Farming is the main occupation for most households in the region but with a changing national economy, shifting ecological landscape, lack of information and inadequate extension services, households need to supplement farming with other activities to make ends meet. To discourage farmers from turning away from farming, Chirag focuses on supporting sustainable agricultural techniques that are economically viable, and endeavors to improve market linkages for small scale farmers in the area.

The agriculture programme at Chirag centers around the experimental farms at Simayal in Nainital District and Dewaldhar in Bageshwar District where trials on appropriate techniques, seed varieties, and cultivation methods are conducted. Farmers are encouraged to visit the farm for on-site demonstrations and to source agriculture inputs at cost. Experimental farming demonstrations and inputs such as natural pesticides and fertilizers are also taken to villages by the agriculture team and field staff.

A farmer is more likely to adopt a technique or variety if he/she sees that it is being successfully used by a fellow farmer. Hence, as part of the new agriculture strategy, Chirag is providing support to farmers who are willing to innovate and experiment with methods on their own farms. In this way, farmers themselves will be able to demonstrate successful techniques and encourage adoption of appropriate agricultural methods by other farmers.

In search of alternative avenues of income generation, Chirag promotes herb production on marginal lands and buys back the harvested herbs from the farmers. The herbs are cleaned, dried and packaged for retail or bulk consumption and then sold to Kumaun Grameen Udyog which then markets them under their brand “Kilmora” – www.kilmora.in