Report on the Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme in India

Introduction

Smallholder farmers, who constitute 84% of the world’s farms and produce one-third of global food, face significant challenges including exploitation by middlemen and environmental stresses. The Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme in India is pioneering a new system to facilitate the transition of smallholder farmers to regenerative farming. This initiative aligns closely with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Challenges Faced by Smallholder Farmers

1. Environmental Stressors: Erratic weather, water scarcity, and soil erosion threaten harvest stability.
2. Economic Vulnerability: Farmers often borrow against future harvests due to low profits and market pressures favoring bulk, mono-crop farming.
3. Market Exploitation: Middlemen monopolize supply chains and manipulate prices, reducing farmers’ earnings.
4. Knowledge Gaps: Lack of education on regenerative practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and bio-input preparation.
5. Certification Barriers: High costs and complexity of organic certification hinder small-scale farmers from accessing premium markets.

Programme Objectives and Approach

The Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme aims to:

• Promote regenerative farming practices that improve soil health and reduce dependency on chemical inputs.
• Create a fairer market by enabling direct sales from farmers to consumers, local businesses, and institutions.
• Provide education and support through in-person training and a dedicated hotline for instant advice.
• Develop digital platforms and communication networks (e.g., WhatsApp groups) to connect farmers with buyers.
• Leverage community trust to bypass costly certification processes, enabling farmers to obtain premium prices.

Impact and Progress

Key achievements include:

• Approximately 9,000 farmers in Tamil Nadu have transitioned to regenerative agriculture.
• A pilot project in Coimbatore involves 100 regenerative farmers supplying organic produce directly to the Isha Yoga Center, which feeds around 4,000 residents daily.
• Farmers receive a 10-15% price premium compared to conventional markets, improving their economic stability (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Yields from regenerative farms match or surpass conventional farms, disproving myths that regenerative agriculture cannot sustain food security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: Enhancing farmers’ income by reducing middlemen exploitation and increasing profitability.
• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Supporting sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices.
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Promoting organic produce that improves human health.
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Creating sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Encouraging organic, regenerative farming and reducing chemical inputs.
• SDG 15 – Life on Land: Restoring soil health and biodiversity through regenerative practices.

Scalability and Global Relevance

The model developed in Tamil Nadu offers a scalable blueprint for other countries with similar smallholder farming contexts, such as Kenya, Indonesia, and Peru. Potential adaptations include:

• East Africa: Implementing agroforestry and composting to combat soil degradation and erratic rainfall.
• Southeast Asia: Diversifying rice monocultures through crop rotation and organic methods to enhance soil resilience.
• Latin America: Establishing direct-to-consumer platforms to improve market access and empower rural farmers.

Challenges and Support Mechanisms

Despite successes, challenges remain:

• Digital literacy gaps among rural farmers.
• Logistical complexities in distribution networks.
• Resistance from entrenched market interests benefiting from current systems.

The programme addresses these through structured support, education, and community engagement to empower farmers and build sustainable markets.

Conclusion

The Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme demonstrates that regenerative farming can be both ecologically sustainable and economically viable. By fostering direct market access, education, and community trust, the initiative supports multiple SDGs and offers a pathway to transform global agriculture. Scaling this model worldwide could contribute significantly to building resilient food systems, improving rural livelihoods, and promoting environmental sustainability.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article focuses on smallholder farmers who provide a third of the world’s food and highlights the need for sustainable farming practices to ensure food security.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting regenerative agriculture and organic produce supports sustainable consumption and production patterns.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – Regenerative farming practices help combat soil erosion, water stress, and erratic weather patterns, contributing to climate resilience.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land – The emphasis on soil health and regenerative agriculture supports sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and land restoration.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty – By improving farmers’ profitability and reducing exploitation by middlemen, the program addresses poverty reduction among smallholder farmers.
6. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating fairer markets and empowering farmers economically aligns with promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 2 – Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, and fishers.
2. SDG 2 – Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
3. SDG 12 – Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
4. SDG 13 – Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
5. SDG 15 – Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.
6. SDG 1 – Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
7. SDG 8 – Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

• Indicator for SDG 2.3: Agricultural productivity and income levels of smallholder farmers, implied by the article’s mention of increased profits and yields matching or surpassing conventional farms.
• Indicator for SDG 2.4: Adoption rate of regenerative farming practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and bio-input preparation.
• Indicator for SDG 12.2: Reduction in use of intensive fertilizers and pesticides, implied by the shift to regenerative and organic farming.
• Indicator for SDG 13.1: Resilience to erratic weather patterns and water stress, measured by stable or improved harvests despite climate challenges.
• Indicator for SDG 15.3: Soil health improvements, including reduced erosion and restored fertility, as indicated by the program’s focus on soil replenishment.
• Indicator for SDG 1.2: Increase in farmers’ earnings and reduction in exploitation by middlemen, demonstrated by direct-to-consumer sales and premium prices.
• Indicator for SDG 8.3: Number of farmers engaged in regenerative agriculture and access to fair markets, supported by digital platforms and community trust.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: earth.org