Cyclone Aila hit the coasts of Bengal on May 25th displacing millions from their homes and livelihoods in the Sundarbans. AID responded immediately working with Baikanthapur Tarun Sangh (BTS), Mukti and Rights & Equity for All (REFA). Relief & Rehab efforts reached out to 150,000 people in 7 blocks of 2 districts in West Bengal.
Read the interim report here...
Large swathes of agricultural land was submerged in saline water raising fears that cultivation could not be resumed for several years. AID Saathi Revathi, an organic farmer, who had experience in land reclamation after Tsunami worked with BTS and Mukti to train farmers in inexpensive organic methods to reclaim land for cultivation. Not only was land reclaimed, the yield of rice was better than conventional farming by the end of November.
Read the interim report here...
Since food supply became uncertain, expensive and non-varied, AID partnered with Development Research Communication & Service Centre (DRCSC), that works on food and livelihood securities of the rural poor, to train families in raising organic kitchen gardens quickly to supplement and enrich their nutritional intake. Even landless families could raise gardens in broken pots, jute bags and bamboo baskets. The simple yet effective techniques have started spreading on their own.
Read the interim report here...