Sustainable Spices Initiative (Chillies) and Better Cotton Initiative programme which is financed by IDH and BCI respectively with partnership of SVFD and being implemented by PRDIS. SVFD is a local partner in Guntur. These projects are implemented with about 5000 farmers in Guntur District of A.P and subsequently would like to extend to other district of A.P. and Telangana through this programme small scale resource poor farmers livelihoods are being improved. The result indicated that cotton farmers were benefited by increasing yield and cost reduction in application of pesticides getting additional net profit of Rs.10,000 from cotton and Rs.20,000 from chillies per acre. In addition health, safety and environmental issues were also tackled

SSI (Chillies) programme will be implemented during the year 2015 & 2016 with about 10000 farmers in Guntur (A.P) and Khammam (Telangana) for which IDH will support 60% of grants. The counter part funding has to come from SVFD to cover 30% of the funding gap and 10% will be mobilised through spice board and State Governments.

A Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Programme is launched in India aimed at empowerment of farmers on Better Cotton production principles (minimising harmful effects of crop protection practice), improving the soil health, water efficiency, protection of natural habitats and biodiversity, fibre quality) promotion of `decent work` principles and strong supply chain linkages through Farmers Organisations namely groups, networks/Federation and Producer Companies.

The programme has amply demonstrated as on holistic and futuristic demand driven agricultural extension model, for empowering and improvement of Livelihood of cotton farmers. In addition to improvement of livelihood of cotton farmers. In addition to improvement there was increase in human, social and economic capital. Majority of farmers were able to get net additional income of about Rs. 10,000 to 15000 / acre (150 to 200 $) through increase in 20 to 25 percent yields, 80 percent reduction in pesticide usage, 20 percent reduction in chemical fertiliser usage and changes in attitude towards environment and application of Decent work Principles specially in not using banned pesticides. Child Labour and awareness on farmers rights. Besides the programme has demonstrated the implementation of equity and ecological Principles with focus on women and natural resources management. Furthermore, the Linking farmers directly with markets has helped the farmers with better bargaining capacity better prices and elimination of middle men contributing to improvement in livelihoods. This programme and approach is being implemented in several countries.

The SVFD is the local partner for implementing this programme in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. About 5000 farmers are participating in this programme since 3 years. The Programme supported partly by SVFD in the interest of environment and income of small scale farmers. This has helped to reduce the cost on pesticides and fertilisers while increasing the yields besides protecting environment by sustainable agricultural practices. The SVFD has played a significant role in mitigating the distress of farmers.

• SVFD has arranged experts to provide technical advise and guidance for productivity enhancement and improving the net incomes and livelihoods of cotton and chilly farmer groups and Farmer Producer Organizations through Digital Technologies. It has also guided farmers on marketing and supply chain management. This has benefited many farmers specially in Karimnagar and Mahbubnagar district of Telangana and Guntur and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh state. About 50% of farmers participated in the program and have reduced chemical usage, water and also able to get additional net profit of about 25 to 30 %.
• Pincer app developed by RMSI company and BKC Weather Systems app developed by BKC Weather Systems Pvt Ltd. based in Noida, UP was used. This has helped the farmers to guard from climate variability and also getting remunerative prices to the produce.
• SVFD also participated in mobilization for campaigns on Bio diversity and environment organized by State Biodiversity Board of Telangana. It has also provided guidance on maintain Biodiversity registers by Biodiversity committees in selected villages
• 500 farmers were trained on Farm Mechanization in Paddy fields in association with Praanadhaara Foundation at Bapatla District of Andhra Pradesh. Some of the farmers adopted mechanization in direct sowing of paddy and getting good benefits, especially reduction in costs and saving of labour
• Supported sustainable Chilli initiative programme managed by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for promoting and export potential for residue free products at Khammam District of Telangana State
• Distributed IPM kits were distributed to lead farmers (20) growing chillis at Khammam district working with the guidance and support of FPO. The kit comprises of Pheromone yellow and blue sticky traps for installation of demo plots to monitor the pest incidence and also to control the sucking pests.
• Demonstrations and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) 10 demonstrations and 2 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) were organized on cotton and chillies at Mahbubnagar and Khammam Districts in convergence with State Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, ATMA and KVK to educate the farmers on new technologies showing the pathway towards sustainable agriculture. About 30-40 lead farmers participated in each FFS for a season long training and they were empowered with knowledge and skills to transfer to the other farmers in their area. Similarly, demonstrations were conducted with high density population in cotton and Integrated Pest Management in chillies. ATMA has facilitated field visits to these demonstrations and FFS from neighbouring villages which has helped in realizing the multiplier effect in adoption of these technologies.
• Learning Groups (LGs) were formed in one of the sample villages in Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar, Guntur and Kurnool districts as a pilot interventions where Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Program is being implemented by Framers Producers Organizations (FPOs). SVFD has shown the way in the pilot villages how groups have to be evolved and village networks have to be promoted, besides organizing trainings for this Learning Groups on technology and market interventions.