Post on 25-Apr-2020
transcript
1
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Project Proposal
TOWARDS SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
FARMERS WITH A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN KORAPUT DISTRICT OF
ODISHA
Submitted
by
M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
Biju Patnaik Medicinal Plants Garden & Research Centre
Phulbad, Jeypore (RS) - 764 002, Koraput District, Odisha
Phone: 06854-231773, E-mail:mssrfjey@gmail.com
Web: www.mssrf.org, www.mssrfjeypore.org
2
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR MKSP
Project Title Towards socio-economic empowerment of women
farmers with a focus on sustainable agriculture in
Koraput District of Odisha.
Proposed Area of
Action
Koraput District, Odisha
Executive Summary
a) Project description
1) Existing collectives of MSSRF in Koraput District:
The organization initiated its activities in Jeypore remote site, Koraput District, Odisha
state, in year 1994, where its regional centre is now located. MSSRF has consciously made
its science and technology based interventions focusing on rural women and providing them with
necessary support for effectively managing their natural resource base, enhancing their livelihoods
through skill and capacity enhancement, access to knowledge and information and opportunities
for market linkages for the primary produces and value added products. By adding value to their
time and labour, MSSRF tries to bring down the number of work hours in a day in rural women’s
lives and add economic value to each hour of work. Various need based and women centric
interventions have been undertaken in and around 62 villages in the tribal region that
includes improvement of food and nutritional security, promotion of livelihood programs
through the women self help groups based on the available local resources, establishment
of community managed gene-seed-grain banks, promotion of nutritional kitchen gardens,
conservation of medicinal plants and promotion of traditional healing systems,
conservation of underutilized millets, conservation of local races of rice, watershed
management, knowledge dissemination and capacity building. In our focused region more
than hundred women self help groups have been promoted with the basic objectives of
empowering them thorough different initiatives. Many successful livelihood initiatives being
managed by the groups’ leads to empowering them on socio-economic aspects.
M.S.Swaminathan foundation has been making efforts to conserve land races in situ and
ex situ and project the role of society in their efforts of conservation which lead to the
recognition of Koraput as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by FAO. The
foundation has been making efforts to empower the community to adopt modern
cultivation measures, like SRI in paddy, to increase the production. Value addition of some
3
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
of these land races coupled with marketing tie ups by local institutions is hoped to make
cultivation of these selected land races sustainable. Efforts have also been made to adopt
a farming system comprising of intercropping complemented with live stock and aqua
culture. Improved irrigation facilities as well as soil and moisture conservation measures
have helped to increase the area under vegetable and ground nut cultivation during rabi
season. Through participatory selection availability of quality seeds was improved. Thrust
was given for organic farming was organic manures and bio pesticides were used to
ensure eco friendliness. Simple machineries were provided to reduce the drudgery and
increase efficiency. A special program focused on women and children (0-3 year’s age) is
focused on improving health, nutrition and hygiene with a focus on sustainable agriculture.
This centre could facilitate the women communities to receive the “Equator Initiative
Award” at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 and
“Genome Savior Award” from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights
Authority, Government of India in 2007 and 2011. The communities with whom the
foundation is working could also secure national level awards like “Krishi Bisharad
Sanman” in 2003, Felicitation by Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha in 2004 and “Folk
fare Award” in the year 2008.
Creation of a cadre of community resource person: The organization has created
about 40 no. of community resource persons who are called as the community hunger
fighters and about 10 para professionals. Both male and female from all caste groups are
selected through certain criteria and also through the participation of the community. In the
selection process, the community is involved so that the resource persons can have good
faith on them to receive their voice. They are in the age group of 25 to 45 years and must
have potentiality to act as a resource person. The selected representatives’ from the
community are trained through the capacity building programs on all the aspects like food,
nutrition, health, hygiene, sustainable agriculture, livelihood promotion, kitchen garden
promotion etc. Once become trained, they do conduct training programs on their capacity
in their own village to address the hunger and malnutrition issues. The cadre of the
community resource persons also organizes awareness programs on different social
issues existing in the community. They also work on mobilizing entitlement schemes
related to food, nutrition, agriculture and livelihood on the concept of deliver as one
approach.
2) Description of proposed Project:
4
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
The project envisages organizing women actively engaged in agriculture and giving them
identity as ‘farmers’ and build their capacities on the different dimensions of sustainable
agriculture livelihood activities as well as improving food, nutrition and health security. The
project proposes to expand and strengthen the women empowerment activities of MSSRF
in Koraput district of Odisha. We propose to reach 2500 women farmers in about 50
villages in the region, strengthening the existing producer groups and formation of new
groups which would eventually be federated. Capacity building programs on different
components of sustainable agriculture practices and livelihood options would be imparted
to the group members based on the strength of the organization. The components of the
capacity building programs would be on sustainable agriculture practices mainly focused
on organic farming, soil and water management, seed selection and treatment, integrated
nutrient management, integrated pest management, mushroom cultivation, spawn
production, nursery techniques, livestock management, value addition from bio resources
and rice and millet, backyard poultry farming, vermi composting, fish farming, herbal
garden promotion, backyard nutritional garden, large scale vegetable cultivation, market
promotion of products, health and sanitation improvement etc.. Simultaneously efforts
would be taken to reach proper scientific advice to enable women farmers to take timely
and weather based crop decisions. Towards this end, efforts would be taken to reach
agro-met advisories to the group members through ICT (Village Knowledge Centers).
