Khandwa

Khandwa District is situated in South West of Madhya Pradesh. The District comprises 4 sub-divisions, 7 blocks, 5 tehsils, 423 Gram Panchayats, and 725 villages. The major natural division of the District corresponds to the two distinct physiographic division, viz. Narmada Valley and Satpura ranges. With a total population of 13,10,061, Khandwa district comprises Scheduled Tribes (35%) and Scheduled Castes (11%) population and the economy is primarily agrarian with 80% living in rural areas. Agriculture forms the backbone of Khandwa’s economy, with major crops being soybean, wheat, gram and onion, while livestock rearing and NTFPs are the alternate livelihood options

Harsha Trust began operations in the district in the year 2021-22, in two blocks covering 60 villages under the SENU (Securing Nutrition, Enhancing Resilience) project supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and SRIJAN. The project focuses on enhancing livelihoods, ensuring nutrition security, and boosting income levels. Currently, we are working across 7 blocks of Khandwa district, engaging with more than 636 households of 39 villages.

Key highlights/progress in the year (2023-24):

• Socio-economic empowerment of 636 women SHG members involved in Community nutrition garden. These women have achieved monthly income generation in the range of Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 per member in every cycle.
• Development of 53 Community Nutrition Gardens (CNGs) as models by 636 families in 39 villages and 7 blocks. The vegetables commonly grown are green leafy vegetables, pulses, millets, oilseeds, vitamin A rich vegetables, fruits and other locally consumed vegetables like brinjal, chilies, bottle gourd, okra, tomato etc. with an average production of more than 1,100 kg in Kharif and Rabi season.
• Organic manure and bio-inputs have been promoted for the CNGs. Training has been provided on the preparation and usage of organic Agri products to 636 women farmers on a regular basis.
• Plantation of 8,100 fruit trees and medicinal plants established in 31 villages of 7 blocks. The initiative will start yielding additional income and provide dietary diversity for the households after 2-3 years.
• 14 solar pumps supported by Harsha Trust with philanthropic support to SHG members for irrigation of Community Nutrition Gardens. This has helped in ensuring additional two rounds of cultivation of vegetables leading to nutrition security as well as income generation.