Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Food Security

Land, water and forests are the three most important resources for the people living in rural areas, especially the Tribals. Intensive work is carried out by Shakti in enhancing food security and improving environmental resistance to drought through effective land, water and forest management practices. Communities recognize the fact that sustainability of natural resources will also determine food security and sustainable livelihoods for themselves.

Shakti facilitates village communities in undertaking sustainable management of natural resources through a variety of interventions in promoting community forestry and horticulture, Agriculture land and water conservation and development. Shakti’s work in this sector is concentrated in the tribal dominated villages of Ramanaguda, Kashipur and K.Singpur Blocks of Rayagada district.

To reduce vulnerability of rural communities, Shakti encourages villagers to enhance their income sources through alternative livelihoods such as fish farming, horticulture and livestock development.

Forest Management

Forest is one of the major sources of livelihood of tribal people. So, in order to protect and promote the forest resource, Shakti raises the issue of forest management with the Forest Department of Government and the community. Shakti facilitated in motivation and formation of Vanya Sanrakhyan Samiti (VSS) - Village Forest Management Committee in its operational area. Under this programme,  user (village communities) and the owner, Forest Dept. (Government), manage the resource and share the cost equally. We succeeded in promoting 112 VSSs in Kasipur, K.Singpur and Ramanaguda Block and all of them are successfully functioning and 18,900 Hectare Forest areas is under their protection.

Forest is one of the major sources of livelihood of tribal people. So, in order to protect and promote the forest resource, Shakti raises the issue of forest management with the Forest Department of Government and the community. Shakti facilitated in motivation and formation of Vanya Sanrakhyan Samiti (VSS) - Village Forest Management Committee in its operational area. Under this programme,  user (village communities) and the owner, Forest Dept. (Government), manage the resource and share the cost equally. We succeeded in promoting 112 VSSs in Kasipur, K.Singpur and Ramanaguda Block and all of them are successfully functioning and 18,900 Hectare Forest areas is under their protection.

Social Forestry is an environmentally friendly method of forest management that involves the local community and recognizes an individual’s right to forest resources. Shakti has been actively involved in promoting social forestry by motivating for the regeneration of common and private wastelands by growing trees for fuel, fruit, fodder and timber and also by developing horticulture patches. These community forests and horticultural patches help people with their household requirements and enhance the income of the forest dwellers. Links have been established with appropriate government departments for procurement of seeds and saplings.