Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC) is driven by its vision and mission, through which it seeks to address the challenges posed by India’s rapidly increasing population and an equally rapid reduction of its poverty, putting pressure on its land and water resources. Today, consumers want more food, more fibre for cloth and more feed for their animals. SREC believes that this ever-growing demand can be sustained only if the agricultural sector makes a transition towards smart and sustainable land and water use, increase its production by adopting efficient processes, coupled with less pollution, greater precision in the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and a reduction in the use of water and energy.
SREC is working together with small farmers, workers, local authorities, private sector and research institutes as a catalyst for improved food production, a safer workplace, access to clean water, and a better income.
SREC Centre is a Charitable Trust established in December 2008, registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 and 80 G & 12 AA of The Income Tax Act, 1961. Wherein we,
Sixty-five-year-old Kanwar Lal of Narwal village in Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh had been practicing chemical intensive farming on his 8-acre land for several years read more
How one of the largest leather clusters in India is turning to sustainability, one block at a time, with Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre’s ‘Waste to Walk’ read more
Forty-two-year-old Indira Kadam is an anganwadi worker in Munoli village in Belagavi district of Karnataka in southern India. A single woman, she read more
Issue/Volume: 34/02
Solidaridad’s Executive Board of Directors and Regional Directors Visit Bhopal; Renew Their Commitment to Work for Change That Matters
Our Executive Board of Directors from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe were recently in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, for a two-day field visit and a strategic partners’ meeting. At the Nico Roozen International Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in Barkheda Kharet, a walk through the newly-launched museum took them on a journey that traces evolution of sustainable farming in India and beyond, and how integration of technology with traditional agricultural knowledge can unlock new opportunities for small-scale farmers, making farming viable and even profitable.
What farmers learn at the centre, they practise it on their farm. Like Arun Verma, whose 4-acre farm the directors visited. They heard from him—and saw—about how mulching, vermicomposting, crop diversification and bio-inputs have improved the quality of soil, reduced his spend on synthetic inputs and improved overall yield, in turn helping him and his family live a life of dignity.
Such stories of change on-farm were supported by encouraging feedback from our private sector partners during their informal meeting with the regional directors. At the end of the 2-day visit, our India team was raring to go—renewing their commitment to work towards change that matters.
Women Artisans Step into the Market at the Kanpur Leather Mela
The Kanpur Leather Mela held around the middle of October provided a useful platform for women artisans associated with the LEVEL-UP project, implemented by Solidaridad and supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), to showcase their products. Organized by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), the mela aimed to strengthen market linkages by connecting small leather manufacturers and artisans directly with buyers and brands.
The Solidaridad Resource Centre, representing the Kanpur–Unnao leather belt, showcased a range of handcrafted leather products made by women entrepreneurs trained under the LEVEL-UP initiative. The products were appreciated by visitors and industry leaders, especially for their quality, design, and craftsmanship.
Beyond the exhibition, the participation served a deeper purpose: providing women artisans exposure to real market environments, helping them understand buyer preferences, product diversification, and emerging trends. The experience not only enhanced their confidence but also paved the way for building sustainable market linkages and stronger visibility for women-led enterprises in India’s leather ecosystem.
At Village Seminar in Odisha, Scientists Unveil Scientific, Participatory Approach to Improving Farmers’ Livelihoods
A village seminar, recently organized by Solidaridad at Karanji village in Cuttack district, Odisha, aimed to introduce a scientific and participatory approach to improving farmers’ livelihoods.
For this purpose, six scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR–NAARM), Hyderabad, conducted participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in the area—through social mapping, resource mapping, and evaluation of agro-ecological processes. At the seminar, the scientists presented the findings from this exercise, and suggested a development plan encompassing aspects of animal science, food processing, microbiology, and plant physiology.
The experts highlighted the importance of combining scientific knowledge with traditional farming practices to achieve sustainable growth. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Cuttack, assured technical support for all sorts of development on extension services, crop diversification and soil health amendments. The Head of KVK Cuttack, along with the Block Veterinary Officer and Agriculture Department officials, also participated in the programme and shared their valuable insights for village development. The event ended with an interactive session where farmers actively shared their views. The initiative marked an important step toward making Karanji a Smart Agri Village for sustainable and integrated rural development.
Status Report on Small Tea Sector Submitted to Tamil Nadu Government; Makes Key Recommendations to Overcome Challenges
On 16 October 2025, a delegation from the Malai Mavatta Siru Vivasaigal Nala Sangam (MMSVNS)—the Hill District Small Farmers’ Welfare Society—formally submitted a detailed status report titled “Small Tea Sector in Nilgiris District—A Call for Policy Intervention” to the Government of Tamil Nadu at the State Secretariat in Chennai.
The delegation was led by Tumpur I. Bhojan, President of MMSVNS, accompanied by Manikandan (Vice President), Vijay Belli (Secretary), Sathish Bellan (Public Relations Officer), and advisors Arjun and Vinod (from Solidaridad Asia) who provided technical and analytical expertise in the preparation of the report.
During the visit, the delegation met with and presented the report to the following senior officials and dignitaries of the Government of Tamil Nadu:
The report offers a comprehensive assessment of the challenges confronting small tea growers in the Nilgiris district—including price instability, restricted access to financial resources, inadequate skill development infrastructure, and the absence of robust institutional support. It further proposes a series of targeted policy measures designed to improve the sector’s competitiveness, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
The delegation appealed to the state government to evaluate and adopt the proposed recommendations in the report, emphasizing the importance of policy and institutional backing to reinforce the small tea sector.
