RRA CP Review workshop
(7-8 May, 2013, New Delhi)
Vikas Sahyog Kendra (VSK)
CP block: Chhattarpur, Palamau,
Jharkhand
Background, Context and
Design
Project Overview
• CP Partner- Vikas Sahyog Kendra (VSK)
• Location- Chhattarpur block, Palamau District,
Jharkhand State
• No. of Panchayats- 5
• No. of Villages- 30
• Inception of the project- July, 2012
• HR Deployment:
– For each of the 5 GPs- One Panchayat coordinator and two
village cadres.
– One full time program manager and two part time project
coordinators
– One full time documentation support.
• Budget- 20 lakh INR till June 2013
Key issues and key gapsNode wise
SEED
Key Issues Identified
Key Gaps in the System
 Falling acreage of local
varieties and hence their
availability
 Rise in the cost and very high
percentage of hybrid seeds
usage for main crops like
paddy, maize and vegetables
 Farmers not under control of
the various seed sources
 Vegetable seeds market
totally being dominated by
hybrid seeds
 Non- availability of traditional
seeds in the market or
through government
institutions
 Seed village programme
doesn’t have space for
production of local seeds
which have exceptional
qualities.
 Seeds not available for millet
crops at all in the market or
govt sources at ease
Soil
Key Issues Identified





Key Gaps in
the System
Utilization of dung for production of manure or Biomass based
vermin-composting is almost absent in the area. manuring
Animal dung is also used as fuel in most of the
needs to be
households;
incentivised
As visible across the country, the response to
through
Urea and DAP by crops has fallen.
NREGA and
Crop residues aren’t used for composting; only
DoA for every
hard stems of Redgram are burnt. Oil cakes are household to
generally fed to the cattle.
make a shift
Silt application is absent as a practice
from chemical
use.
Water (Protective Irrigation)
Key Issues Identified





Key Gaps in the
System
Cropping of only rice and wheat in the
No
low and mid lands (Chaur and Jaah)
implementatio
Unutilized water sources that can result n model
in food security.
available for
Absence of market incentives for millet collective use
cultivation.
of groundwater
Outreach of government incentives for for productivity
sprinklers and drip irrigation not visible. enhancement,
Rain water harvesting measures on
we are hesitant
individual lands not very popular.
to introduce
groundwater
usage
Millets
Key Issues Identified
 Very low market value compared to rice.
 Low availability of seeds, considering
the low use and drought in the past 3
years.
 Millets are virtually out of food habits,
the knowledge about nutritional value
not realized.
 Market or state hasn’t laid any
incentives for millet procurement.
 Locally, it is believed that Madua or
similar millets are not consumed by
‘good’ people. It is believed to be a ‘low
caste food’ and that it can’t be served to
guests.
Key Gaps in the System
 Millets have
traditionally grown
without any external
input, while INSIMP
promotes use of
chemical fertilizers.
 State led
communication of the
nutritional benefits of
millet consumption
 Procurement of
millets for public
schemes
SRI
Key Issues Identified




Key Gaps in the
System
Hand-holding support during the key
 Incentives for SRI
processes of SRI is essential- seed
not laid out at
treatment, bed preparation,
village level from
transplantation and weeding.
