Convergence for Integrated Development of Rainfed Farming Systems: Lessons and Way Forward

Sreenath DixitPrincipal Scientist

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture Hyderabad

Rainfed Farming Systems: Evolving Operation Framework for 12th Five Year Plan, CRIDA, 14-15 May, 2013

• Public investment in development: Huge and increasing

• Takes the form of programmes and schemes implemented by multiple ministries, departments, elected bodies and other agencies

• Lack of streamlined implementation leading to multiplicity and duplication

• Lack of cooperation and coordination between implementing agencies

• Absence of demand and access mechanism

Convergence: Need of the Hour

• Conflict between development needs and programme goals - development projects often lack systems approach

• Multiplicity of department/schemes/organisations: Eg. RD, Agri, horti, seri, AH; SAUs etc.

• Other schemes aiming at HDI such as women and child welfare, nutrition, sanitation, education, skill development etc. – not streamlined either

• Need for a body or an agency to anchor and drawn in support/assistance to the community from different schemes

• District administration – too over loaded to play the role

Operationalizing Convergence: Challenges

National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP): Implemented across eight backward districts of AP

• Aimed at overall livelihood improvement of marginalized communities

• Adopted unique project management approach: Cluster Anchoring by an implementation partner

• Built in flexibility to carry out what was required to make things happen

• Took initiative for convergence right from project launch onwards

• Sensitized partners about the need to bring convergence and the value it brings for the project

• Supported anchoring partners with logistics and networking required for promoting convergence

Promoting Convergence: CRIDA’s Experiences

Some Examples of Promoting Convergence

District Collector Participating in the Launch Meeting

• Farm ponds in Adilabad: MGNREGS

• Micro irrigation in Anantapur & Warangal: APMIP

• Community & household biogas in Nalgonda & Khammam: NEDCAP

• Safe drinking water: JP Morgan-Planet Water Foundation (Mbnr); NTR Trust (Nlg)

• Horticulture in Anantapur: NHM

• Exposure visits: ATMA

• Groundwater sharing in RR district: NABARD

Up-scaling of Farm Ponds in Adilabad

Convergence with MGNREGS

Identified & demostrated potential for runoff harvest

DWMA sanctioned Rs.20 lakhs under MGNREGS for up-sacling farm ponds in Gudi Hatnur mandal

Critical Input: Topo Survey & Follow up with DWMA

Reviving Sunk Investments … Making Them Productive

Desilted Jalamalakunta with a pucca waste weir, Nalgonda

Silted up Jalamalakunta

Availed 2000 man days from MGNREGS for tank de-silting Courtesy DWMA, Nalgonda

Critical Input: Technical Survey and Community Mobilization; identifying scope for under utiized investments

• Facilitated availing of Rs.5 lakh assistance by NEDCAP for the community biogas unit

• 45 houses connected

• Biogas for power: 15 kva genset to energize 13 hp motor

• Critical Input: Genset; institution bldg

Convergence: NEDCAP, NAIP, Banjara Society

Community Biogas Unit: Convergence with NEDCAP, Nalgonda

Biogas for cooking

• Annual production capacity : 80 t

• Current utilization:

• 5 t slurry output/week

• 3 t vermi compost/cycle

• Cycle reduced by 10-15 days due to feeding of digested dung.

• Sold to vegetable farmers

• Critical input: Large sheds and capacity building

Community vermi compost production shed

Vermicomposting Unit Added on to Community Biogas Unit

Household Biogas Units: In Convergence with NEDCAP, Khammam

Thummalacheruvu cluster, KMM

•In convergence with NEDCAP•Contribution by each family Rs.1200•90 households connected •Critical input: Sand and Gravel

Thummalacheruvu cluster, KMM

•Fuel requirement: 6-8 cartloads firewood/year •Mini biogas unit caters to cooking twice daily•Capacity: 1 m3•Requirement: Dung of two cattle

Sharing of Groundwater: Convergence with NABARD

Networking of 6 bore wells

covering 18 farmers and 45

acres : Malkaipet Thanda, RR

district

Critical Input: Technical survey & community mobilization

Social and Irrigation Engineering

Pipeline networking Learning for planning

Dream coming true

• 6 bore wells; 18 farmers; 45 acres

• kharif :3 protective irrigations; 45 ac

• Rabi: 2 ac groundnut - donor farmers; 1 ac groundnut - recipient farmers

• Paddy cultivation only during kharif; restricted to 5 acres

Department/Organization Amount (Rs.)

