Government of Gujarat has lunched many projects under Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, for this particular group of people, so that they may have an opportunity to double their income in 5 years time. The overriding goal is to improve the wellbeing of marginal farmers and rural poor from land related activities in the tribal area.

Improved agriculture and horticulture practices have not reached the farmers of the tribal areas the way it should have. Thus, the people of the tribal areas are devoid of the benefits that have otherwise accrued to the farmers of the main land. They still continue to live in penury and have not yet become part of the main stream of the national development. The crux is to work on a project which will look after both agriculture and rural development together.

SFT took up this program to be implemented in Chhota Udepur, three years ago to benefit 222 farmers of 13 villages. During the year, crops like brinjol, chilies, gram, moong and math were planned for inter cropping for monsoon and winter seasons. The aim of the project is to double the income in 5 years but through intercropping, farmers having 1.5 to 2 acres of land, who were earlier earning about Rs. 12,000 a year, have already started earning about Rs. 25,500/- a year in 3rd year alone. Thus Wadi program has certainly helped towards poverty reduction and the income has doubled in 3 years instead of 5 years. When mango trees will mature after two years and start giving the fruit, their income will be many folds.