Sticking to His Roots
Arjun can now make a sustainable living on his ancestral land
For years, Arjun Bidika would rise at dawn to work his fields, trying to grow cash crops like cotton and beans to earn enough and feed his family.
He would work late into the evening, returning home exhausted and discouraged.
Arjun, who lives in the village of Gumariguda in India, has two acres of land that he’s been farming for the past ten years. His land is full of steep slopes, lacks access to a water source, and has poor soil quality. Growing crops to sell and to feed his family has been a struggle. Over the years Arjun has noticed that the climate has changed. His land is more prone to extreme weather from cyclones and prolonged droughts that leaves his fields barren.
As a farmer from a low-income family, Arjun was desperate for a solution. Should he take out a high interest loan to buy expensive fertilizers? Should he sell his family’s land and move to the city, abandoning his tribal home and his community?
As Arjun wrestled with his decision, Tearfund’s local partner, EFICOR, began hosting farming workshops at the local church in Gumariguda.
When he heard about the training from EFICOR, Arjun quickly signed up. He soaked up all the information he could. EFICOR staff taught Arjun and his neighbours innovative farming methods that would help them grow their crops on sloped areas with low access to water. Their training claimed that they could double, even triple their harvests!
Returning to his fields after the training sessions, Arjun felt determined. He quickly put all he had learned into action on his small plot of land.
The results were incredible! Arjun harvested 700kg (the weight of a full-sized horse) of cotton to sell at local markets. His profit from his hard work was $460, more money than he had ever seen in his whole life.
“I have learnt new techniques and this will help me to work hard and earn more for my family,” says Arjun. “I would not have done this without the project intervention, and I extend my sincere gratitude to EFICOR.”
Your generous support is changing the lives of poor farmers like Arjun. He now has a way to make a living on his ancestral land. Arjun won’t have to worry about where his family’s next meal is coming from, because your gifts made it possible for him to grow his income and livelihood. He’s now lifting himself from poverty with dignity and with hope.
