DCB Bank, in partnership with Prarambha and SOIL Trust, organised a four-day training programme for master farmers in Karnataka’s Raichur and Koppal districts from 26 to 29 November.
The programme focused on sustainable agriculture techniques tailored for the rabi season, emphasising practical solutions for improving soil health, enhancing productivity, and optimising land and water resources in dryland regions.
Through interactive workshops, farmers gained valuable insights into sustainable farming methods and rabi crop planning, equipping them with the tools to adopt better practices.
This initiative underscores DCB Bank’s commitment to supporting agricultural communities by fostering resilience and sustainability in challenging environments.
In addition to demonstrating responsibility and commitment toward the environment, they also collaborated with the Atreeblr Foundation to successfully complete a transformative project to restore and protect a sacred grove (Oran) in Rajasthan.
This project showcased a harmonious balance between biodiversity conservation and community needs. Spanning a 10-hectare intervention area, it aimed to establish sustainable grazing practices by analyzing the impact of grazing on grass diversity and biomass.
Despite facing severe challenges such as relentless sandstorms and prolonged droughts, the team displayed unwavering resilience. Innovative techniques, including preserving native grass root slips in wet gunny bags for 10 days before planting, were implemented to improve survival rates under harsh desert conditions.
A pre- and post-monsoon vegetation survey provided valuable insights into the landscape’s diversity and ecological health, guiding efforts to enhance the region’s biodiversity. Although many saplings and seeds were lost to extreme weather, the survival of a small percentage inspired the team to refine their approach and persist.
This initiative required collaboration, adaptability, and perseverance, setting a precedent for ecological restoration in arid regions. DCB Bank’s dedication to protecting this sacred grove underscores its commitment to environmental sustainability and community welfare, creating a model for preserving sacred landscapes and biodiversity for future generations.