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Collective’s work with farmers
Initiated in 1990, the Timbaktu Collective has been attempting to respond to the desperate situation and agrarian crisis in 140 villages of Chennekothapalli, Roddam and Ramagiri Mandals of Anantapur District.

The Collective began experimenting and researching the whole aspect of dryland / rainfed farming in 1998/99 under a small project, “Seeds of Hope” with support from Asha for Education. The first major project that it took up with support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, was to promote “Organic Farming” among the local farmers. This was initiated in 2005-06 and completed in June 2009. A second project to “Revitalise sustainable rural livelihoods” was launched in January 2008 with support from EED/EU and is expected to be completed by December 2012.

The SDTT supported project focused on the development of land and soil fertility by assisting 350 farming families from 8 villages. The activities also included training activities, as well as support to marketing of the produce. A marketing unit was established and resources were acquired to cover the costs of staff. The resources raised through this project were complemented by capital raised from individual investors (“Friends of Timbaktu” and other collaborators) as interest bearing and non-interest bearing loans. One of the women thrift cooperatives (Adisakthi MATCS) promoted by the Collective, put in the initial capital for the venture. The total funds raised were invested in the development of the basic infrastructure necessary to set the base for further work. In April 2008, a producer owned co-operative (Dharani FaM Co-operative Ltd) was registered to carry out the processing and marketing activities with all the 350 farmers as members and shareholders.

The EED/EU supported project promotes further land development activities in an additional 18 villages, covering 540 farming families. Importantly, this project has also helped the participating farmers to purchase 450 pairs of cows – one of the essentials in sustainable non-chemical farming. Some bulls were also purchased for further breeding to make this undertaking self-sustainable. In addition, the project also supports 270 agriculture labour families to take up various agriculture related livelihood options. Funds are also available for training the directors of the cooperative.

As a result, a total of 890 families are now growing organic food in a sustainable way on 2670 acres of land.

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