I have been invited to go to Maharashtra and meet with farmers who have been practicing Sustainable Yogic Agriculture (SYA). I'm leaving in ten days so I have limited time to get a solid research proposal together. Therefore, I'd like some guidance from others on how to make the most of this research opportunity (my training is in anthropology and ethnography).
SYA is a process where farmers combine meditation with traditional organic farming. Quantitative data regarding crop yield, nutrition and economic benefits are available (see attachment).
The UN (where I work representing an NGO) is interested in local innovative projects that are improving the lives of - and making tangible contributions to - local farming communities. They are also seeking disaggregated data. So there is a need for both qualitative and quantitative data.
I have a week with the farmers, so Participant Observation will be the foundation of my time there. And focussed interviews. Areas of interest I'm considering at the moment are the effects of SYA on farmer health and wellbeing, within individuals, families, communities. There are also broader issues and challenges such as market access, attitudes of local and regional government, problems with seed sharing, political pressure/ support, affect on farmer suicide.
I wonder if some of you who have experience and expertise in the area of agricultural research could make some suggestions as to how to make the best use of the farmers time, and my time too. So I can return with something that can make a real contribution to this important area of food security, climate change, agricultural innovation and farmer wellbeing.
With my thanks and appreciation.
Article Systems Approach to Agriculture
we are doing a questionnaire based survey in Uganda to get an idea of community health and well being such that we can use this data to make informed decisions towards developing agricultural programs. you can get more information about the group at www.deeprootsconsultants.com. We are neccesarily focusing on nutrition and agriculture. I do not mind sharing some of this information if you ask me specific questions or even reviewing some of your questions if you make a basic worksheet. From the information you gave above I think a few things to consider may be to collect information before implementaiton of SYA and after and how this has affected their well being. You will have to necessarily sub-section the survey into health status, nutrition status, access to food/ changes in food systems, agricultural progress and socio economic changes. In the health status section it may be important to subsection it to collect information about physical and mental well being,both, since the practice incorporates yoga-meditation. In terms of agriculture, seed source, fertilization, irrigation methods, agricultural input, cost of input, outcome (yields), new markets (if any?) profitability and its impact on local economy may be something to consider. Some of this data will be qualitative but it is important to develop a quantititive scale to measure most if not all impacts. FYI we are working in Uganda as UN volunteers and will love to work with you in this adventure. I am originally from India, Maharashtra and if you happen to have any cultural questions / roadblocks please feel free to ping.
Greetings Archana and apologies for my tardy response. Thank you very much for this. I will look at the link you sent to learn more. Great to know you are from Maharashtra and interested in this area.
I have just started communicating with a group of farmers from the Hudson Valley who would like to start learning the simple methodology behind SYA so they can start applying it in their farms as soon as possible. From New York to Maharashtra! If it can really impact on the wellbeing of farmers in terms of livelihood, inner wellbeing and physical health then it's really something to consider. I also have support from the First Secretary here at the Indian Mission to the UN. So at all levels there is interest.
Let's keep in touch. I appreciate your offer to help with your local knowledge of Maharashtra too. I'm sure we can find a way to work together in the future. There is a SYA Facebook site which will tell you a little more.
Many thanks and all the best.
Great! Lets continue the conversations and let me know how we can help
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy