Introduction

India lives in villages, and agriculture is the main source of livelihood. The farmers are the backbone of the strong agro-economy, and this particular sector is vital for adequate supply of food grains and other agri-products to the entire nation. Needless to say that the village atmosphere and existing facilities do not provide  required education and sufficient knowledge about the various ways of increasing production in the field. Also, acquiring quality and high yield seeds is a matter of major concern in many states of India.

Initiation by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation

Sathya Sai Baba was always concerned for and expressed compassion for villagers, who work hard in undulating fields in the hot sun and heavy rains to produce food grains. They keep only 5% of their harvest and supply 95% to towns and cities. But they eat a very simple food with a drink, Gruel-a Cereal. Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, under the guidance of Baba, launched in 2007 an integrated development program in villages in which all the problems and village issues were addressed.

Clear Objectives and Goals

The goal of the Sri Sathya Sai Village Integrated Program is primarily on spiritual transformation along with economic development of every individual family in the village so as to ensure its overall development. The program focuses on villagers who are ‘asset less’ (i.e. landless laborers, villagers without shelters, widows, orphan children etc.) for helping them to get all the benefits under this activity.

Major Promotions

(1)     To work toward overall the well being of every family in these villages

(2)     Focus on spiritual transformation more than fund-based projects

(3)     Sri Sathya Sai Organisation to act mainly as an effective catalyst between the village and government agencies to get the benefit under various schemes available with government.

(4)     Focus on improving the economic condition of the villagers and provide them vocational guidance

Village Selection

The selection of villages was made where the majority of the families are below poverty line, with poor hygiene, children with lower education, school dropouts, and child labor. The following villages and hamlets in Thiruvallur District were selected for adoption

1. Errukkuvai  and Errukkuvai Colony
2. Serpedu
3. Manali and Manali Colony
4. Kandigai
5. Ezhuchipuram

These villages and hamlet lie at a distance of 45 km from Chennai City, and the duration to reach site is 2 ½ hours.

Other criteria kept in mind for selecting these villages are,

       1.  The nearest bus stop is about 7 km from the village.

       2.  No proper public transport is available.

       3. No proper medical facilities available.

Villages Agri-Scenario

70% of the villagers depend mainly on agriculture only for their livelihood, so the volunteers focused on increasing crop yield and ensuring maximum land productivity. Village farmers prior to adoption were using local varieties of paddy seeds and seeded them on the onset of the southwest monsoon. The yield was very low.  To get genetic pure subsidized certified varieties of paddy, the villagers have to travel 30 km in bullock carts from their allocated center of jurisdiction from the government 

Step into Action

Volunteers acted as a catalyst between village and the government, and the government opened the Arani Agricultural Extension Center (which was not functioning for nearly 7 years) exclusively for the adopted villagers. In the month of August 2008, the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation was involved in distributing 1.5 metric tons of high quality certified Paddy seeds of ADT 39 & 43 varieties to 30 farmers under subsidy.

Positive and Encouraging Results

 The farmers got bumper yield for the season in 2008, and farmers thanked Sathya Sai Baba for His grace shown on them. In August 2009 and 2010, the same Arani Agricultural Extension Center opened exclusively for the adopted villages, and it distributed 3.25 metric tons of certified high quality paddy seed varieties of ADT 39 & 43 under subsidy to 100 farmers. With God’s immense grace, rains have made the famers very happy immediately for 2 days for taking up sowing.

Continued Support

On the eve of the celebration of 85^th birthday of Sathya Sai Baba, it was proposed to distribute 5 tons of certified paddy seeds of ADT 39 & 43 under subsidy to 150 famers in August 2010. All the beneficiaries were literally in tears upon the immense love showered on them by God for receiving rains immediately after getting the seeds.

Distribution of Watermelon Seeds

Watermelon is the chief cash crop for the second season crop (Dec–Jan) for the villagers (it is a 60-65 day crop). Prior to adoption of villages, the farmers were using only local varieties and were getting low yield. The marketing of its fruits were not fetching good prices because of the low weight and abnormal shape of the watermelons. Initially, on 14 Dec 2008, Namdari improved Truthful Label variety 295 of watermelon seeds were distributed to 3 farmers free of cost for 3 acres. Later volunteers arranged the sale of subsidized watermelon seeds from Sungro Private Seed producer. A quantity of 15 Kg of 495 & 786 truthful high yielding varieties were distributed to 25 farmers covering an extend of 45 acres.

Technical Support

Technical interaction sessions were arranged and field-visit assistance was also provided to all the farmers of the village. They were shown how to grow radish as a mixed crop with watermelon, and the pest that affected watermelons switched over to radish leaves, leaving the watermelon safe. The farmers got a bumper yield, and the radishes added additional income.  Youth volunteers chanted devotional songs and other prayers (rudram) during all field visits, which enhanced the yield to the maximum level.

Joy to Celebrate

One such farmer, Mr Thiru Gangan of Serpedu village, got a remuneration of INR 100,000 in 2 acres of dry land in 2 month period with a harvest of 20 tons produce.

Expression of Gratitude and Love to God

All the farmers, with immense love toward Sathya Sai Baba, went to offer their harvest of first fruit to Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam, to show their devotion and gratitude for receiving higher yield. The villagers placed a truckload of watermelon fruits at His Lotus feet at Prasanthi Nilayam on 18 March 2010, and the fruits were distributed to all the students of the ashram.

Distribution of Vegetable Seeds for Kitchen Gardening

Another step that the volunteers took was to supply each of 275 families with vegetable seeds of brinjal, tomato, chillies, bendi, muringa raddish, and avari or their kitchen gardens, making them self-sufficient for their daily requirement of vegetables for the family. This happened in during Aug 2008 and 2009.

They also gave the saplings of coconut, mango, drumstick, curry leaves, and amla to all the households to generate additional income to the villages. The saplings were distributed to all 275 families of the entire village. The methodology of planting them was also vividly explained.

Additional Info

Additional Information: Sri K R Suresh, Vice-President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Tamil Nadu, India. Mail ID: tnvpsuresh@gmail.com

Project Coordinator: Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Tamil Nadu

Contact Person: Sri G Varadhan, State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Tamil Nadu State, mail ID:tnspvaradhang@gmail.com

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