The SLIDE project is an initiative aimed at increasing the income of landless Dalits through vegetable cultivation. The project is being implemented in 07 villages in 05 panchayats of the Nautan block and one village in the Lauriya block, located in South of the district headquarters of Bettiah, Bihar, India. The project works with a total of 500 farmers. One of the main challenges faced by the farmers was the high cost of pesticides and its after-effects. They were spending a significant portion of their income on pesticides, which was reducing their profits.

The project team conducted training sessions on the use of organic pesticides, such as Brahmastra and Neemastra. The farmers were also taken on a field visit to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) to see how organic pesticides are made and used. The farmers were impressed with the results of the organic pesticides. They found that they were effective in controlling pests and diseases, and they were also much cheaper than chemical pesticides. As a result, the farmers decided to make their own organic pesticides. The project team provided them with the ingredients and the know-how. The farmers are now using organic pesticides on their vegetable crops. They have reported a significant reduction in pest damage, and they are also earning more money from their crops.

The Brahmastra is a successful example of how organic pesticides can be used to increase the income of farmers. The project has shown that organic pesticides are effective, affordable, and environmentally friendly.