Submitted by M. S. Swaminathan Research...

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:[email protected]

Web: www.mssrf.org, www.mssrfjeypore.org

2



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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.

Submitted by M. S. Swaminathan Research...

Documents

Transcript of Submitted by M. S. Swaminathan Research...