Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture
ORGANIC FARMING & SOIL REGENERATION
DCAP initiated an Organic Farming programme in Baghpat District, Uttar Pradesh, with the objective of restoring soil health, reducing chemical dependency, and strengthening farmer livelihoods through ecologically sustainable agricultural practices.
To support this transition, Sri Sai Farm Development Services (SSFDS) was established in 2009 by DCAP as a social enterprise dedicated to environmentally sustainable agriculture and green businesses. SSFDS promotes viable alternatives to ecologically harmful Green Revolution practices, with a strong focus on soil regeneration and farmer-led solutions.
Key Interventions
- Promotion of Organic Farming
Supporting farmers in adopting organic practices, alongside market linkages and marketing assistance for organically grown produce. - Vermicomposting for Living Soils
Establishment of a vermicompost production unit in Dhikoli village (2012) to supply natural soil nutrients.
Production scaled from 27 tonnes per year to 60 tonnes annually by 2019–2020, contributing directly to soil recovery and reduced chemical input use. - Decentralised Composting Systems
Facilitation of approximately 830 composting units across rural and urban contexts—serving households, entrepreneurs, social enterprises, educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities), research institutions, and the hospitality sector. - Knowledge Transfer Beyond Borders
Supply of earthworms and cocoons to support composting initiatives in 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Maldives, Jordan, Oman, Angola, Cyprus, Tunisia, France, Sri Lanka, and the Dominican Republic—demonstrating the scalability of community-based soil regeneration models.
REGENERATION OF DEGRADED SOILS
This programme responds to the mounting pressure on global and Indian agriculture arising from climate change, depletion of natural resources, and rapidly growing food demands. As farming systems intensify to meet yield expectations, soils—our most critical agricultural resource—are being pushed beyond their regenerative capacity. Ensuring long-term food security now depends on restoring and sustaining soil health as the foundation of resilient farming systems.
Soil health is determined by the balance and integrity of its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Healthy soils are rich in organic matter, structurally stable, biologically active, and capable of retaining water and nutrients efficiently. Such soils suppress disease and weed pressure naturally, enhance crop resilience, and support sustained productivity with reduced external inputs—making them central to ecologically sound agriculture.
Evidence from the Field
Extensive reliance on chemical fertilisers and synthetic pesticides over several decades has led to widespread soil degradation across agricultural landscapes. Soil testing undertaken by DCAP, in collaboration with government agencies, in selected regions of Uttar Pradesh revealed critical warning signs:
- Organic carbon levels reduced to 10–12% of optimal thresholds
- Severely compromised soil structure and water-holding capacity
- Acute deficiencies in essential nutrients, including zinc, iron, phosphorus, and potassium
These imbalances have weakened crop root systems, reduced natural disease resistance, and increased vulnerability to pests and pathogens. As a result, farmers across rice, sugarcane, millet, and wheat systems are experiencing recurring yield losses and rising input costs, further exacerbating agrarian stress.
Regenerative Solutions and Research Pathways
CHEMICAL NITROGEN LEAKS AND POLLUTES
Healthy soils depend not on how much nitrogen is added, but on how long it remains active within the soil ecosystem
To address these challenges, DCAP has proposed the trialing and validation of Bacillus bacteria–based bio-solutions aimed at restoring soil biological vitality. These microbial interventions are designed to:
- Rebuild and diversify the soil microbiome
- Improve nutrient availability and uptake
- Enhance plant immunity and stress tolerance
- Reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides
Complementing field trials, the initiative integrates genome sequencing and biochemical analysis to identify and optimise effective microbial strains. This research and development component, undertaken in collaboration with academic and scientific institutions, seeks to generate evidence-based, scalable solutions that are locally relevant yet globally transferable.
Through this programme, DCAP aims to support farmers in transitioning toward regenerative, low-input agricultural systems that restore soil health, strengthen rural livelihoods, and contribute to long-term food and ecological security.
SYSTEM OF CROP AND ROOT INTENSIFICATION (SRI)
The System of Crop and Root Intensification (SRI) represents a contemporary articulation of agricultural practices rooted in India’s traditional knowledge systems. It focuses on improving crop productivity through careful management of plants, soil, water, and nutrients—strengthening root systems and regenerating soil health by nurturing the diversity and vitality of soil organisms.
SRI has demonstrated adaptability across a wide range of crops, including rice, millets, wheat, sugarcane, and mustard, while reducing dependence on chemical inputs and excessive water use.
SRI in Practice: Baghpat District, Uttar Pradesh
In the Pilana Block of Baghpat District, DCAP implemented SRI in partnership with farmers across 25 villages, establishing 80 demonstration plots covering paddy, wheat, mustard, and sugarcane. This district-level initiative—the first of its kind—successfully demonstrated:
- Improved crop yields
- Significant water conservation
- Effective use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides
- Enhanced soil structure and root development
The programme reinforced the viability of SRI as a scalable, farmer-led approach that aligns productivity with ecological regeneration.
