A seedbank created to preserve indigenous seed varieties better suited to local growing conditions.

Anisha was started in 1998 by Mrs. Valli Rajan with the aim of improving the lives of people living in appalling conditions in the market area of central Bangalore. After its inception, the project grew into an urban and a rural program, “Anisha Urban” and “Anisha Rural.” When the administration of two projects become too complex, Anisha Urban broke off and continued under separate leadership. It is still highly successful, but it is no longer a part of the Susila Dharma Network.

Anisha Rural

Since 2006 Anisha has been working to improve the livelihood conditions of small and marginalised farmers in a very poor region about 150 kms south of Bangalore. The project area, Grampanchayat Martahalli, consists of 20 villages with a population of about 13,000. Martahalli was chosen for the following reasons:

• high use of chemicals
• farmers willing to listen
• 60 to 70% of the farmers own land
• the region is well known to Anisha
• the importance of Martahalli for spreading ideas

Anisha Rural - farmers are trained in organic agriculture

Activities in the rural program include training and information in organic farming, kitchen gardens and seed banks.

In 2007 a pilot project, financed by Susila Dharma, has been carried out in a limited cluster of 5 villages in order to gain experience with a number of interlinked interventions before continuing in the larger surrounding area.

Contact
Valli Krishnaswarmy
No.498, Errappa Line, N.R.Colony, Murugesh Palya, Vimanapura Post,
Bangalore – 560 075, India.
E-mail: anisha.india@gmail.com

Anisha Sumer Camp 2011

Read about a visit to Anisha

Anisha Rural Project Annual Report 2009
Anisha Urban Project Semi-annual Report 1-6/2009

Read about Anisha's Seed Bank in Sandanapalya “…the present hybrid variety of sowing seeds are not trustworthy…Native maize sowing-seed bears three to four ears, but the hybrid maize plant bears only one ear. Native seed banks…will encourage women to get involve in agriculture and provide employment opportunity.”