Caritas India concluded a two-day Partner Review and Planning Meeting for the SAFBIN IV (BIP) programme, calling for a farmer-led approach to climate resilience and food system sustainability. The session, held at the Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS) Centre in Sagar on 6-7 May 2025, brought together partners and experts to assess the past four months’ achievements and plan ahead for the Kharif season.

Mr. Sunil Simon, Advisor from Caritas Austria, delivered a strong message: “We need to expand varietal food crop cultivation, improve climate resilience through varietal trials, and connect farming components to build sustainable value chains. SAFBIN should facilitate but farmers must lead for long-term sustainability.”

Mr. Sunil remarks underscored a central theme of the gathering: transforming agriculture through inclusive, evidence-based, and farmer-centric models. He advocated for operationalising Farmers Field Schools (FFS) for components like poultry, piggery, and crop trials while emphasizing the role of the Farmers’ Knowledge and Service Centre in ensuring continuity and local ownership.

The event opened with a symbolic felicitation of dignitaries using fresh vegetables grown on SAFBIN-supported farms, representing the program’s tangible impact. Dr. Mukund Deshmukh, SAFBIN Assistant Program Lead, acknowledged the dedication of field teams and the promising early outcomes.

Caritas India’s key implementing partners Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS) and Madhya Pradesh Samaj Seva Sanstha (MPSSS) presented detailed reports demonstrating progress across critical areas such as On-Farm Agricultural Research (OFAR), Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), community nutrition gardens, and backyard piggery and poultry.

A cost-benefit analysis stood out: one mixed cropping trial yielded a profit of ₹37,153 on one acre, compared to ₹16,090 from a mono-cropping plot. This compelling comparison, according to Dr. Saju MK, Zonal Program Lead, “makes a strong case for scaling multiple cropping and integrated systems.”

Dr. Saju outlined the program’s technical backbone, linking OFAR with FFS, integrating climate-smart practices, and targeting women-led farming groups. His presentation emphasized the importance of embedding learning and adaptation into grassroots-level implementation.

Field visits to Chakeri and Tinsua villages showcased interventions including soil and water conservation structures and the newly inaugurated Farmers’ Knowledge and Service Centre. Experts praised the quality of work and the model’s potential for replication.

On day two, the spotlight shifted to strategy. Sessions focused on designing Kharif trial plots, integrating vulnerability assessments, refining treatment designs, and ensuring robust documentation. A concurrent training for finance teams led by Mr. Soju Mathew strengthened budgeting and reporting systems using SAFI software.

Dr. Deshmukh’s final planning session mapped out four-month action plans with specific deliverables and timelines. Both MVSS and MPSSS committed to ambitious yet achievable goals, reflecting shared ownership and accountability.

Fr. Thomas Philip, Director of MVSS, remarked, “SAFBIN has proven to be a blessing, especially in drought-prone Bundelkhand. Through watershed development and climate-resilient practices, farmers now see hope. We aim to replicate this model and advocate for similar efforts at the government level.”

As Caritas India continues its commitment to climate-smart agriculture, the SAFBIN programme, supported by Caritas Austria, offers a replicable pathway to empower smallholder farmers, strengthen rural food systems, and secure livelihoods against an increasingly volatile climate.