Why am I fundraising?

Majority of the villages in Thane District are poverty stricken and alienated from the civilized society due to lack of sustainable livelihood and absence of basic amenities and infrastructure. Owing to land degradation and age-old agricultural practices the yield is also very low. In the past villagers used to depend on the forests for their survival but large-scale deforestation in the region has destabilized the subsistence economy of these villages.

Due to absence of infrastructure and industrialization there is complete lack of livelihood opportunities. In such circumstances, the resource-poor smallholder farmers are compelled to leave home in search of employment. They end up as farm hands or get seasonal jobs in nearby cities, brick kilns. Migration of whole family in search of livelihood deprives the children of even the basic education. Those who remain behind, continue to live in chronic poverty and suffer from malnutrition and ill health.

To prevent the farmers from migrating and make them create a livelihood in the village, KARM started its integrated rural development program in the year 2008. Under this we train the farmers to have alternate cultivation of paddy seeds as well as vegetable cultivation. They are guided on creating a water resource by way of rain water harvesting techniques.

We mobilized the rural women from socio-economically backward communities into Self Help Groups (SHGs). Till date we have promoted 660 such groups reaching out to more than 7000 women. Our focus is on strengthening these groups in order to make the members and their families economically self-reliant. Since the village economy in Thane district is entirely dependent upon agriculture, it is our top priority to create livelihood opportunities for the people by promoting sustainable agro-based activities among the families of the members of these SHGs.

Your support will create the following impact in the life of our farmer:

1. 500 Acres of land will be brought under cultivation of paddy seeds producing 2,60,000 KG Rice.
2. 40 Acres of land will be cultivated for vegetables, growing 7,50,000 KG vegetables.
3. Sufficient and improved variety of food grains and vegetables available for the farmers for their self-consumption and they can sell the surplus in the local market and earn from it.
4. Farmers will get encouraged to do these activities in the long run which will reduce the migration rate.
5. The children of the farmers will get continued education.

What do I plan to do with the funds?

The fund will be utilized for buying Paddy Seeds and Vegetable Seeds for 500 farmers and 500 women members of Self Help Groups respectively.

FAQs

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