Sustainable agriculture, food security and women: a case study of Deccan Development Society

Across the world agriculture has evolved in accordance with the local situation providing nutrition to the human beings, livestock and the soils as well. It has been a self sustaining system: at a bioregion level, if not at the village level. However, this has changed with the use of fossil fuel and other non-renewable resources. While the problem of hunger remains, issues such as depleting soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, poisoning of environment are looming large. What is alarming is that we do not seem to have any alternative ideas. This book discusses the term 'Sustainable Agriculture and narrates the experiences of the women farmers of Medak District: the hope for the future.

Mr. P VS Suryakumar. a postgraduate in agricultural sciences from IARI, New Delhi, is a General Manager with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). His professional experience in the last 23 years encompasses all facets of rural development: Project formulation, appraisal & monitoring, capacity building. Policy formulation and implementation of natural resource management projects. He is a Commonwealth Scholar.

The Deccan Development Society (DDS) is a two-decade old grassroots organisation working in about 75 villages with women's Sanghams in Medak District of Andhra Pradesh. Starting with the simple sustenance needs of the sangham members the programmes have evolved to address the larger issues security, natural resource enhancement, canon, an needs of the region.