Step Up Now is empowering vulnerable communities through sustainable agriculture projects, such as fish farming and organic rice cultivation. These initiatives not only provide reliable sources of food but also create long-term employment and income opportunities.
The Problem We Faced
In Pullur, India, the lowest-caste communities—people society calls “untouchables”—had 4 acres of government-granted wild land sitting unused. They had the land. They had the willingness to work. What they didn’t have was $10,000 to turn it into a rice farm.
What We Built
With $10,000 from donors and partner organizations, we launched the Organic Basmati Rice Project—transforming 4 acres of barren land into productive organic farmland.
We provided:
- Premium organic Basmati rice seeds
- Organic fertilizers (no chemicals—better for health, better for market price)
- Training in organic farming techniques
- Equipment for planting, irrigation, and harvesting
Community Impact
This single 4-acre farm generated:
- Full-time jobs during planting season and during harvest season
- Food security for gypsy families
- Skills training in organic farming methods (marketable skill across India)
A note From the founders
When we started these projects in Pullur, we weren’t sure if they’d work. Fish farming? Rice cultivation? We’re pastors and IT professionals—not agricultural experts.
But we partnered with the local community and European agricultural consultants, we listened to the community, we invested in training, and we trusted God with the results. Today, families who once had nothing have a source of protein. Children who were hungry are fed. Men and Women who couldn’t find work have steady income.
This isn’t charity. This is transformation. This is breaking the cycle of generational poverty. And it’s replicable everywhere.
Will you help us take it to the next village? The next country? The next 1,000 families?
