Harvesting Hope: How Multi-Cropping and Fodder Grass Transformed Jodhpur’s Farmers

In the arid landscapes of Palapura village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, seasonal farming was long limited to single, low-yield harvests. However, through the Discipleship Centre’s Livelihood Program, traditional farming patterns are undergoing a remarkable transformation.

Hologram, a local farmer, experienced this shift firsthand. Following field bunding interventions, his land successfully retained essential rainwater moisture and topsoil nutrients. For the first time in his life, Hologram was able to harvest two distinct crops within a single year. His initial sowing of millets and lentils yielded enough food to secure his family’s nutrition. After the first harvest, the retained moisture allowed him to sow a second crop—sorghum (jowar)—which he sold in the local market to generate steady household income. Additionally, the crop residue provided a dependable, year-long supply of nutritious fodder for his livestock.

Hologram’s experience is part of a larger agricultural movement across Jodhpur. Under the initiative, 187 small and marginal farmers in project villages have adopted the cultivation of Dhaman grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), a high-yielding and highly nutritious fodder species. By ensuring a continuous supply of green fodder, this sustainable practice reduces cattle feed costs and protects livestock health, establishing a resilient and climate-smart livelihood framework for rural families in the region.