Simultaneously, facilitation of access to schemes related to agriculture and others.
Awareness creation programs shall be organized on various issues relating to food,
nutrition and health issues. Locally preferable food crops, horticultural crops and backyard
nutritional gardens would be promoted to increase household consumption of local food
grains, vegetables, and fruits and tubers. Hunger fighters at the community level also shall
be facilitated to create awareness and facilitate the community members. Periodic health
camps and campaign on herbal preventive practices for different diseases occur at the
community level would be organized to address the health needs of women and children.
Better access to the various government schemes related to food, nutrition and health
would be facilitated through the household entitlement card approach. The women groups
would be organized to fight against exploitation being faced at the household and
community level.
b) Rationale for support under MKSP
Agricultural reforms undertaken by the state have most of the time perceived men to be
farmers and women as playing a subsidiary role. With agricultural sector in the country
5
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
undergoing severe crisis and the men either migrating in search of alternative livelihood
options or committing suicide in distress situations more and more women are entering
and becoming responsible in the agricultural domain. The women farmers need support in
the form of access to credit, technology, infrastructure and markets. They also need
capacity building to reduce exploitation and to help them perform their role as farmers
effectively. Women farmers have to be involved in various aspects of decision-making
related to farming practices. In the past, they have had very little scope to think over such
decisions collectively. Anxiety and self doubt are common among women farmers when it
comes to take decisions. A decision going wrong implies poor yield and income. Low self-
image and low self-confidence invariably affect the quality of decisions. MKSP will enable
women farmers to inculcate self confidence to take appropriate and timely decisions,
improve on-farm productivity through eco technologies and create multiple livelihood
opportunities through non-farm enterprises. Women’s well being often goes unnoticed
under pressure of regular household chores and farming tasks. MKSP provides the scope
to address the food and nutrition security of the women farmers and their families. It would
also ensure better access to the existing government schemes (Central and State) related
to food and nutrition, health, education, employment, drinking water and sanitation for a
better living.
c) Project Results/ Project output
• Improvement in food and nutritional status of women farmers and their families.
• Increased access of women farmers to productive land, inputs, credit, technology
and information.
• Increase in number of women groups/institutions and increase in the scope for
these institutions to emerge as interest groups and increase in their
entrepreneurship
• Increased awareness and adoption of various sustainable agricultural practices
• Enhance women’s income through agriculture
• Reduction of women farmers exploitation by middle man
• Increase in number of women farmers equipped to take up decisions relating
agricultural practice and marketing facility
• Increased access to market and market information for better marketing of their
products
• Increased levels of skills and performance by women in agriculture
6
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
• Increased access to the entitlement schemes provisioned for the vulnerable section
• Drudgery reduction of women in agriculture and reduction in health hazards
• Net increase in the income of women in agriculture on a sustainable basis
• Increased soil health, moisture availability and fertility of agricultural land
• Improved nutritional standards in diets at the household level
• Improved hygienic environment both at the household and community level
Section A – Basic PIA Information 1. Name of PIA M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
2. Legal Status (NGO / Network
NGO / CBO / Producer Co. /
Section-25 Co. / Pvt. Co
Not to Profit Trust (NGO)
3. If Network NGO, number of
partners being supported?
_ _ _ _ _ _
4. Registration No. & Date of
Registration
15006 dated 08/03/1988
5. Donors in the past 3 years Govt. of India, State Governments, International
Agencies, Bilateral donors, Private Trusts,
Financial Institutions
6. No. of projects handled in the
past 3 years
52
7. Size of projects handled in the
past 3 years (INR)
Annual budget of Rs.30.00 Crores
8. No. of ongoing projects (No.)
and Size (INR)
36, Rs.25 Crores
9. Completion of last project
(MM/YY)
April2011
10. Total value of assets available
with the PIA?
Rs.98 Crores
11. Experience of working with
(i) Women SHGs/Groups
(Y/N)
The Mission of M. S. Swaminathan Research
Foundation is to link science and sustainable rural
development. Basic mandate is to impart a pro-
7
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
(ii) Agriculture based
livelihoods with
existing women groups
(Y/N)
nature, pro-poor, pro- women and pro-livelihood
orientation to a job led economic growth
strategy in rural areas through harnessing
science and technology for environmentally
sustainable and socially equitable development.
The organization initiated its activities in
Jeypore site, Koraput District, Odisha state, in
year 1994, where its regional centre is now
located. MSSRF has consciously made its science
and technology based interventions focusing on
rural women, and providing them with necessary
support for effectively managing their natural
resource base, enhancing their livelihoods through
skill and capacity enhancement, access to
knowledge and information and opportunities for
market linkages for the primary produces and value
added products. This centre could facilitate the
women communities to receive the “Equator
Initiative Award” at the World Summit on
Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in
2002 and “Genome Savior Award” from the
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’
Rights Authority, Government of India in 2007
and 2011. The communities with whom the
foundation is working could also secure national
level awards like “Krishi Bisharad Sanman” in
2003, Felicitation by Honorable Chief Minister of
Orissa in 2004 and “Folk fare Award” in the year
2008.
