species and help in training of the farmers in sustainable agriculture.
You can now request for cash or cheque pickup. Our representative will pick it up from your mailing address.
>Submit your request for cheque pickup here-: http://m-lp.co/cheque-pickup
>Submit your request for cash pickup here-: m-lp.co/cash-pickupPlease note: Cheque pickup facility is currently available only for donors in the following cities in India: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Surat.
Residents of other cities can mail the cheque directly to our address given below.
The cheque should be in favor of 'Milaap'. On the envelope, please mention the name of campaign- Seed the rise -Naandi (Araku)
Attn: Usha Madhan,
Milaap Social Ventures Pvt. Ltd.,
No. 549, 1st Floor,
26th main, 14th cross,
JP Nagar Phase 1,
Bangalore, India 560078
>Cash pickup facility is available to donors across India.
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