India is known around the world for its green chili, most of which is grown on smallholder farms and then sold to local, national and even global markets. But despite the global distribution of this chili, the smallholders who produce it face several barriers to earning a sufficient income.
“The Better Life Farming alliance taught me about the latest technology in crop protection and seeds, as well as nutrient management. I have been able to double my yield and triple my profitability. I can pay for the education of my two daughters and expand my farmland. I want to buy two hectares of land and provide people from my village with new jobs,” says 53-year-old ‘Pappu’ (Rajesh Kumar Singh). Compared to farmers with more financial and material resources, smallholders like Singh are at higher risk of insufficient yields, or in worst case scenarios a total loss of their crop. Smallholders are also increasingly at risk due to the impacts of climate change since they are vulnerable to worsening climate shocks such as drought, flooding and other natural disasters.
Project Start: June, 2016
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India is the third largest producer of tomatoes in the world, producing 10.4% of the world’s tomatoes. The Better Life Farming alliance identified the areas of Ranchi & Hazaribag in Jharkhand, a state in eastern India, as areas where tomato farmers face several limitations in gaining increased yield and income. The perseveration of tomatoes is a huge issue in India because of the lack of cold storage facilities.
Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world's population. By 2050, the demand for rice will be double what the world is producing today. More than 90% of the world's rice supply is produced in Asia by predominantly smallholder farmers. For these smallholders, rice is not just food; it is also their main source of livelihood. Since starting rice projects with smallholders in Asia in May 2017, Better Life Farming has seen great results in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976 the country inspires millions of tourists from around the world every year not only with its natural beauty and rich culture, but also with its authentic Vietnamese coffee. Vietnamese coffee is well-regarded around the globe but few realize its importance to smallholders. More than just a delight, Vietnamese coffee beans are also the main source of livelihood for local coffee growers and their families. Vietnam is the second biggest exporter of coffee in term of value, globally, and 80% of Vietnam coffee growers are smallholder farmers.
Several pilots in Kenya and other African countries have been initiated to evaluate the positive impact and scalability with very promising results so far. We expect to be able to further generate success with farmers and partners to be able to launch Better Life Farming in Africa soon.
