This crowdfunding initiative of mine is a campaign that is being done by me and my colleagues at INTELLECT DESIGN ARENA to raise funds to create a new generation of “scientific farmers” in the agriculturally stressed areas of Marathwada and Vidarbha in the state of Maharashtra.

These funds are to educate daughters and sons of farmers who have committed suicide over the last few years . 

This a radical initiative to change the fortunes of the farmers in this area by creating a new generation of young farmers who have been taught both traditional and modern farming techniques with exposure to sound business practices. It’s a marriage of AGRIculture and INDUStry and is an intensive residential 12-month course by an NGO called AGRINDUS located in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

All the funds collected from this initiative will go to AGRINDUS.  Mission Samriddhi is an NGO based in Chennai that spearheaded this initiative by completely funding the first batch of students. They partner and work closely with the team at AGRINDUS INSTITUTE in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Am raising funds with my colleagues to  fund the 2nd batch of students. 

The entire cost of this 1-year program is just INR 1L and that is what I aim to raise to transform the lives of 1 young farmer. In the process, we will impact his/her family and his/her village and over a period of time the entire region.

HELP ME RAISE INR 100000 & FUND THE EDUCATION OF A STUDENT AT THE AGRINDUS INSTITUTE AT WARDHA, MAHARASHTRA.

This year (2018-2019) the batch size will be between 40 to 60 students (min and max) at Agrindus.The age group of students is from 15 years to 30 years.

The money raised, will be given to the AGRINDUS. Once the money is given to them the team at Agrindus will use it to train this student for an entire year. They will then share the details with me. I shall then post an update on this campaign once in 6 months to give you details of how these funds are making an impact on the student.

CASE STUDY OF YOUNG SCIENTIFIC FARMERS IN THE MAKING - Ganesh studied here in the 1st batch

The aim of the current program is to create a new generation of scientific farmers capable of achieving high productivity in a sustained way along with industrial activities that help add values to their produce. Scientific farming is essentially precision farming with a full understanding of crop ecology and optimum agronomic management.

ABOUT ME & THIS CAMPAIGN

My name is Prasad MN and I am the Head of Operations, iGTB, at Intellect Design Arena Limited. Am better known as MNP and love making photographs, enjoy cooking, baking, traveling, trekking. I feel very strongly about making a difference to the lives of these young farmers (most of them come from families where the father has succumbed to the stress of trying to make ends meet and has committed suicide). The fact that raising INR 1L will provide them with skills for a lifetime is something I can relate too. This will impact not just them but their household and village as these individuals will become change agents. Over a period of time they will completely transform how agricultural is practiced and be able to ensure yields and income are significantly better. This is how transformations start.

ABOUT AGRINDUS INSTITUTE & THE PROGRAM

This program at AGRIINDUS was started to transform how farming is done in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions by training a new generation of scientific farmers who can manage the business of agriculture. The first batch of students were daughters and sons of farmers who had committed suicide due to drought thus leaving a trail of hopelessness and despair among their families and villages. The first batch of students learned how to manage Agriculture as a business and was exposed to a myriad of techniques, programs, and business situations. The technique involves a judicious use of both traditional and modern methodologies to ensure that centuries of experience and new technology are married for the best results. 

THE AGRINDUS PROGRAM DYNAMICS

PIC: Students are exposed to different facets of agriculture in this intensive 12-month course.

This initiative is the brainchild of the dynamic Dr.T.Karunakaran – an IT professor, IIT Delhi, and social reformer. He is a rural and agricultural expert and has been the VC at 3 Rural universities in India and was a member with Anna Hazare of the Gram Swaraj Committee. 

THE PARTNERS

The funds from this campaign go to AGRINDUS. All the receipts and 80G tax benefits that you get will be sent to you directly from AGRINDUS who have the necessary 80G certification and also have an FCRA certificate (This means that even funding from foreign sources is accepted).

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AGRINDUS

HOW YOU CAN HELP & FUND USE

We are raising money to cover the 12-month education cost of this program at AGRINDUS for one student. The smallest amount you contribute will help them on their journey to change the health of farmers in their region by becoming scientific farmers. Once the campaign ends updates will be posted to keep the funders abreast of which student received the money and their progress.

TAX BENEFITS

By funding this campaign, you are eligible for tax breaks. You can avail benefits under section 80G of the IT act. Foreign funding is accepted. If you are an Indian living abroad or a person holding an Indian passport you can EASILY fund this campaign.

LOCATION OF AGRINDUS