Sampark is the coordinating agency for the National Biodiversity Campaign in Madhya Pradesh, advocating for traditional seed conservation amidst threats from hybrid and GM seeds. Sampark’s work with the Bhil community in Jhabua focuses on nurturing sustainable agriculture rooted in traditional knowledge and holistic stewardship. Over 500 families in 50 villages have been guided in organic practices, such as creating natural manure, conserving indigenous seeds, and preparing herbal pesticides. In 10 villages, Sampark is striving to make organic farming the standard, nurturing healthy soils and resilient crops.

Through campaigns emphasizing water conservation and responsible farming, Sampark has empowered more than 5,000 farmers to adopt line sowing across 4,000 acres, achieving remarkable yield increases of over 50% and significantly boosting the average income by 227% per acre. The restoration of 7 native minor millet varieties stands as a testament to our commitment to biodiversity, and seed cooperatives in villages like Temariya and Dabdi now supply high-quality seeds for soya bean, cotton, turmeric and maize.

Practical techniques like pheromone traps, yellow plates, and organic pesticides have reduced farmers’ reliance on costly chemicals. Organic nitrogen is prepared to compensate for the use of urea in the crop of wheat in the rabi season. Community-driven learning is furthered through farmer gatherings and study tours, fostering a spirit of knowledge-sharing. A demonstration pit for vermicompost has been constructed in the Sampark compound. This pit produces vermicompost on a large scale, in which 90 bags of 50 kg are produced every three months and then marketed.