Alternative Agriculture Resource Centre of Chetana - Vikas

Recent photographs of the centre and some of the activities:

Entrance of the experimental farm an and the Resource Centre, near Alodi village.

Entrance of the experimental farm. This was a barren stretch of wasteland. The farm is a successful demonstration of how a "wasted" land can be regenerated and revived.

Entrance of the experimental farm an and the Resource Centre, near Alodi village.

The open-air meeting place in tune with nature.

Experimental Zizyphus plot. 20 select varieties from all over the country have been brought to the farm and various experiments on growth, production, pest & disease resistance, taste and other attributes of the plant and the fruit are being tested.

Zizyphus jujuba (Marathi: Bor; Hindi: Ber; Family Rhamnaceae) experimental plot. It is a hardy, low-external input fruit-bearing tree yielding highly nutritious fruits. At Chetana-Vikas, research on growth, production, pest & disease resistance, taste and other attributes of the plant and the fruit are being pursued on 20 select varieties. 

Such educative boards describing the work are spaced all over the experimental farm for awareness and sensitisation.

Wasteland regenerated into silvipasture.

Experiments on wasteland regeneration with various seasonal herbaceous species.

 

Identification and propagation of promising perennial grasses found in this ecozone. Apart from their use as fodder, they serve as agents of effective soil and water conservation, and provide ample biomass for mulching and composting.

Eco-friendly lo-cost reception.

Identification of important tree species. Many of these species are uncommon and hard to find. The nomenclature is displayed on several representative trees for scientific and environmental awareness and sensitisation of the visitors. Displayed here is Banyan tree: Vad (Marathi name), Bargad (Hindi name), Banyan (English name), Ficus bengalensis (Scientific name), Moraceae (Family).

Training hall to conduct workshops, training sessions, meetings of the networks and fora in which Chetana-Vikas is a key member.

Training hall with AudioVisual room.

List of important trees. This is not an exhaustive list of the species found and planted on the farm.

A few thousand women and men comprising of farmers, students and teachers, local government office bearers, activists, network members, scientists, policy makers, planners, etc. study-visit the experimental farm and the Resource Centre every year.