iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteeringIn Anantapur, agriculture is not just an occupation , it is a way of life. Yet, for many farmers, it is also a struggle for survival. During my SWAR Fellowship, I worked closely with horticulture farmers growing crops like sapota, banana, and groundnut. What I witnessed was a powerful contradiction: farmers were producing quality crops, […]
The discussion around cooking oil in India has been growing rapidly, especially when it comes to traditional oils like groundnut oil. If we look at the basic economics, one kilogram of groundnuts currently costs around ₹200. From that, we only get about 300–350 ml of oil through normal extraction. This means that to produce one […]
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are transforming Indian agriculture by empowering farmers to move from being price takers to price makers. With this vision in mind, I, Somusekhar, had the opportunity to visit Sahyadri Farms for an exposure visit aimed at strengthening the development of our FPO. The experience was not just a learning journey.it was […]
A Sustainable Pathway to Value Addition and Enhanced Farmer Incomes In India’s agrarian economy, increasing farmers’ income requires more than expanding cultivation.it requires transforming how agricultural produce is marketed and valued. In Sri Sathya Sai district, a region widely recognized as the horticulture hub of Andhra Pradesh, farmers produce a rich diversity of fruits, vegetables, […]
Agriculture in India is rich with potential, yet small and marginal farmers often struggle to realize fair value for their hard work. Seasonal price crashes, middlemen commissions, and post-harvest losses frequently reduce incomes to unsustainable levels. In Sri Sathya Sai district, despite being a horticulture hub supported by drip and sprinkler irrigation, this challenge remains […]
For decades, the name Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh evoked images of drought, struggling farmers, and parched landscapes. With one of the lowest average rainfall levels in India, scorching summer temperatures, and severely over exploited groundwater resources, agriculture here often felt like a gamble against nature. Farming families lived with constant uncertainty, never knowing if […]
India proudly calls its farmers Annadata, the givers of food and life. The word carries deep respect and cultural meaning. It reflects our belief that farmers sustain the nation and nourish every household. But beyond speeches, slogans, and festival greetings, a difficult truth remains. In reality, farmers are often respected in words but neglected in […]
The Moringa plant, often called the Miracle Tree or Tree of Life, is one of nature’s most extraordinary gifts to humanity. Used for centuries in traditional medicine and daily nutrition, Moringa is now gaining global recognition as one of the most nutrient-dense plants on Earth. What makes it truly special is that every part of […]
In April 2025, during field visits to 105 mango farms in Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, a disturbing reality emerged about the food we consume daily. Out of all these farms, only one was practicing organic farming. The remaining 104 farms relied heavily on chemical pesticides and insecticides to manage pests and diseases. Within […]
iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteering 