Rayagada, located in the southern region of Odisha, is a predominantly tribal district renowned for its rich biodiversity, forest ecosystems, and traditional agricultural practices. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, with farmers cultivating millets, paddy, pulses, and indigenous crops. The district offers immense potential for promoting natural farming by integrating traditional knowledge with sustainable agricultural practices.

District Challenge

The major challenge in Rayagada is limited awareness and communication barriers due to the district’s linguistic diversity and limited access to agricultural extension services. These constraints hinder the adoption of improved natural farming practices, despite the presence of strong traditional ecological knowledge among farming communities.

Our Approach

Prakriti adopts a community-based approach to promote natural farming by strengthening farmer groups and encouraging collective participation in sustainable agriculture. The programme focuses on creating awareness among women farmers and Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities through regular training, capacity-building, and community engagement activities.

The organization also facilitates market linkages by connecting farmers with potential buyers and promoting collective marketing of naturally grown produce. Through continuous awareness, technical guidance, and community participation, Prakriti is supporting the transition towards inclusive, resilient, and sustainable natural farming systems.

Farmer Training Programmes

One training programme is conducted per cluster in every season to strengthen farmers’ knowledge and practical skills in natural farming.

Cluster Meetings

Two cluster meetings are organized per cluster in every season to promote peer learning, community participation, and continuous technical support.