Previous Programs

Environmental & Agricultural Programmes

Research And Studies

Since 1992, SPEECH has carried out multiple researchstudies including:

  • Perception of eye care services at Tiruchuli
  • Sustainable agriculture and life of people
  • Protection of coral reef – the Gulf of Mannar
  • Participatory Rural Appraisal in 121 villages and documenting the life history of each village. Reporting on forgotten methods of agriculture,seeds and biodiversity
  • Farmers markets, particularly on its rural-urban interface

International Institute for Environment and Development has partnered with SPEECH in many of these research studies, and so SPEECH has contributed to important learning within the international development sector.


Land Development For Rural Poor Families

SPEECH helped people in 9 villages to identify 1,050 acres of land and renovate the nearby water tank and well, meaning that the community has access to good water, even in dry seasons.

Now they plant and harvest vegetables, chillies and other grains, improving the local economy. This success has led to several similar land development initiatives in other villages. Most of the benefit has gone to the vulnerable sections of the village, freeing them from the clutches of money lenders.

This has resulted in increasedsavings and credits of Women’s Self Help Groups as well as the families affording better housing, education and health care. SPEECH assisted small and marginal farmers from the Dalit and non-Dalit families, including help with goat or sheep rearing. Everyone accepted SPEECH’s intervention.


Water Conservation And Management

So far,SPEECH hasrenovated and deepened 24 watertanks.The Village Level Peoples’ federation partnered with SPEECH for this work and it built their knowledge of natural resource management, especially for drought protection.

Speech’s Participatory Rural Appraisal Training Expertise

From the late 80s, SPEECH was one of the pioneers of PRA.  Later we emerged as a training organization in PRA, partnering with international and national organisations.