Anisha/Sushila Dharma
Organization background

Susila Dharma USA is a US charity, that works with an organization called Anisha in India. Anisha's goal is to improve the economic, environmental and nutritional/food security needs of marginalized farmers and the impoverished landless (generally women), living in 21 drought-prone villages in the Chamarajnagar District, through the promotion of sustainable organic farming practices and kitchen gardens.

Since 2006, Anisha has trained approximately 1,500 farmers in organic farming and more than 220 of these farmers are now actively involved in organic farming. Anisha has also educated and supported these families in establishing organic kitchen gardens so they can stay longer in their villages, rather than migrate to big city slums.

Project background

Anisha has started a Kitchen Garden Project in 25 schools in the Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka, addressing approximately 800 students in grades 7-10. The students are given training to set up and nurture an organic garden. Gardens are located at the schools & homes of participating children using seeds initially provided by local native seed savers & from Anisha's Resource Center. Students learn how to harvest and save their seeds for subsequent years, thus allowing each family to create their own native seed supply. Parents are also trained to maintain their own kitchen garden.

Food grown in the school gardens is used in school lunches. It is estimated that in all, approximately 7000 people in the project area benefit from the project's activities.

GKF contributions to Sushila Dharma/Anisha