For many tribal families in Katkamdag block of Hazaribagh, farming depends on the monsoon. A single crop of rain-fed paddy, seasonal forest produce and occasional wage labour are often all a household has to rely on. Fresh vegetables are expensive, and nutrition suffers.
In 2024, Muskan Foundation set out to change this — one kitchen garden at a time.
The Vegetable Seed Support and Training Programme
In April 2024, in collaboration with ICAR, New Delhi, Muskan Foundation began a Vegetable Seed Support and Training Programme in the tribal areas of Katkamdag. Farmers — many of them women mobilised through local Self-Help Groups — received:
- Seed kits with vegetables such as tomato, okra, spinach, chilli and bottle gourd
- Training in land preparation, organic compost, raised-bed cultivation and natural pest control
- Guidance on irrigation and seasonal cropping
- Continued follow-up support from our field team
Small plots, real results
Renu Devi of Bendi (Jagarbandha) village set up a kitchen garden on just seven decimals of land near her home. Within six to eight weeks she was harvesting spinach and okra. By the end of the season she had earned about ₹2,500 from selling surplus tomatoes and bottle gourds — and her family saved an estimated ₹800–₹1,000 every month on vegetables.
Maya Oraon, a smallholder farmer from Bendi village, developed a kitchen garden on 10 decimals of land. Surplus produce earned him around ₹3,500 in the first season, which he reinvested in compost and fencing to expand his plot. Today he guides neighbouring farmers interested in kitchen gardening.
A kitchen garden puts fresh food on the plate, saves money every month and builds a farmer’s confidence to try more.
Strengthening farmers together
Our agriculture work goes beyond seeds. During FY 2023-24, the Foundation reported establishing 15 Farmers Clubs and planting 260 plants across five villages, along with vermicomposting training for farmers. Farmers Clubs give farmers a platform to learn together, share knowledge and solve problems collectively.
Why it matters
- Better nutrition: families eat more fresh vegetables
- Household savings: less money spent at the market
- Extra income: surplus produce is sold locally
- Sustainable practices: organic compost and soil-health management
With the right training, quality seeds and steady field support, even the smallest plot of land can strengthen a family’s food security and income. Muskan Foundation will continue to expand this work to more tribal households across Jharkhand.
