The “Panchavati: Micro Forests” project helps small-scale farmers create sustainable, multi-layered micro food forests that restore soil health, reduce dependence on chemical inputs, improve climate resilience, and generate additional household income.

The Panchavati: Micro Forests project, implemented by Shramik Bharti in Uttar Pradesh, supports small-scale farmers facing declining soil fertility, rising agricultural input costs, unpredictable weather, and the financial pressures associated with chemical-based farming. Many farmers have traditionally depended on crops such as tomatoes, wheat, and rice, while increasing fertilizer and pesticide costs have contributed to debt and economic insecurity. The project introduces the concept of Micro Food Forests, which are edible ecosystems designed to replicate the structure and functions of a natural forest. Farmers plant different layers of vegetation, including tall fruit trees, shrubs, perennial plants, and ground covers, creating a diverse and more self-sustaining agricultural system. The approach emphasizes the use of natural bio-formulations instead of chemical fertilizers, helping restore soil fertility, retain moisture, and improve the resilience of farms to changing climatic conditions. The micro forests are also designed to diversify agricultural production and provide farmers with an additional income of approximately ₹30,000 per year. The project has engaged 208 farmers across eight villages, initially beginning with 50 participating farmers. So far, approximately 25,000 square feet of soil has been rejuvenated. Despite severe flooding and waterlogging during the 2025 monsoon, 20 farmers have fully established their micro forests, with another 30 farmers close to completion. A notable example is Arvind Kumar, who transformed a 500-square-meter plot into a micro food forest after years of struggling to support his family of ten. When flooding affected his village of Rambakshpurva, Arvind and his family drained the land and replanted the crops rather than abandoning the project. He has since become a seed saver, preserving native plants and sharing them with other farmers. Arvind also uses intercropping, growing fast-growing vegetables between slower-growing trees, allowing him to obtain harvests within approximately three months while the longer-term forest system develops. His experience demonstrates how diversified, nature-based farming can improve resilience, restore degraded land, and create more sustainable livelihood opportunities. Overall, the project combines environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and income generation, helping farmers move toward farming systems that benefit both their livelihoods and the surrounding ecosystem.