CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In June 2025, as part of the Community Service Project (CSP), I engaged with the small
agrarian village farmers.Over four weeks, I collaborated with local farmers, schoolteachers,
and the Panchayat to:
The following five key ac vi es were undertaken as part of this project:

1. Baseline Survey:
Conducted a door-to-door survey with structured ques onnaires covering topics like water
usage, fer lizer consump on, cropping pa erns, and challenges faced in irriga on. The data
collected helped in iden fying the major issues and needs of the community.

2. Soil-Tes ng and Nutrient Workshops:

Farmers were trained to use NPK tes ng strips and pH meters to assess soil fer lity. Along
with this, sessions were conducted on interpre ng rainfall and temperature trends to make
informed sowing decisions.

3. Digital Literacy Sessions:

Special focus was placed on youth and progressive farmers, demonstra ng how to u lize
online tools like the Crop Advisor developed in our project. Prac cal hands-on training was
provided in the local school computer lab.

4. Infrastructure Support (Water Canal Clean-Up):

Physical par cipa on in cleaning and repairing the local water canal with community
volunteers helped restore the flow of irriga on water to several downstream fields, directly
benefi ng about 30 farming families.

5. Health and Hygiene Awareness:

Conducted awareness programs on personal hygiene, sanita on, and safe drinking water
prac ces in collabora on with the village school to ensure holis c community development.

Extended Learning Objec ves & Outcomes

Learning Objec ve (LO) Outcome

LO1: Develop competency in Successfully designed and executed a 12-ques on survey

conduc ng community surveys with 85% par cipa on.

LO2: Apply classroom knowledge of Guided 20+ farmers to assess their soil fer lity
soil chemistry prac cally independently, empowering them with decision-making.

LO3: Strengthen communica on and Overcame language barriers through Marathi-Telugu-English

interpersonal skills interac on, improving community rapport.

LO4: Promote the use of technology Enabled 15 students to effec vely use the Crop
for agriculture Recommenda on web applica on in real scenarios.

LO5: Foster sustainable community Proposed rainwater harves ng models that were formally
development prac ces adopted by the Panchayat.
CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY
2.1 Historical Profile
Singupallem and Chinnaagraham are two agrarian villages in Guntur district, Coastal Andhra
Pradesh, with around 1,200 residents. With over 150 years of farming heritage, they benefit
from the fer le Krishna River basin. Farming remains the main livelihood, with crop choices
evolving over me. Located in Guntur, famed for chillies and co on, the villages s ll
maintain paddy as their primary crop.

2.2 Community Diversity, Tradi ons, Ethics & Values

 Diversity: The community is Telugu-speaking, mainly consis ng of farming and daily

wage labor families, including tenant farmers.

 Tradi ons: Fes vals like Ugadi, Sankran , and Dasara are celebrated with
enthusiasm. Rituals for a good harvest are prac ced during sowing seasons.

 Ethics & Values: Coopera on in irriga on, harves ng, and sustainable prac ces like
organic manure use are common, with growing awareness of soil and water
conserva on.

2.3 Socio-Economic Condi ons

 Livelihoods: Around 70% of families depend on agriculture, while some migrate to

Tenali or Guntur for work. Women support farming and engage in weaving or small
enterprises.

 Infrastructure: The villages have electricity, borewells, canals, schools, and a

Panchayat office. Roads are fairly developed but prone to monsoon disrup ons.

2.4 Major Crops Covered in the Project

The project supports crops suited to local soil, water, and markets:

 Paddy: Staple crop grown with canal and borewell irriga on.

 Mirchi (Chillies): A key cash crop; Guntur’s reputa on for quality chillies extends here
too.

 Co on: Grown mainly in rabi season on upland fields, contribu ng to the local
economy.

 Black Gram (Urad Dal): Cul vated as a second or intercrop, adding to

income stability.
CHAPTER 3: COMMUNITY SERVICE PART
3.1 Needs Assessment & Survey
In the ini al phase, a 12-ques on survey was conducted focusing on challenges in crop
selec on, tracking agricultural expenses, irriga on prac ces, and weather-dependence. Two
focus group discussions (FGDs) were also organized with local farmers. Key findings:
 65% of farmers rely on tradi onal knowledge for crop planning, with limited access
to scien fic data.
 70% of farmers face challenges in managing and tracking farming expenses.
 55% of farmers expressed strong interest in using digital weather forecasts for
informed decision-making.

3.2 Ac vi es Undertaken
1. Crop Recommenda on Demonstra on:

o Conducted sessions to introduce farmers to a Water-Level-Based Crop

Recommenda on System.

o Demonstrated how to input soil moisture, water availability, and weather data to
receive suitable crop sugges ons.

2. Farm Expense Tracker Introduc on:

o Introduced the Expense Tracker web applica on for recording daily agricultural
expenses.

o Provided printed guides and hands-on demonstra ons for ease of use.

3. Weather Tracking Training:

o Showcased real- me API-based weather dashboards.

o Explained how weather forecasts assist with irriga on scheduling and pest control
measures.

4. Community Feedback Session:

o roposed regular monthly training sessions on digital agriculture tools, which were
posi vely received.

3.3 Reflec ons: Values, Life Skills & Technical Skills Acquired
 Values: Gained apprecia on for combining tradi onal prac ces with digital innova ons in
agriculture.

 Life Skills: Improved leadership, teamwork, and communica on skills by collabora ng with
diverse groups.
CHAPTER 5: OUTCOMES DESCRIPTION

Socio-Economic Survey Questionnaire with Sample Answers

Section A: Crop Cultivation Practices

1. What are the main crops you cultivate in each season?
Answer: Paddy in Kharif season, Mirchi and Cotton in Rabi season.

2. Do you follow any crop rotation or mixed cropping practices?

Answer: Yes, we practice crop rotation between paddy and black gram.

3. How do you decide which crop to grow each season?

Answer: Mostly based on water availability and traditional practices.

4. What are the major challenges you face in crop cultivation?

Answer: Major challenges include lack of water and pest attacks.

Section B: Water Availability and Irrigation Practices

5. What is your primary source of irrigation water?
Answer: Borewell and canal depending on seasonal availability.

6. How many months in a year do you face water scarcity for agriculture?
Answer: Around 4-6 months.

7. Do you use any water-saving irrigation methods (like drip or sprinkler)?

Answer: No, traditional flood irrigation is used.

8. Do you check the groundwater levels before planning your crops?

Answer: No, we mostly go by experience and rainfall patterns.

9. Would you be interested in a system that gives you crop suggestions based on
water availability?
Answer: Yes, that would be very helpful.

Section C: Soil Health and Fertility

10. Have you ever tested the soil on your farm?
Answer: No, we have never done soil testing.

11. Do you know the pH value of your soil?

Answer: No.
12. What type of fertilizers do you primarily use?
Answer: Mainly chemical fertilizers along with some organic manure like cow dung.

13. Are you aware of government schemes like Soil Health Card?
Answer: Heard about it, but haven't used it.

14. Would you like to receive guidance on improving soil health naturally (using
organic methods)?
Answer: Yes, definitely interested.

Section D: Digital Literacy & Technology Use

15. Do you use a mobile phone or internet to get agricultural information?
Answer: Yes, mainly YouTube and WhatsApp groups.

16. Would you use a mobile/web application that suggests crops based on water
availability and soil conditions?
Answer: Yes.

17. Do you receive any government subsidies for fertilizers, seeds, or irrigation
equipment?
Answer: Yes, received subsidies for seeds and fertilizers.

18. Have you faced crop loss in recent years due to erratic rainfall or climate
change?
Answer: Yes, especially cotton was affected last year.

19. How do you usually store your harvested crops?

Answer: Own storage in traditional granaries at home.

20. Do you have any suggestions or expectations from the local authorities to
improve farming and irrigation in your village?
Answer: Need better awareness programs, soil testing camps, and help in
establishing drip irrigation systems.
5.1 Socio-Economic Survey of the Village/Habitation
A detailed socio-economic survey was conducted in Singupallem and
Chinnaagraham villages. The survey included 50 households across both villages.
Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group
discussions.

