by Suman Gupta
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
The Assessment Impact Study revealed significant achievements, including:
- A tenfold increase in per-acre annual income of farmers, soaring from Rs. 38,600/- to over Rs. 3,90,000/- in suicide and drought-affected regions like Beed Parli.
- Successful elevation of over 22,000 farmer families from poverty traps across 4,000 villages in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
- Planting of over 4.5 crore fruit trees, fostering sustainable farming practices and augmenting agricultural productivity.
Mumbai, 9th February 2024: Global Vikas Trust (GVT), under the visionary leadership of Mr. Mayank Gandhi, has spearheaded a transformative movement in the lives of farmers across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, particularly in suicide and drought-affected regions like Beed and Parli. The remarkable impact of GVT’s initiatives has been unveiled in an Assessment Impact Study conducted by the prestigious Tata Institute of Sciences (TISS), highlighting astounding progress in agricultural development and farmer welfare.
The unveiling ceremony of the Assessment Impact Study took place today in Mumbai, attended by key dignitaries including Mr. Mayank Gandhi, Managing Trustee at Global Vikas Trust, Prof. S. Siva Raju, Professor & Deputy Director at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad Campus; Sandra Shroff, Vice Chairman – UPL; Raamdeo Agarwal, Chairman – Motilal Oswal financial Services; Sushil Kumar Jiwarajka, Hon. Consul General of Greece in Mumbai and Chairman of GVT advisory board and Ashwini Saxena, CEO – JSW Foundation. This event highlighted the pivotal role of GVT in revolutionizing agriculture practices and elevating the socio-economic status of farmers.
The comprehensive report, prepared by the Centre of Excellence in CSR at TISS, analysed the impact of GVT’s agriculture development initiatives across various districts including Palghar, Nanded, Beed, Solapur, Osmanabad (Dharashiv), Jalgaon in Maharashtra, and Burhanpur and Dhar/Barwani in Madhya Pradesh. Based on meticulous surveys encompassing 1248 farmers and stakeholders, the study provides compelling evidence of GVT’s transformative impact.
Mr. Mayank Gandhi, Managing Trustee of Global Vikas Trust said, “While education and healthcare support etc is good for maintaining the status quo of the nation, the only way for transforming India is sustainable agriculture at scale. Therefore, multiplying incomes of small and marginal farmers can make India a “sone ki chidiya” again. Thus, a tenfold increase in tens of thousands of farmer’s incomes in some of the worst area validates our path of transforming India.” TISS is the gold-standard in ethical and virtuous impact assessment. Established in 1936, it has worked on its own and helped other organizations in promotion of sustainable, equitable and participatory development.
Prof. S. Siva Raju, Professor & Deputy Director at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad Campus, “The Centre for Excellence in CSR at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has conducted a study to assess the impact of the agriculture development initiatives of Global Vikas Trust (GVT). It is observed that the availability and utilization of high-quality saplings hold the key to ensuring increased agricultural production and resilience against the challenges posed by pests and climate change. The adoption of the quality saplings not only contributed to greater agricultural productivity but also played a crucial role in ensuring crop diversity and economic prosperity in the Western region. GVT’s promotion of horticulture also contributed to environmental conservation, as the organisation employs sustainable farming practices, such as organic farming and permaculture.”
“From planting hope to reaping prosperity – that is the magic of Global Vikas Trust under Mayank Gandhi’s leadership. Their ten times income growth for farmers is remarkable! MOFSL & I are honoured to be part of this journey, of building a sustainable and thriving rural India.” Mr Raamdeo Agarwal, Chairman, Motilal Oswal Group.
“For the past five years, Global Vikas Trust, under Mayank Gandhi’s leadership, has been making a real difference in rural communities. Their work has empowered countless farmers and led to a remarkable ten times increase in income within a year, as confirmed by TISS. As a chairperson of the advisory board for GVT, I am hugely impressed by their impactful work. I am also very thrilled about Krishikul, and it has the potential to significantly enhance farmers skills and knowledge. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with GVT, eagerly awaiting Krishikul’s launch.” said Mr. Sushil Jiwarajka, Hon. Consul General of Greece in Mumbai and Chairman of GVT advisory board.
“Global Vikas Trust, under Mayank Gandhi’s leadership, is not just planting trees, they are building hope! Witnessing a ten times income increase for farmers in 4,000 villages through their work, as shown by the TISS study, is truly inspiring. UPL and I are honoured to be part of this movement, empowering rural communities and fostering a brighter future for generations to come.” mentioned Ms. Sandra Shroff, Vice Chairman, UPL.
“Global Vikas Trust, led by Mayank Gandhi, is transforming rural landscapes and lives. With initiatives like planting 4.5 crore fruit trees, their impact is undeniable. The recent TISS survey showing a tenfold increase in farmer income in just one year speaks volumes. We are proud to support GVT’s mission, united in our commitment to sustainable rural development.” said Pradeep Kumar Kheruka Chairman, Borosil Renewables Ltd.
About Mayank Gandhi:Mayank Gandhi was an international urban planner who turned into a social activist. He has worked on many reforms including the Maharashtra RTI and many other laws. In 2011, along with Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal, he started India against Corruption (IAC) movement and later became part of the National Executive of the AAP party. But in 2016, he quit politics completely and started his own NGO, Global Vikas Trust to work in some of the worst areas of India for farmer welfare.
Since then, GVT has been instrumental in multiplying farmer annual incomes from Rs. 38,600 to over Rs 3,90,000 per acre (10 times increase as per TISS assessment report). With his model of changing cropping pattern, he has been successful in removing over 22000 farmer families from the poverty trap in over four thousand villages of Maharashtra and MP. This change has been achieved by planting over 4.5 crore fruit trees, training and supporting farmers to increase their incomes.
A new, state-of-the-art Global Krishikul farmer training centre is under construction and will be used to train farmers from all over the country to multiply their incomes by 4 to 10 times.
About Global Vikas Trust:Global Vikas Trust (GVT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming rural India. With a core focus on sustainable agriculture, GVT’s mission is to empower small and marginal farmers, helping them break the cycle of poverty and achieve economic prosperity. GVT’s flagship project is fruit tree plantation – transitioning farmers to fruit tree cultivation, significantly increasing their incomes and promoting sustainable farming practices. GVT works in more than 4,100 villages, covering an area of 33,000 plus acres in 27 districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh impacting 21,000+ farmer families of India. As of January 2024, Global Vikas Trust has planted more than 4,50,00,000 trees.
In addition, GVT has worked on water conservation projects, including river widening, check dam construction, and Global River Aquashafts (GRAs), which improve water resources and enhance village development.
Krishikul is an upcoming farmer training center and demonstration space introduced by Global Vikas Trust to provide practical training and access to contemporary agricultural technologies and practices.
For more information about Global Vikas Trust and its initiatives, please visit: https://www.globalvikastrust.org