MSSRF’s thrust on women empowerment is evident
from many of its initiatives in the other region of
India such as Golden Jubilee Biotechnology Park for
Women in Chennai, Federation of Self Help Groups
in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu involved in multiple
8
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
livelihoods, Federation of Agro biodiversity
conservation Groups in Orissa, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala, Joint Mangrove Management Committees in
Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, organizing
women self help groups to undertake mangrove
restoration activities in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu,
designing a two semester course for Kerala
Agriculture University on Gender and Agriculture,
Initiating the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
programme (MKSP) in Vidarbha region, Fish for All
Research and Training Centre at Poompuhar, and
working on nutrition status improvement of the
malnourished mothers and children etc. These and
many other need based, science focused and
participatory initiatives undertaken by MSSRF, have
contributed immensely to women’s empowerment,
and enhancement of their income and livelihoods.
12. In the proposed project, how much
% of the implementation is
undertaken by your existing
capacities and how much % is
leveraged from external community
based organizations in the project
area?
80%
20%
SECTION B – Community Institution Architecture
a) Past experience of PIA
1) Past experience in forming / nurturing women based groups and /or
federations
Over the last 20 years, MSSRF has consciously made its science and technology
based interventions focusing on rural women and providing them with necessary support
for effectively managing the natural resource base, enhancing their livelihoods through
skill and capacity building, access to knowledge and information, facilitating market
linkages for the primary produces and value added products. By adding value to their time
and labour, MSSRF tries to bring down the number of work hours in a day in rural
9
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
women’s lives and add economic value to each hour of work. Community level
cooperatives have been promoted like Panchabati Gramya Unayan Samiti (PGUS),
Kalinga Kalajeera Rice Growers Cooperative Society (KKRGCS).The cooperatives are
facilitated to take initiatives towards conservation of bio diversity, market promotion of the
local produces and development of the communities. The work of MSSRF on conservation
of biodiversity have enabled the tribal communities in Koraput region of Odisha to
significantly contribute in strengthening local conservation traditions, conservation and
sustainable utilization of local bio resources, establishment and management of
community gene-seed-grain banks, promotion of nutritional kitchen gardens, enhancing
livelihoods through value addition to the resources. Foundation provided technical and
scientific inputs and capacity building of the communities for enabling them to register
Farmers’ varieties and get reward and recognitions for their seminal contribution in the
area of plant genetic resources conservation and enhancement. It is heartening that the
women farmers’ community of Jeypore (Odisha) received Genome Savior award from the
PPVFRA, Govt. of India and Equator Initiative Award of the UNDP for the bio-diversity
conservation with a focus on organic farming.
The bio-village program focuses on enhancing lives and livelihood of the
communities through on-farm and off-farm interventions. Eco technology based production
chain as well as post production chains are being adopted by the communities. Scientific
approaches and interventions in land utilization, monitoring and managing soil health,
improved cultivation methods, appropriate agronomic, pre- and post harvest practices and
process of value addition have positively impacted thousands of women farmers. Group
level enterprises involving production of quality rice, preparation of value added items from
millets, mushrooms, vermi composts, poultry, fisheries etc. have far reaching
consequences on enhancing socio-economic status of the women. Provisions of women
friendly agricultural implements for agricultural operations and small processing units have
gone a long way in reducing the drudgery of women in villages. ICT based intervention
has resulted in identifying grass root women knowledge holders taking a key leadership
role in rural areas. MSSRF has enabled many women leaders’ empowerment and they
now occupy elected positions in the local bodies and also have represented in several
regional, national and international events.
In this regard, special mention should be made about Mrs. Kamala Pujari, a tribal
women farmer, who represented the tribal communities of Jeypore tract at the Equator
Initiative award function at Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002 and subsequently Ms.
10
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Chandrama Mashiha represented the tribal communities of Koraput district at Protection of
plant varieties and farmers rights authority at New Delhi to receive the genome savior
award. Apart from these three state level awards were received by these tribal women
farmers including recognition from Chief Minister of Odisha.
The drop outs form schools are giving opportunities for higher education up to
degree level and undergo on job oriented certificate programs under IGNOU-Community
College.
2) Brief about the practices adopted by the women groups promoted by the
organization.
In all the programs, pro poor and pro-women approach have been institutionalized
as a means to ensure gender equity and equality in development. It addresses the women
issues on equitable access to technology, skill and knowledge, various resources and
opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. In project cycle approach, gender mainstreaming
has been adopted as a strategy in project planning to involve them in all its programme
areas and in administration of the projects. A significant amount of effort goes into
maintaining a gender balance and internalizing gender issues. MSSRF has contributed in
addressing issues which promotes the centrality of gender in development especially in
agriculture and rural livelihoods. The organization has a track record of organizing a
number of workshops, consultations, meetings, conferences, and publications in
partnership with several national and international level agencies on themes related to
gender, agriculture and rural livelihoods. Special trainings on feeding practices, health and
hygiene of infants and women are being organized. Many of these programs are
undertake in collaboration with the Mission Shakti Programs. Several National and
International policy workshops have been organized and the outputs of those meetings
have paved the way for engendering various policies. Some of them include: Women in
Agriculture; Engendering Agriculture Curriculum, Engendering the Biodiversity and
PPVFR Act. Studies on understanding the gender issues and role of women in biodiversity
conservation and traditional knowledge, grass-roots institutions and technology
interventions are some of the areas that had a strong gender focus. Most of the activities
related to skill/knowledge empowerment of women have helped innovatively in enhancing
the livelihood options for women farmers. In all the grass root level institutions women are
playing a vital role in management and functioning through their active participation.
