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  • NewRice-ing to the Rescue: Assam's Annapurna Seed Library is Making Gains with Grain Page
Due to travel restrictions in place at this time, Fertile Ground
and our partners are not currently accepting applications for volunteer opportunities.
​Please stay safe and take good care of those around you.....
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Organic Farming initiative at Kakojan College 

Fertile Ground played a key role in planning and development of an Organic Demonstration Garden located near Jorhat, Assam.  The centre may be able to use help from volunteers interested in growing and caring for vegetables, flowers, fruit and grains.  Special attention will be given to planting out some of the area's traditional varieties. Teachers at Kakojan College and local resource people periodically offer students and young farmers information about how to care for the soil, prepare low-cost, organic inputs, and develop marketing and entrepreneurial skills.  For information about this program, click here!   Watch a slideshow showing development of the garden!

Our partners in this project were Kakojan College and the NGO NEADS. Funding has been made available through Rotary Clubs in District 5020, Fertile Ground and donors in Canada and the US.



Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa
This 2 acre demonstration garden and resource centre
is located in the small town of Digboi, and easily reached by train or bus. Staff members Babu Tanti, Iqbal Hussain and Suman Ghosh can always use a helping hand tending the garden and preparing traditional Vedic formulas used to improve soil and control insect pests.   Click here to view a slide show highlighting activities that have taken place over the past 12 years.

Funding
 for ASP is being provided primarily through Indian Oil Corporations' Social Responsbility Program.  Project oversight is now managed by representatives from IOC and/or Rotary Club Digboi. 
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Seeds of Assam
This seed-saving initiative was launched in early 2013 to raise awareness of the need to protect local and traditional varieties of rice, vegetables, pulses and other grains.  The project, now known as Annapurna Seed Library, is headed up by Mahan Borah, a young farmer from the Jorhat area.  


Mahan has planted out over 200 varieties of paddy (rice) and has collected and grown out important local seeds including brinjal (eggplant) and chili.  If you want to take part in helping Mahan create a living seed "bank", or are interested in helping plan and organize training events, he'd love to hear from you!   Watch a short video about his vision and goals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIpFTpHwGM8

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Farming Families in Bodo Communities - Kokrajahr/Udalguri
Fertile Ground provided training and encouragement to an enthusiastic group of young tea growers and farmers from villages close to the Bhutan/Assam border, homeland of the Bodo, one of Assam's indigenous peoples.  

Several tea and/or eco-tourism initiatives have been established over the past few years.  Click here to read about one developed by tea grower Tenzing Bodosa. 



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North East Affected Area Development Society - NEADS
NEADS has worked for over a decade with families from flood-affected areas in Assam.  With support from Rotary Clubs in District 5020, Fertile Ground worked with NEADS and community members near Ambikapur village to construct sanitary latrines, simple school playgrounds and an organic demonstration garden.  Click on the photo
 to view a slide show about the development of the garden.  Through "Kids to Kids", we also connected with elementary school children and their teachers.  You can learn more about that initiative by visiting the project's Facebook site:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kids-to-Kids/203562856337220


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