Kheti Virasat Mission

H O: Jaitu, District Faridkot

Phones: 9872682161 , 9915195061; 01635-503415

Kheti Virasat Mission is a nor for profit conscious civil society action group established in March 2005 and registered as a trust with head office at Jaitu town of district Faridkot.

KVM is working in the field of sustainable agriculture, conservation of natural resources, environmental health and eco-sustainable technologies.

 KVM undertakes policy debates, issues of WTO and globalization, activities of environmental education, awareness and advocacy, youth activities for environment and sustainable development. Apart from this KVM has also build cross section alliance through networking with other civil society groups, activists, and experts.

 KVM is working to promote sustainable - ecological agricultural practices, conservation and regeneration of natural water resources and to re-establish the traditional wisdom and practices related to water. It works for awareness on environmental health issues, eco sustainable rural development.

THE MISSION

A conviction and commitment for voluntary work that is come out of this pain and agony, has become foundation of KVM. The formation of KVM was a result of constant efforts and a dedicated evolutionary process of re-vitalizing our own society; make our motherland prosper with imperishable abundance and sustainable life systems. KVM owe to the future generations of Punjab to protect its ecology and nature. KVM is a movement

THE VISION

Kheti Virasat Mission is of firm belief that organic farming is the appropriate answer in this context; it is need of hour to motivate the farmers of Punjab to gradually switch over to the organic farming practices. The situation is alarming and the signs are ominous. We seem to be quite close to a stage, which can rightly be called “agriculture chaos” The time to act is now.

In the present circumstances, organic farming practices and sustainable technologies those are in-tune with nature and eco-system are perhaps only alternatives, and can help the people of Punjab, to come out of this agricultural, ecological, economic and civilizational crisis.

   Once the land of abundance, affluence , prosperity and five waters -The Punjab is now one of the most worst affected, ecologically devastated, economically crumbled and civizialtionally fractured part of the globe. The green revolution brings prosperity and materialistic development, but taken away the ages old ecological equilibrium, the civil society systems of sustainability, wisdom and livelihood. The sweetness of green revolution has turns sour and its brightness into darkness, pushing the Punjabi society into debt, displacement and death trap.

                                                      THE ACTION

KVM is working at the grassroots with decentralized participatory mode covering the vast arena of sustainable agriculture, conservation of ecology and natural resources, environmental health, cultural aspect of ecology and other issues related with globalization, livelihood, environmental and social justice. By involving the very first stakeholder ‘the farmers’ especially the sufferer one KVM had undertaken various activities to enhance their capacities. Making them enable to undertake the endeavour for sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources.

KVM has dream to make framers- especially the small and marginal farmers’ debt free living in non-exploitative system, self-reliant - nurturing their genetic resources and conserving their knowledge system.

For this KVM has started Bhai Bhagtu Kudrati Kheti Vidyalaya, near Jaitu at village Ramgarh-Bhagtuana. The BBKKV is working as a centre for non-formal education of sustainable agriculture practices and providing training of various methods of organic farming.

In last two yea KVM provides extension services to the farmers for this purpose more then 90 village level awareness meetings and farmer field workshop were organized across the state. More then 5000 farmers had participated in these workshops and meetings.

At present, more then 400 farmers are practicing natural farming in association with KVM. These farmers had adopted various ecological methods of soil nutrition management, pest management, crop management and water management. KVM is also updates regularly its farmers with latest technological information and new natural farming practices.

                                          THE NEW ENFOLDMENTS

As KVM is working on very broad canvas covering a vast arena of issues, problems and challenges, it is bound to have strong academic, intellectual, technical and social dimensions of its work.  

These dimensions will build a cross section grass root network of volunteers, organic farmers, physicians, agriculture experts, economists, environmentalists, heritage conservationists, experts of life sciences, academicians, literary and creative artists, poets and writers and community leaders. This networking also includes farmers’ groups, social activists, religious leaders and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institution.

KVM had initiated several endeavours to build an all-inclusive strong civil society movement in Punjab. To cover different aspects with involvement of experts and concerned persons KVM has formed subject specific action and working groups.

                         Action / Working Groups of KVM

1. Environmental Health Action Group

This group is basically a forum for physicians, medical professionals and experts of life sciences to take up the issues of environmental health. This group has so far organised 27 seminars as peoples’ dialogue on environmental health. It has honour in its credit to bring number of distinguished environmental epidemiologist to its programmes at grass root level.

1. Working Group on WTO & Globalization

This group is a taking up the various issues of trade, patents and globalization and discussing the socio-economic impacts of WTO process.

1. Action Group on Water Resources

Water crisis is one of most challenging issue of our time. Water literacy and training as one of its foremost tasks of KVM. KVM has so far organised 40 meetings, Seminars and workshops on water issues. It has also documented various aspects of water crisis.    

1.  Creativity for Environment – An forum of literary and creative artists

This is most unique initiative of KVM. KVM has bring several literary legends of Punjab together for building a environmental movement in Punjab. It is environmental brotherhood of creative artists for a cause.  

1. Environmental Justice Action Group  – An forum for environmental law activism

EJAG is network of legal experts and layers to take up the issues of environment at legal forums. It will also work as a discussion platform for new legal developments in environmental sector.   

1. Vatavaran Panchayat

Vatavaran Panchayat is a participatory forum and grass root level network for KVM activists, sympathisers, supports and partners, working for wider environmental and developmental issues. It is ecological action and working group of KVM. Vatavaran Panchayat has its units in most of districts in Punjab covering all regions.  Rightly, it can be called a peoples’ initiative for environment running with the peoples’ resources, voluntary participation and thoughts. It is true eco-democracy. 

Projects Undertaken by KVM:

·        KVM has motivated large number of village youth clubs to take up ecological regeneration task at grass root level.

·        Currently KVM is working on a project called as ‘Establishing Ecological Agriculture in Punjab in five villages of Faridkot and Bathinda district collaboration with Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad and funded Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.