In India hunger is always just around the corner for millions of the population.
Until a short time ago the 1,000 or so smallholders in the 29 villages around Malia Hatia in Gujarat State experienced extreme poverty and often famine when the monsoon failed, because of lack of irrigation and inefficient methods of cultivation.
Through their co-operative society the farmers have managed to provide funds for 36 'bullock powered' pesticide sprayers and 50 hand operated sprayers, on the understanding that a training scheme would be organised to instruct the smallholders on the use and maintenance of the equipment.
With CAFOD's help this project is now well on the way to success. The staple crops are ground nuts and hajra (a kind of millet) and with the spray equipment and their improved knowledge of efficient cultivation, the farmers are hoping to resume cotton crops, which had been previously abandoned because of poor yields. Already living standards are rising and the farmers have new confidence in the future.
This project has been supported by individual donations and panshes and groups through the CAFOD Friday Self-Denial Scheme. It would not have been possible without your generous support.