Ann Steensland leads the GAP Report Initiative for CALS Global at the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In this role, she serves as the lead author of the Global Agricultural Productivity Report, or GAP Report, an annual analysis of global progress toward productive sustainable food and agricultural systems. Her research areas include sustainable approaches for increasing the productivity of small-scale agriculture, improving livelihoods for small-scale farmers, and connecting small-scale and emerging farmers to markets. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Ms. Steensland was the Deputy Director of the Global Harvest Initiative and the Chief of Staff of the Alliance to End Hunger. Ms. Steensland has a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in African History. She was awarded the Lawrence Levine Prize for her M.A. thesis exploring racial, political, and environmental aspects of the commercialization of agriculture in South Africa.
Building trust and closing the productivity gap in India
July 06, 2021
Improved crop nutrient and water management practices lead to increased productivity and profits
By GAP Report team
Building trust between communities within agriculture systems overcomes barriers and facilitates the adoption of new technologies and practices for productivity and resilience.
That is one of the goals behind the Krishi Jyoti project, or “enlightened agriculture” project, a collaboration by the S.M. Sehgal Foundation and The Mosaic Company and its foundation. Since 2008, the project has helped close the productivity gap by helping farmers improve their nutrient and water management practices.
Farmers participating in the project have seen yields increase by 20 to 30 percent, providing increased income. The project has also installed check dams that capture and store rainwater from the monsoon season to replenish the underground water table. Thanks to new and refurbished schools, children in these communities are receiving an education in a safe and healthy environment.
To learn more about the Sehgal Foundation’s work, watch more videos from the organization here.
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