DoA
Despite local examples, farmers a little
 Non Availability of
reluctant to shift to SRI
a large number of
Availability of weeders essential at the
CRPs for
weeding stage
promoting the
Community resource persons is crucial for
technique
larger reach of SRI
Fisheries
Key Issues Identified
 Scientific fishery is still a new concept for people to
understand- govt’s efforts for provision of training are
much needed
 Control over large water bodies is under threat of
contractors- policy assists in getting legal control
 Labour support for preparation of new ponds/ cleaning
and maintenance of existing ponds needs to be available
from public schemes to every interested fish farmer
 Fingerling production needs to be localised-quality of seed
is a big concern, dependence is still on Bankura, WB
 Government supported local hatcheries are still picking
up, their production is not able to meet local demand
 Infrastructure like boats, tubes, fishing nets not available
with farmers, dependence hence is on the Mallahs who
charge 1/3rd of the produce for harvesting
 Harvesting skills also need to be developed
Key Gaps in the System
 Direct linkage of the fishery
department with Gram
Panchayats essential for
assessing capacity building
needs
 System for provision of
required inputs,
infrastructure needs to be
established for all interested
farmers for all water bodies
 Fingerling production needs
to be localised for reducing
mortality and increasing the
productivity in fishery
 Absence of resource
persons who can hand hold
the key process at crucial
stages of fish growth
Livestock
Key Issues Identified
Key Gaps in the System
 High mortality rates in chicken
 Extension of
(due to infectious diseases and
Vaccination services
predator attack) and goats
at village level is not
(mostly due to infectious
happening
diseases)
 Disease surveillance
 Vaccines available for large
system is not clear
ruminants only
 CRPs for vaccination
 The AH department does not
need to be linked to
have sufficient human resources
the department
for providing vaccination
services for all the animals in the
village
Project Strategies and Approach for
the First Year
• In the beginning we were in learning phase so we were
promoting different agronomical practices so that there is
an outreach to build upon for intervention at scale.
• Main focus was given on the activities about which the
organisation already has experience like SRI, kitchen
garden etc.
• Building relationship with different government
departments.
• Sensitizing target groups, staffs , government staffs about
agenda and objectives of RRA.
• Preparing ground for developing a convergence
programme with the government.
Progress and
Achievements
Baseline Survey
• 2100 families have been covered out of 3000.
• Data analysis is in progress
• Individual household level data on land
holding acreage under each crop pattern,
fertilizer use, seed rates, yields for each crop
and cropping pattern, govt benefits access,
etc.
Summary of achievements for Kharif 2012:
• 5 Panchayat level Seed Banks functional: IR 36, IR 64, Sahbhagi, Naveen
and Sarju 52 varieties of paddy and A 404 variety of Madua stored; 10
quintals of seed stored at every seed bank
• Paddy seed production (IR 36, IR 64 and Sahbhagi) taken up on 20 acres
• System of Rice Intensification: 160 acres of SRI paddy cover in the pilot
area
• Composting: Over 200 families using biomass based compost
• Millets: Linkage with ATMA under the INSIMP programme, 60 acres land
covered under Madua
• Fishery: 25 water bodies covered this year under fishery, 70000
fingerlings produced locally; a Block Level Fishery Federation is being
formed
• Livestock: 2000 livestock immunized in 2012. 5 trained cadres in area for
immunization
• Vegetable Cultivation: 3 vegetable nurseries established serving 100
families
• Horticulture: 1200 fruit plants planted by 300 families
Building Community Institutions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Planned
Formation of
Women Farmers’
Group in every
village
Formation of a
block level
cooperative for
Fishery
Establishing
Community
Institutions for
handling AgriInput services,
processing and
value addition
Establishing a
pool of
Community
Resource Persons
1.
2.
3.
4.
Achieved
VSK has nurtured 82 Women’s Self Help Groups in the 30 villages of the
CP area. Regular meetings are being held in the area for making the
groups understand the benefits of collectivising for rainfed agriculture.
A block level fishery cooperative is being formed in Chhattarpur that
has a paid membership base (Rs. 100/acre/year for each waterbody), a
seven member executive committee and a joint bank account. A fishery
resource centre will be established in the block (initially supported by
VSK) that will serve for provision of infrastructural, skill and training
support to the members. The District Fishery Officer has told that
unless the cooperative is registered, the support from the department
will be available only for individual farmers. We are considering the
registration part.
Currently, a seed bank is formed at all the 5 panchayats managed by
Women’s SHG, with hand holding support from VSK. It is envisaged that
the SHGs and their federations will manage the Custom Hiring Centres,
processing units (especially for pulses) and value addition.
A pool of community resource persons has been established at the
village level (1-2 farmers per village) for extending training at crucial
crop stages in Kharif and activities like Composting.
Soil productivity enhancement
1.
2.
3.
4.
Planned
Biomass based
manuring with at
least 500
households
before May 2013.
Inclusion of plans
for composting in
the NREGA
annual plan.
