Through the JSDF Award, GDN supports the Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development (CORD) in its efforts to empower small and marginal women farmers in hill agriculture through systematic investment initiatives. The project aims to alleviate poverty by increasing income and improving food security, health and sanitation by advancing the socio-economic status of women in remote and rural populations.
It targets 500 small-scale farmers belonging to marginalized communities located in the Kangra District of the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh in India. Through this project, CORD works to systematically organize women farmers in the district for integrated farm and allied sector activities. It aims to support women farmers to form formal collectives through which they can develop a forum for recognition and empowerment, and enable them to enter the market as competitive entrepreneurs.
The core activity under this project is the system of crop intensification, which will be strengthened with soil testing, organic manure, cash crops/cereal crops, pulses, oil seeds, pasture land development and backyard dairy and poultry. These activities aim to improve individual household food security and the socio-economic status of the women farmers by raising the productivity of resources that farmers invest can for growing a wide range of crops. Additionally, the families will be supported to use the generated food, income and knowledge resources appropriately to improve the nutrition of women and young children.
For more information about the project, please contact Mansoor Ali Sait, Grants Manager.