Seethagondi, Adilabad 2310250

Pampanur, Ananthapur 1005000

B Yerragudi, Kadapa 455350

Thummalacheruvu, Khammam 5204800

Jamisthapur, Mahabubnagar 1274620

Duphad, Nalgonda 1003325

Ibrahimpur, Ranga Reddy 392500

Jaffergudem, Warangal 5906257

Total 20756902

Worth of Convergence

Details

Zone Convergence with department Rs. in lakhs

Activities

Zone I MNREGSDepartment of Horticulture, Haryana

1.85 Construction and renovation of Water harvesting structures fish pondsProviding bee hives and seedInstallation of sprinkler and drip irrigation system

Zone II Bihar minor irrigation department,Bihar and West Bengal state Animal Husbandry Department, CYMMIT, MNREGS, Department of Agriculture, Jharkhand Backward Rural Grant Fund (BRGSF) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) Chief Minister Sadak Yojna (CMSY)ATMA

62.00 Renovation of different water saving structure Demonstration of pigeon peaDemonstration of SRIVaccination camp

Convergence Agenda Continues in NICRA

Zone Convergence with department

Rs. in lakhs

Activities

Zone III

Department of Agriculture, Assam, NagalandFisheries Department, NagalandDept. of A.H, LF & VS, Govt. of Sikkim , MeghalayaNABARDATMADepartment of soil and water conservation, NagalandNREGSBotanical Survey of IndiaIWMP

2.95 Promotion of improved seedAI and vaccinationExposure visits and trainingsConstruction of Jalkunds and irrigation channelsConstruction of embankment Renovation of defunct fishery pond Bamboo plantation

Zone IV

Department of Agriculture, UPDepartment of Animal Husbandry, UPMNREG

13.00 Seed DistributionVermicompost unitsVaccinationConstruction of farm ponds

Zone Convergence with department Rs. in lakhs

Activities

Zone V Micro irrigation Department, MaharashtraIWMPRKVYMNREGSAPMIPNEDCAPDepartment of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh, MaharashtraDepartment of AH, Andhra Pradesh, MaharashtraDepartment of Horticulture, AP

28.17 Drip irrigation departmentIn situ soil and water conservationSeed DistributionVaccination TCB

Zone VI Department of AH, Rajasthan and GujaratDepartment of Agriculture, Rajasthan and GujaratMNREGSGGRCDistrict Watershed Development

11.00 VaccinationDrip irrigationconstruction of kharanjas

Zone Convergence with department

Rs. in lakhs

Activities

Zone VII MNREGS 1.20 Land leveling and plantation

Zone VIII Coconut Development BoardDairy Development BoardMILMADepartment of AH & VS , Karnataka, Tamil NaduDepartment of Agriculture, Karnataka, Tamil NaduDepartment of Horticulture, Tamil Nadu, KarnatakaIFFCO

33.00 Revived the local milk producers cooperative society Drip irrigation systemsTrained rural youth in plant protection and harvesting operation in coconut Vaccination and DewormingConstruction of compost pitsSeed DistributionConstruction of farm ponds, deepening of community pond, construction of bed dam, closing of breach

Convergence for Productivity Enhancement in Rainfed Farming Systems: Suggested Areas

•Critical irrigation: DWMA – Dept. of Agri. – APMIP

•Soil fertility enhancement

•Silt application: MGNREGS – Dept. of Agri. – SAU

•Green manuring: MGNREGS – Dept. of Agri. Forest Dept.

•Crop residue recycling/composting: MGNREGS – Dept. of Agri.

•Farm mechanization: District agros – Dept. of Agri. – Village

panchayat

•Livestock development: APDDC – DAH – Dept. of Agri. – DWMA

•Post-harvest value addition: Commodity boards -Dept of Agri-

Farmer groups

Thank YouThank Yousdixit@crida.in

sreenathd@yahoo.com