Livelihood & Skill Development
LIVELIHOOD AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Lack of sustainable livelihood towards food security (Livelihood & skill development):
READ has been working since last 15 years on sustainable livelihood towards food security in its geographical area by promoting farmers committees and livelihood resource persons(LRP). In fact, in the last 3 years, READ has been formed 6 nos. of Farmers Committees (FCs) in community level. Out of the 6 FC, two are registered now under the Farmers Producer Company Act and functioning well. It is realised that the agriculture and income generation practice among farmers and women have increased in the operational area, where about 70% households have been undertaking the same but instead the farmers and women not able to get fair price over their produces and always been cheated by middle men and outsides traders. Hence there is a lack of marketing opportunity and market linkage for the benefit of farmers in the community. Therefore, it was anticipated that, once the Farmers Producer Company get registered and functioned with registered body so that the community farmers will access fair prices over their produces and get optimum benefit. READ also has developed an integrated agriculture unit, where the farmers given trainings on different livelihood trainings with practical orientation. READ focusses on organic agriculture practices like organic farming, preparing organic manure, organic pesticides, organic seeds, vermin compost etc. apart from the agriculture development activities, READ also encourage women and widows of the communities on different entrepreneurial activities like mushroom cultivation, fish farming, honey cultivation, paper plate making, bricks making, turmeric powder, chili powder, phenyls, snacks items preparation, tailoring support, kewda flower business and promoted different petty business to enhance economic development.
To promote sustainable agriculture, READ has established an Organic Agriculture and Alternative Livelihood Resource Centre, envisaged as a knowledge hub for farmers. The centre supports training and services on organic farming practices and income-generation options. Six Farmers Producer Groups (FPGs) have been formed, and two Farmers Producer Companies (FPCs) registered under the FPC Act, creating opportunities for collective production, ownership, and market linkage. The FPC model has enabled farmers to access better prices, market information, and value-addition avenues.
Currently, READ is implementing an Agroforestry Project. Out of the proposed 500 acres, approval has been granted for 100 acres initially. Launched in October 2025, plantation activities have already covered about 40 acres and are expanding. READ has facilitated the distribution and plantation of nearly 6,500 saplings—mango, jackfruit, lemon, cashew nut, sapota, and other climate-resilient species. The project integrates trees with farming systems to enhance soil health, conserve water, and increase biodiversity, while creating long-term livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers through fruit, timber, and non-timber produce. This initiative promotes ecological restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable income generation for participating communities.
Our programs
Introduction of Second Crops and Cash Crops
We have provided farmers with the seeds, plants, irrigation systems and tools to introduce second crops across 90 villages. So far, READ has overseen the cultivation of crops like vegetable, cotton, sunflower, pulses, paddy and cashew nut over 1500 acres of land.
Innovative Farming Techniques
We are helping farmers with the technical-know-how and support required for grafting improved varieties of cashew and mango trees to generate higher value produce. So far, we have grafted over 19000 cashew, coconut & mango trees. In the next five years we plan to graft 100,000 trees. READ has promoted horticulture development amongst small and marginal farmers. Currently we have 400 farmers who have adopted horticulture. In the next five years we plan to reach out to 2,000 farmers.
SRI (System of Rice Intensification) Technique
An innovative technique leading to improved yields with lower input costs. We have skilled up to 400 farmers and are practicing SRI system of cultivation. In the next five years we will scale up this programme to 2000 farmers.
Vermin-composting
We have initiated vermin-composting, an organic farming technique, to increase land productivity and enhance income. READ has provided trainings and replicating among 400 farmers. The farmers are slowly initiating preparing vermin compost. In the next five years READ will reach out to 2000 farmers.
Farmer Collectives & Co-operatives
To enable collective buying, selling and knowledge sharing, we have formed and promoted only GP level Farmers Committees at present and initiated . Our goal is to form and promote in entire 12 GPs of Ramanaguda Block of Rayagada District, Odisha in the next 5 years.
Farmers Producer Company (FPC)
READ has already been developed two Farmers Producer Company (FPCs) in its operational area to make the farmers independent and to access reasonable price of their products , keep control over the marketing of the products and access more benefit from the agriculture.
