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Preservation and Proliferation of Rural Resources and Nature (PRAN) works with poor and marginal communities of Bihar at the grassroots level to enhance their food security and cash income through climate resilience technology such as System of Root Intensification (SRI) method of crop cultivation. PRAN grew out of PRADAN, a Delhi based NGO, to focus specifically on addressing the above issues through application of new knowledge and technology.

Some of their activities during FY15:

• The major focus of PRAN is to form SRI women groups to sustain activities of SRI method of crop cultivation. At present, it is operational in the districts of Gaya and Nalanda. During the year, the average yield per hectare under the SRI method was found to be far higher compared to the traditional method of farming.
• The local blacksmith was trained to manufacture equipment which would help in SRI method of farming. PRAN also helped him obtain legal documents to enable him to sell equipment to other agencies promoting SRI method of crop cultivation.
• With support from Jain Irrigation Systems and Alicia Harley of Harvard University, PRAN implemented a community managed solar irrigation project integrated with drip, among farmers. This turned out to be far more cost effective for farmers compared to the earlier method of using diesel pump sets.
• PRAN participated in various Kisan Melas organized by the department of agriculture and agricultural universities. As a result, several research institutions became aware of SRI and were curious to know more about this practice.
• Extensive capacity building among farmers was done through awareness campaigns where specially trained women sang songs to describe SRI and its benefits. State and district level workshops were also conducted during the year.
• PRAN won Skoch, a national level award, for enhancing food security among small and marginal farmers through innovative and sustainable agriculture, improving ecology. It participated in an international conference organized by Harvard University at Boston, USA, on access to climate resilience agriculture for vulnerable farmers. PRAN also shared its experience in Cornell University at Ithaca, USA, where a large number of rice scientists and students participated.