3) Strategies undertaken in the past in enabling access to credit and markets
through the women groups/federations?
11
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
The communities in Koraput region have been facilitated to promote community
based organizations like Panchabati Gramya Unayan Samiti (PGUS), Kalinga Kalajeera
Rice Growers Cooperative Society (KKRGCS), Community Gene seed-grain bank
committees, Village development committee, Health committees, Knowledge
management committees, Watershed committees, more than 100 no. of women SHGs
have been promoted through active participation of more than 1000 tribal women farmers.
The self help groups are linked with the financial institutions to get support for promotion
of micro-enterprises. Capacity building programs are being organized on management of
the enterprises, group management, record maintenance, marketing of the products etc.
Marketing agencies like NAFED and ORMAS are facilitating the groups to market their
produces. The foundation provides a forum for women farmers for discussions on
problems encountered in their farms and to find out the appropriate solution. The farmers
and the enterprises based groups get market information in time through the Village
Knowledge Centres (VKCs) which enables them to take appropriate decisions relates to
market.
b) Proposed plans/strategies as part of the project:
During the last 15 years of intervention in the tribal region of Koraput district, MSSRF has
a handful of experience in implementing various programs through participatory approach
for the socio-economic development of the women farmers and mainly focused on
sustainable agriculture. MSSRF shall utilize own expertise and shall pull out resources to
capacitate women farmers on different aspects. The women farmers trained on the
various components of sustainable agricultural practices, sustainable livelihoods and food
security would be utilized to act as resource persons for the communities. These members
would share their knowledge and practical experiences with other group members. They
would act as catalysts of change and handhold other group members in the project area.
Various methods such as trainings, demonstration, exposure visits, and awareness
creation programs shall be used to build the capacities of women farmers with respect to
different thematic area. The fours shall be mainly on strengthening the existing groups and
the groups shall eventually be federated. The committees and the group members shall
be consulted at each level of intervention to make the programs sustainable. Participatory
monitoring mechanism tools shall be identified to monitor the track of the progress in right
direction. This approach would ensure that the knowledge and skills gained through
trainings are internalized and members adopt best practices.Capacity building on different
12
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
components of sustainable agriculture and livelihood options would be imparted to the
group members with the support of the federations. The components addressed would be
mainly focused on sustainable agriculture and promotion of the micro-enterprises based
on the available local resources with good market feasibility. Micro-enterprise based
groups shall be linked with the financial institutions and with the marketing agencies to
market their products. Efforts would be taken to reach proper scientific advice to enable
women farmers to take timely and weather based crop decisions. Towards this end,
efforts would be taken to reach agro-met advisories to the group members through ICT
(Village Knowledge Centers). Simultaneously, facilitation of access to schemes related to
agriculture would be taken up with the group members. Awareness, facilitation, and
capacity building on food, nutrition and health issues would be taken up for the group
members households. Locally suitable food crops, horticultural crops, and backyard
nutritional gardens would be promoted to increase household consumption of local food
grains, vegetables, and fruits among the members. Periodic health camps and campaign
would be conducted through at the community level to ensure better health. Better access
to the various government schemes related to food and nutrition would be facilitated
through the household entitlement card and organizing awareness creation programs.
C.) TECHNICAL PROTOCOL AND SUSTAINABLE PACKAGE OF PRACTICES: o Agro climatic zone - Eastern ghat (Sub humid zone)
o Agriculture seasons:
Kharif - Rice, Millets, Maize, black gram, sorghum
Rabi - Green gram, horse gram, vegetables
o Cropping pattern – Intercropping, mixed farming, solo cultivation of rice and
millet, arhar in upland, vegetable and rice in medium land, rice in low land
o Major agricultural operations – Kharif and Rabi
I.) Pre cultivation:
Land preparation across slope and against slope, deep summer ploughing, field
cleaning and bunding, soil testing to know the nutrition content, soil fertility
enhancement through bio fertilizer application (green manure - Sesbania, Glaricidia,
Casessemia, enriched farmyard manure, azolla preparation , vermi compost
preparation and application, paper slurry in upland, fertilizer tree plantation etc.)
II.) Seed treatment:
Rice:
13
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Salt water treatment of the landraces to filter to get the healthy seed and to remove
the chaffs and half filled seeds. Approximately 400gm salt is to be added to 1 liter of
water or add the salt till the potato floated on the water. The floating seed are the
half filled seeds and chaffs are to be removed from water. The seeds remain under
water are healthy seeds are to be cleaned twice or thrice in the normal water and
then dry under shed before taking it for germination. In this process the farmer gets
the healthy seeds with good and vigorous vegetative growth quality. It also reduces
the possibility of pest and disease attacks in early stages of cultivation.
It can also be treated with cow urine or bio- fertilizer before sowing in the field but
salt water treatment is mostly adoptable in the Koraput region.
Green gram:
Green gram seed is to be treated with Rizobium save it from pest attack during
germination period in the field. In this process, 25gm. Of Rizobium is required for
1kg. of green gram seed. Water is to be added slowly proportionately to the
Rizobium culture to make like paste which to be mixed with 1kg. of seed till a layer
of the culture is coated around the seed. The treated seeds then to be dried for at
least 10 to 15 minutes under the shed before sowing those in the field.
