Programmes : Agriculture, Ecology and Climate Change
Agriculture is the largest occupation in the country. The challenge of agriculture in the 21st century requires a systemic integration of the environmental, social and economic pillars of development to meet the needs of present generations without sacrificing the livelihoods of future generations. Over the next 50 years, the world population is projected to increase by some 3 billion, primarily in the developing countries. Yet, even today, some 800 million people go hungry daily, and more than a billion live on less than a INR 50 a day. This food insecurity and poverty affecting one-quarter of the world's population is a sad indictment of the failure to respond adequately in a time of unprecedented scientific progress and economic development. There is no way we can meet food security and poverty concerns without first addressing the issues of sustainable agricultural and rural development.
ZAMEENALAYA - School for studies in Natural resources and Energy
PIDT works with farmers through it’s farmers clubs where the farmers fields are linkedwith local Krishi Vigyan Kendras and become learning and research centers. As an example 600 farmers went through training in System of Rice Intensification, where water requirement for paddy cultivation is much reduced. There was 80% adoption of this technique where the yield in one year jumped 300 %– 500% . Also PIDT has been propagating the growth of vegetables , which was almost non existing in the region and enabled the farmer families to increase their nutrition content. Now large corporates like Reliance are sourcing from the area. PIDT hopes to proceed towards the strengthening of small and marginal farmer collectives. PIDT Zameenalaya is also involved in teaching the school children how to grow their own food.
CHARCHALAYA – Dialogue and Advocacy
People to people and people to places connections can transform people and their worldview. PIDT wants to develop people’s understanding of peaceful and ecologically friendly cultures, which has a resilience in their survival proving their sustainability and economic viability. PIDT will promote ecologically and spiritually oriented rural tourism, so that the country can reduce the masculine content of it’s society to accepting feminine manners of behaviour and conflict resolution, as well as materiality, customs and traditions.