Sustainable Agriculture in a watershed

Objectives: Water management, soil fertility management, regeneration of biomass, crop improvement through eco-friendly practices

AME has been focusing on improving the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers through ecological agriculture both at farm level as well as at watershed level. Natural Resource Management, which is central for watershed development as well as for improving farm productivity, is dealt holistically through participatory processes. The gradual transition from a single crop farming systems towards integrated farming systems in watershed is being promoted.

Watershed development training was the earliest activity taken up in Andhra Pradesh. In 1995, training in watershed development started with one NGO, commissioned by DPAP in Chittoor district. During 1996-97 a network of 12 Dalit NGO’s were active in Chittoor, Mahaboobnagar and Prakasham districts, financed by CEBEMO. A small network of 10 NGOs supported by NOVIB began implementing DPAP watersheds in Chittoor. They were trained in Sustainable Agriculture in watersheds. Since 1999, AME is active in DPAP watershed development training programmes.