The small tea sector is a source of livelihood for thousands of rural smallholder families in the Nilgiris. With strategic support and direction from the government, this sector holds the potential to evolve into a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable contributor to both the regional economy and the broader tea industry in Tamil Nadu.
A New Beginning for Inclusive Growth in the Kolkata Leather Complex
This month saw a milestone achievement by Solidaridad, under the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (FVO)-funded project that also boasts of a collaboration between Dugros, CooLoo, and Ilpa Industrial Development Foundation (IIDF). The commencement of the Skill Development Training Programme for the upcoming All-Women Working Unit—a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Kolkata Leather Complex officially began on 22 October 2025.
The initiative marks a significant step towards generating equal opportunities for women in the leather goods manufacturing sector, advancing the goals of making the supply chain stronger and more inclusive. The inaugural batch started with 30 enthusiastic women trainees from different socio-economic backgrounds who will undergo hands-on training in the production of various leather goods—starting from cutting and stitching to finishing and quality control.
As the training progresses, we look forward to witnessing the women evolve into skilled professionals and leaders who will shape the future of a more equitable and sustainable leather industry.
Awareness Sessions in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha Guide Farmers on Good and Regenerative Agricultural Practices
Cotton is an integral part of the rural economy in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region—and the importance of training farmers on good agricultural practices is immense.
To this end, Solidaridad conducted awareness sessions in Chichpur and Tuljapur villages in Amravati district this month. Agriculture experts from Solidaridad guided farmers on integrated nutrient and pest management these sessions.
Integrated pest management practices on cotton farms include the use of pheromone traps, yellow and blue sticky traps, and the installation of pheromone traps. Integrated nutrient management allows farmers to identify phase-wise nutrients to be provided to the cotton crop. Application of correct nutrients at the correct time and in the right ratio leads to quality cotton production.
Under the Organic Cotton Programme, more training sessions were organized in the villages of Karla and Amla village in the Amravati district. Here, our staff guided farmers on efficient water management in cotton, good agricultural practices, intercultural operations in cotton, among others. Topics such as decent working conditions and standard cotton-picking practices were also discussed by the agriculture experts.
Convergence Training Sessions in Maharashtra Outline Pathways for Farmers to Adopt Regenerative Farming
Our team in Maharashtra recently held a farmers’ field school at Susundri village in Nagpur district, in convergence with the Cotton Development Research Association and the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology. The school focused on regenerative agriculture practices, and the role of cotton cultivation in boosting the rural and global economy. Topics discussed included categories of cotton staple length, moisture management practices, carbon sequestration, integrated nutrient and pest management, and the importance of high-density planting system (HDPS) for enhancing farm income and profitability.
Farmers who participated in the event went on to share their experiences of shifting towards chemical-free farming, and the role of farmer producer organizations in empowering the farming community. Agricultural experts, on the other hand, guided farmers on standard cotton picking practices and decent work practices.
Rasthriya Mahila Kisan Diwas,
On October 15, 2025, our team proudly celebrated Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas across project villages in Gujarat. This annual event, held on Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s birth anniversary, honours the incredible contributions of women, who are the true backbone of India’s food security system, constituting 60–70 per cent of the country’s agricultural workforce.
The day’s events provided a dynamic platform for conversations and discussions that moved beyond a simple acknowledgement of women’s roles to addressing the need to ensure gender equality in the agricultural sector, with a particular focus on enabling access to vital resources, specialized training, and meaningful leadership opportunities.
The day’s events also reaffirmed our commitment to:
World Cotton Day,
Our team in Maharashtra celebrated World Cotton Day on 7 October 2025, at the State Resource and Training Centre in Kalmeshwar block, Nagpur district. The centre hosts agriculture experts and farmers for knowledge sharing and capacity-building activities.
The event on World Cotton Day saw high participation of farmers from the district. Experts discussed challenges faced by cotton growers, and ways to improve livelihoods and living standards. A major problem faced by the farmers is the low market price of cotton. To address this, experts suggested farmers to form producer organizations (FPOs), and to strengthen existing FPOs for collective bargaining and forming linkages with brands.
During the event, the farmers also realized the importance of good agricultural practices, carbon credits, and ways to stop environmental harm. The experts also guided farmers regarding decent working conditions and standard cotton-picking practices.
The Making of a Climate-Smart Farmer,
Earlier this year, a prolonged spell of rainfall wreaked havoc across Maharashtra, especially its farms and fields. It did not spare Prajjwal, a farmer in the Nagpur district and an active participant in the Smart Agri Project for the past five years. Thankfully, Prajjwal had the power of technology to prevent losses.
Prajjwal’s farm hosts an Internet of Things (IoT)-based automated weather station (AWS) which provides real-time climate data and digital advisories. These advisories offer weather forecasts and guidance—8–10 days in advance—on irrigation, pest management, and soil health, delivered via mobile alerts.
“The advisory helped me pre-plan my farming activities to protect my crops and improve productivity,” says Prajjwal. “When I received an alert that rain was expected within the next 8 days, I postponed irrigation and spraying of bio-pesticides. Instead, I prepared trenches around my farm to prevent waterlogging. This timely action saved a large portion of my crop.”
Through this intervention, Prajjwal improved planning, reduced input costs, and enhanced his ability to interpret data on weather. His experience highlights how IoT-enabled advisories empower farmers to make data-driven decisions, adapt to erratic weather, and build resilience against climate risks in Maharashtra.
