From Subsistance to sustenance

From Subsistance to Sustenance

CYSD works towards enhancing the status of agriculture from subsistence to a profitable and sustainable venture by strengthening knowledge system at the grassroots and initiating a multi-agency process in livelihoods focusing on information sharing, cross learning and upscale of livelihoods promotion by working with and coordinating among one another

CYSD believes in attaining the objectives of sustainable livelihoods for the poor and their holistic development and empowerment. It further aims at incorporating concrete suggestive action plans to take the agriculture into the targeted growth rate by fulfilling the needs of small and marginal farmers in the State of Orissa.

CYSD aims to improve people’s livelihood prospects by increasing food security. It focuses on providing means of sustainable livelihood by building capacity of communities by strengthening producer groups so that they gain independence and generate better bargaining abilities.

While addressing the gap between research and field reality, various factors are taken into account such as the technical know-how, irrigation facilities, procedure of availability of credit, marketing linkages and facilities for export promotion, in order to increase pro-poor orientation of policies and facilitate a more coherent civil society.

It is ensured that the policy objectives mainly emphasise on doubling the food grain production, enhancing the status of agriculture from subsistence to a profitable commercial venture, generating adequate employment opportunities and reorienting agriculture towards export.

The organisation emphasises on improved agricultural and natural resource practices; developing entrepreneurial skills; facilitating access to credit by developing self-help groups, promoting micro enterprises; and improving access to markets. It also undertakes research and advocacy initiatives at various levels to bring about pro-poor policy changes to positively affect the livelihood situation of tribal people.

CYSD emphasises on the rise of food-grain production to enhance the status of agricultural productivity, to facilitate a more coherent civil society. This however depends on various factors as the technical know-how of the farmers, their fertiliser consumption and water resources, and seed replacement options. Due to the prevalence of absentee landlordism, incomplete land consolidations and un-formalised tenancies, the process however slows down. In order to keep a check on these practices and aid in an increase in agricultural productivity, CYSD undertakes vigorous training and capacity building programmes and consultations with the farmers in the community.

CYSD believes in providing in for a trade-focused convergence with viable small enterprises value-adding to agriculture products at every stage of the value chain. It believes in re-orienting agriculture towards export.