III.) Application of Organic manure:
Vermi compost and farm yard manure: Vermicompost applications in the nursery bed enhance the vegetative growth rate
of the plants and the farmer gets healthy plants. In the transplanting field it is to be
applied along with the Farm Yard manure with the proportion of 1:2 for better
vegetative growth. Timely transplanting of the seedlings reduces the chances of
pest attack. Vermicompost also can be applied during the tillering stage with the
proportion of 3qtl/Acre for better tillering and enhancing the chlorophyll content in
the grain to get better yield.
The Farm yard manure generally to be applied just after the last plough and mix it
properly through proper distribution. The recommended dose of FYM in the field is
10 cart load/acre.
Application of Green manure: DHANICHA (Sesbania aculeate) is to be broadcasted in the field just after the first
rain with the proportion of 8kg of DHANICHA along with 16kg of super phosphate
14
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
mix. The land has to plough just after 40-45 days when the standing water is in the
field and then leave it for 4 to 5 days; the plants shall be decomposed in the soil and
shall enhance the fertility of the field.
IV.) Nursery management: Proper nursery management of the nursery gives better germination and healthy
growth of the seedlings. Water channels in between the beds could be prepared
with a proper plan to drain out the excess water from the field. The recommend size
of the nursery bed generally is 10m x 1.5m x 30cm for better growth of the
seedlings.
V. Line transplanting: Planting of the seedlings in a row from north to south direction with proper spacing
in between helps the plants to get proper sun light which enhance photo synthesis
process. The plant gets sun light whole day through planting in this direction which
enhances the tillering density. It also helps in better intercultural operation and
proper water management. This process reduces the chances of pest attacks and
reduces drudgery of women also.
Markers use in SRI technology to plant the seedlings in the field.
Mechanized weeders can be used in this process to de root the weeds form the
field.
VI.) Water management: It is generally needed to keep water at 2 inches height during flowering and milking
stages. The farmers have to keep the muddy water at least for a week or till the
plant stands perfectly just as the transplanting is over. During tillering development
stages intermittent drying and wetting would be adopted within 60 days of
transplanting for better tillering and healthy growth of plants.
VI.) Space maintenance & seed proportion in crops:
Crops Row to
Row
(cm)
Plant to
Plant
(cm)
Seed
proportion
(Kg/ha)
Rice in upland (direct seeding) 20 10 50
15
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Rice (early planting) 20 15 30
Rice (late planting) 20 10 30
Rice (SRI) 25 25 05
Millets (line sowing) 20 10 12
Maize 45 20 25
Green gram 30 10 25
Black gram 45 15 25
Arhar or pigeon pea 45 20 20
VII.) Cropping pattern:
Inter cropping:
Inter cropping could be practiced in upland, low land and medium land.
Intercropping gives more economic benefit to the farmers than sole cropping. It
plays as insurance if any one of the crop failed because of any natural calamities
the other one supports the farmers at that time. Intercropping also maintain soil
fertility as the nutrient uptake is made from both layers and also reduce soil runoff
from the field.
.
Land
category
Crops Seed
proportion
(kg/acre)
Number of
rows
sown
Spacing
Upland Finger millet +
Arhar
3.5kg +
1.5kg
6 + 2 (20 x 10 + 40 x 20)
Upland Maize + Black
gram
15kg + 5 kg In
between
furrows
(45 x 20) + black gram
will be sown in
furrows
Medium
land
Rice + Arhar 15lg + 5 kg 6 + 2 (20 x 15 + 40 x 20)
VIII.) Mixed cropping:
Mix cropping gives more economic benefit than solo cropping. It is experienced
that mix cropping of cereals, pulses and millets is mostly adoptable by the farmers.
In this practice seeds of cereals, millets & pulses are proportionately mixed
together and sown in upland through broadcasting before the monsoon starts.
16
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Advantages in this practice is many as it enhances the production in a limited land
resources, reduce risk of crop failure through staggered harvest, reduced the labor
demand, maintain agro biodiversity, diversity in diet, enhance utilization of
resources. The soil also enrich with good fertility due to rice biomass
decomposition. As about 70% of the region is marginal and small farmers, this
practice can help the farmers to enhance their economic status and also the
diversity of food. Proportion of seed of finger millet, little millet, Sorghum, Black
gram is 3.5kg: 0.5kg: 1.5kg; 2kg. In another practice, little millet and maize can be
cropped in between Cashew & mango plantation in Kharif season.
IX). Integrated Pest Management: Various appropriate traditional methods along with scientific methods can be
applied at right time to control the diseases and pest attack. Application of NEEM
oil (30ml/liter) just after 30days of transplanting acts as a preventive measures and
reduces the chances of pest and disease attack. PANCHAGABYA (a bio-pesticide
tonic) can be prepared easily by the farmers as the ingredients are easily available
in the locality. Application of this in right time also reduces the chances of pest and
disease attack. Other biological treatment like promotion of boarder crops and trap
crops, neem oil, chilly - garlic, tulsi paste, snail paste, planting of twigs etc. also
can be adopted by the farmers. Mechanical control like summer ploughing, putting
pheromone trap, light trap and bird pitchers also reduces early growth of pests and
disease in plants. Regular bond cleaning, fire in the bond, time to time monitoring
also control the spreading of pests and diseases.