Exploring options
for green
manuring on Jaah
(Low,
waterlogged)
lands.
Vermin-compost
demonstration in
every village
1.
2.
3.
4.
Achieved
Currently, over 750 farmers have undertaken BBM and our revised
target is of covering 1000 households within April 2013. We have
increased the number of target households as not all of them are
covering their entire land under BBM.
When the NREGA annual labour budget preparation process takes
place from 2nd October till December, we advocated with the dist
administration to include plans for composting (1 pit for each
household) and the plans were finally included. The current need
is to advocate through the GP for opening up composting
schemes as the new financial year has started from April.
The operational framework is being discussed with the Soils node
for green manuring.
A programme under RKVY for vermin-compost promotion (that
provides 50% subsidy on building vermin-compost pits) has been
leveraged for the CP area for demonstrating vermin-compost pits.
Applications for releasing the incentive money have been
submitted to ATMA and the release of funds is awaited.
Construction of pits will be complete before June. 146 farmers
Establishing Community Managed Seed systems
Planned
Achieved
1. Establishi 1. Panchayat level seed banks, managed by Women’s Self Help
ng a seed
Groups are functional in all the panchayats. The total seed stored
institution
this year in the banks is 50 quintals (10 quintals of 5 High Yield
at
Varieties paddy seed in every seed bank). Storage arrangements
panchayat
for around 5 quintals have been done through project money for
level in 5
the seed banks. (Plastic drums have been used)
panchayat 2. IR-64, IR 36, and Sahbhagi paddy varieties were produced on 25
s
acres. The seeds were purchased by the seed banks and stored
2. Seed
for Kharif 2013. We could not got for certification process,
productio
however. The seed banks are also purchasing Millet (Ragi) seeds
n for main
(A-404 variety and a local variety)
food
In Rabi 2012, Gram (KPG 59) and Wheat (9107) varieties were
crops.
procured from Zonal Research Station, Birsa Agricultural University
and seed production was taken up. The yield data is yet to come as
the harvest is going on. These seeds will also be purchased by the
seed banks.
SRI
Planned
Achieved
Achieving
300 acres
SRI cover in
the CP area
with 700
farmers
160 acres was covered under SRI by 400
farmers. A complete one month delay caused
in the fall in response to SRI despite the
availability of seed in time through seed
banks.
The highest yield recorded in the area was 40
quintals/acre with IR 64 variety.
Promotion of Millets
Planned
Achieved
1. Reviving
1. We formed a linkage with the INSIMP programme that eased the
millet
greatest bottleneck- the shortage/unavailability of seed in the market.
cultivation
We achieved 60 acres of Ragi cover under the procured variety (A 404)
with the
2. A proposal to provide millet based meals in ICDS has been prepared with
Ragi crop
the help of Dr. Kiran from Millets node and was shared with the District
2. Linking
Social Welfare Officer. He has suggested some additions after which we
millets
can take it to the District collector, who in turn is expected to forward it
with
in the State. We are trying to take benefit of another Action Research
public
pilot we are handling in the district in association with the Supreme
schemes
Court Commissioners’ Office for the Right to Food. One of the core areas
(ICDS/MD
of work is addressing child malnutrition which can be utilised for
M/PDS)
inclusion of millets in ICDS as a policy experiment.
3. Social
3. We have made it a strategy to serve millet meals in our public events to
campaign
give millets acceptability in the area. In a kisaan mela held in Charai
for
panchayat of Chhattarpur in February, 350 farmers (men and women)
publicity
were served Pua (Sweet cake made of Ragi flour). The campaign on SRI
that we undertake every year before monsoons also has had a
component on millets and that was done in 2012. We will continue that
Establishing a framework for protective irrigation
Planed
1. Selection of a pilot
area for protective
irrigation
2. Studying the
groundwater and
surface water
situation
3. Chalking out a plan
for protective
irrigation
Achieved
1. The pilot area for the Protective Irrigation
pilot has been selected as the Salaiya
village in Charai Panchayat. The village
has 4 habitations, 30 wells and a check
dam.
2. A well inventory of the area was taken up
and some soil samples were also taken by
ACWADAM for soil moisture testing.
