This year's prestigious UNDP Equator Initiative Award has been won by the Bibi Fatima Self Help Group from Karnataka. Started by 15 women from Tirtha village in Dharwad district, the group now supports around 5,000 farmers in 30 villages. The group encourages the use of organic farming methods to grow mixed crops based on sorghum/millet in rainfed farmland. The group also runs a community seed bank, through which free seeds are provided to farmers. The award was given for its initiatives to enhance the sustainability and resilience of agriculture through organic farming methods.