X.) Quality seed procurement: Pure seed collection is necessary for better production. It can be done through very
easy process which is very easy could be adopted by the farmers. The seeds are to
be collected from the middle of the field leaving 2m from all the sides of the
boundary. Healthy mother panicles are to be selected and are to be cut then drying
it for 3 to 4 days in a drying yard. Drying under sunlight for at least two to three
days is necessary to destroy any fungal spores in the seeds. It is to be threshed on
a clean yard to avoid mix of soil, sand or other particles.
XI.) Seed storage:
17
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
The dried seed are to be stored in bamboo basket or polythene bags with a mixing
of dried leaves of NEEM, PONGAMIA, VITEX & TURMERIC to control on storage pest and
insect attacks. Storage methods/ practices - To ensure seed viability on storage, the
moisture content in the seed has to be reduced to 8% if the seeds are to be stored
in gunny bags and to 7% moisture content if the seeds are to be stored in
polyethylene bags. The seeds should be dried properly before storing in the storage
kothi, gunny bags or plastic bags.
Section C – Operational Details
C.1. Description of the Context
a) Proposed area and community:
The proposed project would cover 2500 women farmers in proposed two blocks
(Boipariguda and Kundra) in backward tribal region of Koraput District of Odisha. In this
area the organization has presence for a long period and have developed good network
with the communities and also with the developmental agencies. This area is mostly
backward and dominated by the tribes. Utmost focus shall be given to the vulnerable
community of rural society such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, landless, small
and marginal farmers. Impact of the project shall reach larger number of women farmers
in the region. The project shall give priority to focus on the land less, marginal and small
farm and the women engaged in casual work. Different intervention strategy shall be
adopted based on their level of interest and based on the available local resources.
Target for Outreach is as follows:
Year No. of groups No. of women
Year 1 40 1000
Year 2 70 1500
Year 3 0 0
Total 110 2500
b) Problem Analysis
18
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Koraput District is marked by poor socio-economic status of the women. They are
regarded as the most vulnerable section as they face many casualties like social violence,
exploitation, discrimination, sexual abuse, immoral trafficking and so on. Exploitation by
the moneylenders is a common phenomenon in the region. They live in a poor status of
health, nutrition and hygiene. Indeed, this proposed project can be an appropriate
intervention in the region as it aims at recognizing potentiality of the people and improving
their socio-economic condition. Capacity and skill development of the individuals/Self Help
groups coupled with the infrastructural facilities to be created in the villages will enable
them to sustain the activities even after the completion of the project. In this context, it is
important to address the livelihood issues concerning women farmers and this is exactly
what MSSRF has attempted. Given the prevalence of high extent of malnourishment
among children and women in our society, the proposed project would also address food
and nutrition security concerns of women farmers and their families.
Although blessed with abundant natural resources, Koraput district is well behind in
agricultural production mainly due to the following constraints:
1. Rain fed agriculture: The extent of irrigation is very low (12%) which makes the
extent of rain fed agriculture very high. In most of the areas only one crop is taken in
Kharif the land lying fallow for a major portion of the year.
2. Vagaries of nature; the agricultural practices are closely woven to the climatic
parameters. Wide fluctuations in the weather (which is more pronounced as the years go
by), very significantly affects the agricultural production. Delayed rain, untimely rain, flood
or serious drought very severely affects the crop production in the area.
Varieties: The land races, which were selected over generations, are able to withstand the
stresses to a great extent. But these are being replaced by high yielding modern varieties
or hybrids which need more stringent favorable condition and are less plastic.
Poor quality seeds: Many a times the poor farmers, who form the chunk of the cultivators,
have no access to high yielding varieties especially in time for sowing. The seeds used
are often not pure thereby showing heterogeneity in maturity, performance etc.
Knowledge on technology: The high yielding varieties need proper attention and advanced
agro techniques which are unknown to a majority of farmers thereby adopting traditional
practices for modern varieties and thus creating a mismatch. The knowledge on plant
protection measures are at low ebb.
19
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Poor practices-Line sowing, timely agricultural operations such as weeding and fertilizer
application etc are not being adopted thereby affecting the production.
Land degradation: As the time passes by, soil fertility is degraded necessitating additional
manure application to get the desired result. More often than not the farmers do not have
the capital to incur expenditure on these inputs.
Small land holdings: over the generations the per capita land availability is going down
with an average per capita holding of 0.5 hectares. The allotment of land to tribal
communities has not met the desired effect. Although the area under shifting cultivation is
coming down it is still in vogue in many places bring down the average production figures.
Marketing problems and exploitation of middlemen: The non availability of proper markets
coupled with the deplorable state of storage facilities often lead to distress sales or
exploitation by middle men which all account for a low profitability.
Lucrative alternate crops: There are other crops especially eucalyptus, mango and
cashew promoted by government and private agencies where subsidies are available and
there are market tie up resulting in replacement of food crops.
c) Opportunities
A number of successful women based initiatives have been taken up by the organization.
The successful functioning of this women farmers’ initiative has provided scope for further
expansion and strengthening of the programme.MSSRF has a strong network with
Government and Non-government organisations working for the development of the
backward region. This would facilitate the women community in convergence of various
schemes for the poor communities. A network of the NGOs working in Koraput District
have formed under the leadership of the organization shall take united effort for the
development of the backward Koraput region. List of organizations with which the
organization has a strong network.
Name and address of the Organization Program Linkage
Agriculture Department, Jeypore Agriculture related schemes, promotion of local land races, technical support.
Horticulture Department, Jeypore Vegetable seeds, promotion of floriculture, schemes on horticultural activities.
