Kids bring creativity, awareness to World Environment Day
Ganeshpuri, India— On June 5, the people of Ganeshpuri celebrated World Environment Day with activities organized by representatives from PRASAD Chikitsa, and from local schools and youth groups. At the Primary School of Ganeshpuri, enthusiastic children created drawings and Rangoli to express how trees benefit both people and the environment. Read more…

Donate now and we’ll DOUBLE it!
Click here
Donor, Margareta Blix, is celebrating the life of her beloved late sister, Gudrun, with a grant of up to $20,000 that will provide a dollar-to-dollar match for new donations to PRASAD Children's Dental Health Program (PRASAD CDHP) received through October 31, 2010. Read more...

“Paddlers for Humanity” Open Ocean Paddle to benefit PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program
Sunday, September 5th
(rain date September 6th)
Save the Date & Register!
Read more...

 

 

Stay informed about the activities of PRASAD. Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Your Name :
Your Email :

PRASAD's Tree Planting, Orchard and Second Crop Projects:
Good for Local Economy, Good for the Environment

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) Take Lead with Tree-Planting Project

PRASAD Chikitsa’s Self-help groups are taking the lead to implement a tree-planting program in the Tansa Valley. Planting trees helps to restore the environment and, in the case of fruit trees, provides an additional food source for families.

Each SHG member is responsible for caring for the different trees she has planted in or near her village. PRASAD and the SHGs also involve local schools in the tree-planting project, as a way of increasing environmental awareness among children and teens. Thousands of trees have been planted since this project began, with more than 3,000 trees planted from 2007 through 2008 alone.

In a related initiative, PRASAD provides vegetable seeds to the SHGs to encourage them to plant kitchen gardens and, in some locations, to undertake commercial production of vegetables as a stand-alone venture.

“We have realized that the Self-Help Groups are a wonderful vehicle to make progress in all fields of community development, and their enthusiastic participation in the tree-planting project has confirmed our expectations in that regard,” says Col. Rohit Tewari, PRASAD Chikitsa general manager.

Fruit Orchards, Mid-Season Crops Offer Sustainable Livelihood

Farmer checking on a mango tree

PRASAD Chikitsa’s fruit orchard and second crop initiative offers another exciting prospect for making progress towards our community development goals. This pilot project with five Tansa Valley farmers helps them to develop alternative sources for food and income between rice-growing seasons. “This sustainable livelihood program aims to provide economic upliftment through sustainable agriculture, social empowerment, and improvement of quality of life in the Tansa Valley,” says Varsha Parchure, PRASAD Chikitsa community development program manager.

Mango tree planted with vegetable crops

With PRASAD’s support, the farmers have planted mango and chikku trees – popular fruits that are easy to sell - and then, amidst the trees, also are planting cash crops (such as marigolds or chamomiles) and vegetables such as spinach, beans, cucumbers, peppers, and squash. It takes five to seven years for the fruit trees to grow large enough to be productive and profitable, so the cash crops and vegetables provide both an additional food source and the possibility of some income, from selling what is grown. PRASAD Chikitsa hopes to expand the project to more farmers in 2009.

Says Varsha: “This project enhances the rejuvenation of the environment in an integrated and comprehensive manner, while enhancing the resources and skills available in the area. By positively affecting the farmers' standard of living, we hope to reduce poverty-induced migration to search for work.”