3. The plan is yet to get chalked out.
4. Solar powered irrigation system is being
set up.
Fishery in numerous water bodies
Planned
Achieved
1. Understanding
1. A detailed baseline survey has been completed for the CP area. In Kharif 2012,
the scope of
52 water bodies were identified for fishery. We left out individual tanks that
fishery as a
were under big farmers. The baseline survey this year has identified 70 water
livelihood
bodies including water bodies from an additional panchayat (Sadma, adjacent
source
to Chhattarpur town) which has shown interest in joining the block level
2. Organizing fish
cooperative that is being formed. Seed source, market prices, infrastructural
farmers for
and skill based capacities have been assessed through the survey.
boosting fishery 2. A block level fishery cooperative is being formed in Chhattarpur that has a
3. Forming a
paid membership base (Rs. 100/acre/year for each waterbody), a seven
linkage with the
member executive committee and a joint bank account. The District Fishery
Fishery
Officer has suggested that we register this cooperative with the Cooperative
Department and
Department for collective support. Unless the cooperative is registered, the
undertaking
support from the department will be available only for individual farmers. We
fishery on
are considering the registration part.
numerous water 3. 17 people were trained on fish production and 4 people were trained on
bodies
fingerling production in 2012. 15 more people have been trained in 2013 on
fish production and 11 more on fingerling production. A 5 day special training
programme was organised by the Fishery Department for fish farmers being
promoted by VSK between 20th april to 24th april 2013. Our target is to get at
least one person per waterbody trained on fishery through the department.
Livestock
Planned
Achieved
1. Provision of
1. 2000 large ruminants were vaccinated
vaccination services to
with the help of 4 Community Resource
all the villages in the
Persons in the CP area. We could not
CP area through
cover all the villages in 2012. 4 More
Community Resource
CRPs were trained in 2013. Vaccines are
Persons
being supplied by the AH dept and
2. Exploring an
farmers pay a user charge of Rs.5 per
alternative
animal.
arrangement for
2. We are yet to understand the
vaccinating all animals
procurement methodology of the Animal
including small
Husbandry department for vaccination.
ruminants, poultry
This will be taken up as an immediate
and piggery
task.
Boosting Vegetable Cultivation and Promoting Dry land
Horticulture
Planned
Acheived
1. Establishing 1. 3 vegetable nurseries were taken up by SHG’s in 3
vegetable
different villages and 100 families purchased
nurseries in
saplings from the nurseries. Seeds for Tomato
every
(swarna lalima) and Brinjal (swarna shyamla)
panchayat to
were procured from ICAR Eastern Region Centre
supply
in Ranchi.
saplings
1. Planting 5
1. We tried to procure saplings through the NHM
fruit plants
programme and Department of Horticulture,
for every
Jharkhand’s programme in Ranchi. 1200 fruit
household
saplings were procured from the Social Forestry
department and distributed amongst 300
farmers.
Current progress
• Formation of Fisheries cooperative
• Setting up of solar water pumping system and exploring
protective irrigation options.
• Setting up of weather station
• Setting up of portable hatchery for fingerling production,
preparation of nursery ponds
• Indenting seed requirement, arranging seed, capacity
building of Seed bank functionaries, applying for Seed
village programme
• Trainings on preparation of Jeevamrit & Neemastra for
CRPs
• Capacity building of Staff, Cadres and Community
Resource Persons
• Exposure visits
Key Risks and Assumptions
• Palamau is a drought prone area which is the
greatest risk
• It was assumed last year that there will be
normal rains, a risk based planning process
wasn’t done.
• This year, the assumption will include the
strong possibility of a drought and the
planning will be done accordingly.
Analysis, Reflection
What is new in the last one year ?
• Thrust on leveraging government budgets instead of relying
on program budgets.
• Convergence with different government departments.
• The resolve to establish women’s identity as farmersStrengthening of women’s farmer’s groups in every village.
• Looking at fisheries as major support for livelihood- Fishery
in every water body, localizing fingerling production and
collectivising fish farmers.
• Key focus on soil health enhancement and seed
conservation.