ORMAS, Koraput Marketing of the products prepared by women groups and the cooperatives.
Central Poultry Development Organization (CDPO), Bhubaneswar
Training and awareness on livestock promotion and supplying chicks for poultry promotion.
Spices Board of India, Koraput Support for vermi compost pits construction and technical support for preparation.
OREDA, DRDA office, Koraput Provision of renewable energy devices.
20
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Veterinary Department, Jeypore, Kundra and Boipariguda
Organizing livestock related health camps and awareness creation programs.
Government Health Department, Jeypore and Kundra
Organizing health camps and health awareness camps at community level.
Integrated Child Development Service, Jeypore and Kundra
Implementation of program related health and nutrition of mothers and children
Central Soil & Water Conservation Research & Training Institute(CSWCRTI), Sunabeda
Soil testing and water conservation techniques
RRTTS, Jeypore Paddy and Millet cultivation through formal practice. Organizing capacity building programs on formal cultivation practice.
CRRI, Cuttack Research partner for rice research
RRTTS, Semiliguda Technical guidance on agricultural practice and promotion horticultural activities.
OUAT Sharing of information on agriculture and organizing training programs.
Central University of Odisha School of bio-diversity at P.G. level with MSSRF.
Kshetra Samiti(NGO), Boipariguda Strengthening institutions at the community level.
LEPRA India, Jeypore Organizing training and awareness programs on health and nutrition.
CYSD, Prayas, Boipariguda Organize capacity building programs and promotion of enterprises.
Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Koraput
Agriculture related guidance, Resource person (Social & Research)
Media (E-TV, O-TV, DD, Local TV, AIR, All News papers) of Jeypore
Telecasting, Broadcasting and publishing of MSSRF activities periodically.
Networking of NGOs(KISSAN), Koraput Program out reaching in other parts of our focused area.
C.2. Project Description
a) Vision of success
The organization’s vision of success in the proposed project is to organize the women
farmers in Koraput region and improve their poor socio-economic status through
promoting better livelihood options and awareness on various aspects.
b) Goals
Empowerment of the women farmers in Koraput region of Odisha through organizing them
in groups and building their capacities better livelihood, improvement in food and nutrition
security, improvement in knowledge and skill to improve their status in society.
Expected impacts
21
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
The project is expected to have multidimensional impacts in the long run. Socio-economic
status of the women farmers shall be improved. Sustainable utilization of the natural
resources shall have positive impact on the environment. Awareness and facilitation on
the various food, nutrition, and health issues would reduce the expenditure on health.
Promotion of kitchen garden, food grains, and horticultural crops reduce the household
expenses on food items, while at the same time ensuring increased consumption of the
same. Moreover, knowledge and facilitation on the prevailing schemes of the state and
central government would enable better access to subsidies, which would in turn result in
the reduction of costs and risks involved in cultivation. All these measures would ultimately
have an impact on their socio-economic status. Further, knowledge and practice of
environment friendly sustainable agriculture would help increase soil organic matter,
increase conserve soil and water, and help reduce agriculture related pollution.
Women farmers groups would be a heterogeneous mix of farmers belonging to different
social groups and classes. The exposure the group members receive would help them
develop their self confidence for enabling better decision making and planning. The
groups would act as a forum of expression for women farmers of even vulnerable sections
in the village. The group helps to groom leadership qualities among women farmers.
C.4. Project Implementation Strategy
a) Elements of Implementation Process:
The project shall be implemented though participatory approach through ensuring
participation at all level of implementation. The existing groups shall be focused to
strengthen on various thematic areas and some new groups also shall be formed. The
group members shall be capacitated in terms of managerial and functional aspects.
Various methods such as awareness creation, demonstration, training and exposure visits
would be used for capacity building. In addition, efforts will be taken to facilitate adoption
of sustainable on farm and off farm livelihood options. Better access to government
schemes with respect to agriculture, food and nutrition safety net programmes, safe
drinking water, sanitation and health would also be facilitated.
b.) Inclusion of poor and ultra poor in the program:
All most all the proposed project villages are backward and dominated by the
tribes. The project shall ensure inclusion of poor an ultra poor in each step to
sustain the project and to reach to the project objectives. The poorest of poor in the
community shall be selected through taking into consideration their poor economic,
22
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
social, land holding status and also multiple forms of marginalization. In each
village, the poor and the ultra poor shall be identified through certain criteria fixed
by the community in addition to the following criteria.
Selection criteria to identify the ultra poor:
o Landless households irrespective of caste and religion
o Marginal and small farmers irrespective of caste and religion
o Pro women - widow and single women(deserted, divorced, unmarried) with poor
economic status
o Primary focus on schedule caste, schedule tribes and minority community
o Below poverty line households identified through the govt. guideline
Specific interventions: o Promotion of producer groups and then make them federated o Promotion of off farm and nonfarm activities for land less like mushroom
cultivation, sheep and goat farming and rearing, poultry farming and rearing, leaf
plate stitching, preparation of value addition products from rice and millet, pickle
preparation from mango and promotion of other suitable activities based on the
available resources.
o Marginal and small farmers - Promotion of on farm activities in addition to the
above off farm and nonfarm activities like vegetable cultivation, vermi compost
preparation, and other bio fertilizer preparation, adaptation of appropriate
cultivation practice to improve the production, fish farming, collective marketing
etc.
c.) Creation of community resource persons and Para professionals:
Community resource persons shall be identified based on the potentiality and skill with the
participation of the community. They shall be trained on all the aspects of sustainable
agriculture, food and nutrition security, health and hygiene etc. The community resource
persons shall be facilitated to organize community level capacity building programs. Like
wise Para professionals shall be identified based on their certain qualifications and shall
be assigned a number of villages to implement the project. The Para professionals also
shall be trained on the aspects sustainable agriculture, institution building etc. those
aspects proposed in the project.
