PDS being the prominent NGO in the area started receiving calls for help from various villages. Fr. Mathew Arackal, the Executive Director then, (Presently Bishop of Kanjiralppally Diocese), wanted to find a solution for this. Thus, a National Consultation to study the reasons for these calamities was conducted in 1995. Senior scientists from the Department of Science and Technology, Experts from major NGOs in India, and farmer representatives were invited. After the three-day presentations, deliberations, and exposure visits to various areas in the district it was concluded that PDS should motivate farmers to go in for organic agriculture, controlled weeding, livestock farming, and adoption of suitable soil and water conservation measures, etc.