Beyond wheat, paddy and cane: a farmers' meeting in Richhola

On 30 September 2021 the farmers of Richhola Tarachand in Bareilly district, joined by farmers from Harharpur, gathered at the village shrine for an orientation on crop diversification. Eighty-two took part.

The advice was practical. Instead of growing only wheat, paddy and sugarcane, a farmer can divide his land and grow a little of everything — pulses and oilseeds, fruit, vegetables, agroforestry, dairy, flowers or medicinal plants — and sell directly to customers. The farmers were urged to learn the science of each, and to work through self-help groups. Shri Sameer Mohan, the Foundation's founder, addressed the meeting, which was organised by Khushhali's youth team in Richhola under Shri Ravi, with Shri Vinay and Shri Rohit making the arrangements.

Every farmer went home with seeds of five vegetables for a kitchen garden. After the meeting, Shri Sameer Mohan walked through the village to see the fruit trees given to its families in earlier years.