23
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
d.) Drudgery reduction of women:
Most part of the agricultural activity is done by the women along with their household
work. The project shall focus on drudgery reduction through supporting some low cost
agricultural implement implements at the individual household level and at the group level.
The drudgery reduction tools shall be women friendly so that they can handle it easily. The
women also bring drinking water form a long distance; a water carrying trolley can help
them to reduce the load on their head. The women and children are mostly affected from
respiratory tract infection because of the smoke comes from the kitchen. The houses
generally don’t have ventilation facility and the same living room they use as kitchen. The
smoke less chullas is also eco friendly and which shall also helpful to them in saving the
fuel wood. It can reduce both drudgery in women and also can save them from health
hazards like respiratory tract infection. Like wise low cost and women friendly tools shall
be identified which can be helpful in reducing the drudgery.
Training resources and infrastructure available with the organization:
Infrastructure: M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation has its own permanent center
at Jeypore; Odisha in twelve with a two storied office building of 14,000 sq.ft. The building
has facilities like training hall, biotechnology and tissue culture laboratories, staff rooms,
library facility, staff room, human resource development centre along with canteen. The
center has about 42 numbers of motor bikes for field visit, computer systems and internet
connectivity.
Training hall: The centre has a well equipped training hall with proper facilities, which can
accommodate 60 participants in a batch for training purpose.
Human Resource Development Centre: The centre has residential facilities for the
trainees at its HRD Centre. The residential facility is a two storied building with a total
space of 20,000 sq.ft. has two dormitories and 16 well furnished rooms. The facility can
accommodate 100 persons at a time for any category of trainees, workshops and
conferences.
Infrastructure facility and equipments available: Over head projector (OHP), LCD
projector, wall mounting boards, exhibition boards, Soil testing kit, GPS, digital movie
cameras and still cameras, photo copy machines, Generator system, computer systems,
motor bikes for field travel, mini weather measuring system,
24
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
MODIFICATIONS OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL BASED ON THE SUGGESTIONS GIVEN IN
THE PROJECT SCREENING COMMITTEE (PSC) MEETING.
Minutes of Project Screening Committee (PSC) meeting for Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) held under the Chairmanship of Sh. T. Vijay Kumar, JS (Rural Livelihoods) in the NRLM conference room in Hotel Samrat, New Delhi on 6th of Dec12.
� The SRLM, Odisha will immediately organize a meeting with all the agencies of Odisha whose proposals have been considered in the PSC to finalize certain important aspects in the proposal as follows:
The meeting was organized by SRLM on 14th Jan13 to finalize on the following points suggested by the Project Screening committee:
o All the PIAs need to rework on their community institution architecture. As
emphasized in earlier levels of communications, the PIA should have strategy for developing two parallel institutions; both generic institutions (SHGs and their federations etc), which are the social affinity groups and livelihood institutions emerged from activity based groups and their clusters.
Decision taken: Under this project, the organization shall focus on the livelihood institutions (Producer groups) only and not on the generic institutions.
o The logic for MKSP intervention is either deepening their intervention in an
existing area and community or taking a successful intervention to a new geography. All the PIAs should clearly state whether they are proposing to work in the same geography (area) where they are already working or expanding their geographic coverage. If it is an existing area then what kind of deepening work (additional to existing intervention) is going to be taken up needs to clearly stated.
STRATEGIC PLAN: MKSP intervention shall be both in the existing area and also in some new villages are to be selected from the periphery of the existing intervention villages, 20% shall be the new villages out of the target given. In the new villages, the successful livelihood activities shall be promoted through forming the new producer groups. In the existing villages, the producer groups are too strengthened on enhancing the volume of production, promotion of multiple livelihood options, market promotion strategy of the produces to fetch better price, federating the groups. In the existing villages about 60% new producer groups out of the target given are to be formed taking members from the existing generic institutions and other individuals. Primary focus shall be inclusion of poor and ultra poor in the groups. The sub groups made at the cluster level shall be federated at the block level.
o The proposals from Odisha are concentrated in tribal areas with rich forest
cover and they should consider working on strengthening NTFP and small ruminant based livelihoods.
25
Head office: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Chennai – 600 113, INDIA
Tel: +91 44 2254 1229 / 1698; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
The villages where the organization is focusing and proposing have rare scope of promoting NTFP based activities as these are little far from the forest. In some villages only leaf plate stitching is feasible and has been promoted through some producer groups which shall be promoted through other groups.
o The generic institution architecture has to be finalized in consultation with
the SRLMs, to have synergy with Institution Building activities of NRLM roll out plan of the respective SRLM, so that there is no duplication of activities in the proposed project areas under MKSP and also in order to have the advantage of already initiated or existent generic institutions through state government. Accordingly either formation or strengthening of generic institutions can be taken up through mutual consent. Respective SRLMs would work very closely with the PIAs towards social mobilization and to develop the generic institutions if the project is approved by MoRD.