Lotwa village is situated 7 km from its Palkot Block and 32 km far away from its Districts headquarter. Village is surrounded by other villages which are somehow connected with each other. The village is spread 2 k/m north side and 2 and half K/m east. There are about 166 families with 830 populations who live together as per the village norms and conditions. Village Lotwa consists of 5 hamlets namely: Jogimatt, Dugdugi, Karilkocha, Nawatoli and Lotwa itself. The practice of primitive culture and tradition still prevails.

The inhabitants of the project targeted villages have been deprived from their right, due to the lack of awareness, mobilization and literacy.  People have been practicing the very outdated and traditional method in the agriculture sector. Though the modernization and industrialization have been rapidly heading towards rural parts of India changing the life style of the people but still it has not been able to reach the interior project targeted villages and change the primitive mindset of the people.

However, after the intervention of the project the primitive thinking of the people is being altered and changed which has been seen and experienced in the village. 

Narayan the supervisor comes from very poor family and Hindu family who have very negative thinking towards the piglets.   He is married and has two children. However after participating in several workshop and training programmes on livestock management and SRI, drastically changed his pessimistic mind set of piglets and agriculture pattern in the village and started piggery as a business. Today he has 3 piglets, 1 male and 2 female. Both females have given birth to 6 piglets each.

Further, under the guidance of Naya Sawera he also practiced the SRI and got the best output. He not only started the piggery and practiced the SRI but guided and motivated others to practice the SRI during last cultivation season. Till date he became one of the successful farmer as well as the project staff.

In month of December 2011 the project team linked Mr. Narayan Singh with Nehru Youva Kendra. Taking the livestock management and practice of SRI method of cultivation Mr. Narayan Singh participated in the youth agriculture programme at district level. The 72 participants participated from the all over the villages of Gumla district where already other organisations are actively involved. Leaving behind all the 71 participants Mr. Narayan Singh became one of the best youth agriculturist of Gumla district for which he was award rupees of 5000 and the certificate of the best youth in agriculture.

Mitigating drought with SRI

Previous few years there was no rain throughout the state of Jharkhand. The farmers could not cultivate and harvest good crops thus the villagers faced severe drought. The cultivation could not be done properly. Farmers migrated to another state in search of employment. 

Continuously, 3 to 4 years the villagers faced the drought situation hence farmers could not cultivate and harvest good harvest. However, this season at least there is good rain till now. Therefore farmers are using their all the possible methods in the cultivation so that they can harvest maximum crops this year.

At the entry of Naya Sawera and introduction of SRI method of cultivation seemed ridiculous to farmers.  Implementation of SRI methods of cultivation became the very risky factor in the agriculture sector. It is mainly because the farmers had not harvested the crops for 3 to 4 years. Entry and introduction of SRI method of cultivation become one of the most risky for farmers. If farmers do not harvest good crops this time then the farmers will have to face scarcity in the following years. Therefore, the farmers found it very difficult   to believe that in SRI method of cultivation they will have good harvest. Practicing SRI method of cultivation at this time is very risky for the farmers (male) and thus hesitating to practice the SRI method in the paddy cultivation.

However, the strong hope and conviction of women could not be stop. At this risky situation women of Lowta, Rokedega and Pithertoli had taken risk and practiced the SRI method of cultivation in the field. There are 8 farmers of Lotwa, 3 farmers of Rokedega and 4 farmers of Pithertoli who have done SRI practice according to the decision of their wives.