• Communicating the importance of millet crops, creating
incentive for production.
• Exploring alternative energy sources for irrigation.
Layer, Scale, Convergence
• Layering of interventions has been done at scale.
However, an MIS to track such layering is yet to be
developed- we are expecting help from the
network.
• Approximately 600 farmers have been reached
out through the program for multiple initiatives.
• A relationship has been built with DoF, ATMA,
DoH, DoA. However, Convergence among these
departments is yet to be established.
Programmatic FW
• Our Panchayat coordinators are key persons
for implementing the programme on ground.
They have understood the concept of RRA well
and are making attempts to build relationship
with block level functionaries of various
departments.
• We have appointed Panchayat coordinators as
nodal persons for one node as well.
Institutional FW
Node
Nodal
Activities
Biomass
based
manuring
Green
Manuring
Soils
Existing institutions
Institutions required
Remarks
primary
secondary
CRP
primary
secondary
CRP
HH
-
1 per hamlet
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HH
-
-
-
Application of
Biofertlizers
and
biopesticides
-
-
-
HH
SHG
1 per
hamlet
Production will
require storing
cattle urine and
dung,
commercial sale
envisaged
vermi
compost
SHG
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Need to
coordinate with
Fishery node
which has tank
silt removal as
an activity
Tank Silt
Application
-
-
-
HH
-
Institutional FW
Node
Existing institutions
Nodal
Activities primary secon CRP
dary
Institutions required
Remarks
primary
secondary
-
Seed Banks
SHG
-
-
-
Association at
block level for
running
processing
units
Seed
Production
HH
-
-
-
-
-
Millets
HH
-
-
-
1 per hamlet
Crops
HH
SHG
-
-
-
1 per hamlet
SRI
HH
-
-
-
-
vegetable
production
HH
SHG
-
-
-
Protective
irrigation
LI User
group in
villages
that have
lift
irrigation
facility
-
-
-
Women's
federation
seeds
Agronomic
Innovations,
Crops
water
CRP
The SHG can manage the seed bank
at Panchayat level but large scale
certification of seed s will need
processing of seeds. This unit will
need to be managed by an
association of the seed banks
Seed producers are individual farmers
who are associated with the seed
bank.
-
Aggregation of surplus produce to
take place at SHG level
SRI needs a strong CRP support in
1 per hamlet
vital stages
Vegetable nurseries being handled by
SHG's
-
Federation will take up advovacy for
getting schemes for protective
irrigation for each household
Institutional FW
Existing institutions
Nodal
Node
Activities primary secondar CRP
y
Vaccination
for the
entire
livestock
livestock
poultry
fishery
financial
services
Institutions required
secondar
primary
CRP
y
Remarks
-
-
10 CRPs for
5 GPs
-
-
1 per village
-
-
-
-
Mother
Unit
association
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Village
organisatio
n to provide
financial
services for
an
independen
ce from
Money
lenders
SHG/Fish
association
committee
-
-
-
-
Village
Organisatio
n of SHGs
Resources mobilised
Resource
mobilisation
from
Government
(Programmes/d
epartment)
Other donor
agencies
Funds leveraged for CP
Other resources/
Expertise/ Skills
Leveraged for CP
1. Land development Schemes for 35 acres
We organised a field
sanctioned through NREGA for the CP area in the day and a kisaan
first phase. The per-acre cost was Rs. 100000.
mela and a Genetic
2. Schemes for building 150 vermin-compost pits
plant breeder from
have been sanctioned by ATMA. 50% subsidy on
ZRS has reviewed
the total cost of Rs. 6000 is being provided to each our CP work.
farmer.
3. 190 kg of Millet Seed at subsidised rate was
available to farmers in CP area through INSIMP.
Cost of the seed was Rs. 14/kg.
4. Foundation and breeder seeds from KVK/ZRS for
seed production
We have leveraged Human Resource Support and
some incentive support from Ford Foundation as well
for the CP area.
Way Forward
Status of proposal
• Working on the MKSP proposal (submitted
already) has provided us a framework for the
convergence plan, waiting for the Collector to
get transferred to introduce the proposal!
• Strengthening community organisations