Key Focus Areas:

- Crop patterns
- Water availability
- Fertilizer and pesticide usage
- Farm expense practices
- Awareness of government schemes

5.2 Problems Identified in the Community

S. No Problem Impact on Community

1 Lack of organized record- Farmers unable to track

keeping for farm profitability or plan
expenses ahead

2 Over-dependence on Poor yield during years of

guesswork for crop unpredictable rainfall
selection

3 No access to accurate Crop damage due to

weather forecasts unexpected
rainfall/drought

4 Poor awareness of Wastage of water, falling

modern irrigation groundwater levels
techniques

5 Limited digital Missed opportunities for

knowledge for using schemes and price trends
online tools
5.3 Action Plans for Solutions

Short-Term Action Plan (Next 6-12 Months)

- Conduct digital literacy sessions for farmers on using smartphones for agriculture-
related apps.
- Organize demonstrations on expense tracking using simple digital formats and
web applications.
- Arrange training sessions on accessing online weather forecasts for agricultural
planning.
- Launch awareness programs on crop recommendations based on real-time water
availability.

Long-Term Action Plan (1-3 Years)

- Establish community-led expense monitoring groups for collective learning and
financial planning.
- Advocate for the installation of community-level Automatic Weather Stations
(AWS) to provide localized weather forecasts.
- Promote the use of data-driven crop planning tools integrating water levels and
seasonal patterns.
- Collaborate with local authorities to expand access to subsidies for micro-
irrigation systems.

5.4 Community Awareness Programmes Conducted

Two key awareness programmes were implemented:

1. Farm Expense Tracking and Financial Planning Workshop

- Participants: 40 farmers
- Topics Covered: Importance of tracking expenses, categorizing costs, profit-loss
analysis.
- Outcome: 25 farmers started recording their seasonal farm expenditures digitally.

2. Water-Based Crop Selection and Weather Forecasting Awareness Drive

- Participants: 50 villagers
- Topics Covered: How to use online platforms for crop planning, interpreting
weather data, matching crops with water availability.
- Outcome: 15 farmers opted to test water-based recommendations for the
upcoming season.
5.5 Mini Project Work Description

Title:
Farm Expense Tracker with Integrated Weather-Based Crop Recommendation
System

Objective:
To empower farmers with digital tools for tracking farm expenses and receiving
crop suggestions based on water availability and weather forecasts.

Methodology:

1. Collected data on local crop patterns, historical rainfall, and groundwater

levels.

2. Developed a web-based application that allows:

o Daily expense entry

o Real-time weather forecasts

o Crop recommendations based on available water resources

3. Integrated graphical reports for better visualization of expense trends and

expected yields.

Technologies Used:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Chart.js, and integration of weather APIs.

Impact:

 Farmers can track expenses, avoid financial leakages, and plan investments
more accurately.

 Crop choices are now aligned with actual water availability and weather
predictions, reducing crop loss and improving profitability.

 Increased confidence among farmers to use technology for daily agricultural

decisions.

 The system promotes timely sowing and harvesting by aligning operations

with forecast data.

 Encourages adoption of sustainable farming by recommending less water-

intensive crops during dry spells.
CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

6.1 Recommendations
- Provide continued training on digital financial management tools for agriculture.
- Expand awareness about available subsidies for weather stations and irrigation
improvements.
- Encourage the integration of expense tracking with government subsidy portals
for easier claim processing.
- Promote regular updates of groundwater levels and rainfall forecasts accessible at
village-level centers.
- Formalize crop recommendation systems as part of local agricultural extension
programs.

6.2 Conclusion
The project has effectively demonstrated that digital expense tracking combined
with water-level-based crop recommendations can provide farmers with a
sustainable model for profitable farming. The inclusion of weather forecasts has
empowered farmers to make informed, climate-resilient choices. With continuous
community engagement and support from local government agencies, this
integrated approach can enhance agricultural income, optimize resource usage, and
improve the economic well-being of the farming community in Singupallem and
Chinnaagraham.