GRASS ROOTS ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PROGRAM
(GRASP) INTENSIVE HORTICULTURE FOR BARANI AREAS:
The Khidmat Foundation’s Vision/ Mission is Poverty Alleviation and the promotion
of ecologically sound, sustainable and equitable development. The objectives of the
Organization in the field of Agri/ Horticulture are:
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Provision of Hands On Training (HOT) in Intensive Agriculture to small farmers.
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Provision of guidance to small farmers on proper land use.
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Promotion of Water Harvesting.
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Promotion of Conservation Irrigation.
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It is desirable to reverse the Rural to Urban migration that is taking place. This is
caused by the lack of economic opportunity in the rural areas. This sorry state of affairs can be
remedied by an aggressive policy of Rural Development. In keeping with International
practices and theories of Rural Development, Economy Generation by provision of Inputs;
Technical Training and Supervision is the most desirable method of leading towards selfreliance and Sustainable Development. Careful structuring and demonstrable results can serve
to achieve these targets. Financial assistance and close monitoring with subsequent collective
marketing will ensure a high percentage of returns. Real term benefits will serve to provide the
necessary motivation to keep Projects on course. With the achievement of minimum skills and
proven ability more and more challenging tasks can be taken in hand. The essential mix of
training; provision of inputs; supervision and marketing assistance will ensure success.
The main thrust in keeping with "Training for Agriculture and Rural Development,"1 is to
"Upgrade Skills of existing producers so that an extended; diversified; improved range of
commodities; foodstuffs; goods and services is readily available". We will concentrate upon:
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Environment Protection through Ecologically Sound Agri/ Horticultural Practices to
ensure reduction of N2O and prevent Phosphate and Nitrate leaching into Surface and
Ground Waters.
Increasing Agricultural/ Horticultural Production to remove pressure from scarce
natural Resources and thereby preserve the Environment.
Increasing employment.
Female participation in economic activities.
Raising income of Rural Poor.
Enhancing Health and Nutrition standards.
Ensuring self -sustained Rural Development.
Pakistan's Agricultural Sector is in need of overhauling. The Green Revolution is badly in
need of a Fresh, Ecologically Sound, Grass Roots, and Yields Enhancement Revolution.
About 60 % of Pakistan’s population depend upon Agriculture. At present this is being carried
out in a non-sustainable and subsistence manner. Problems are numerous and are being
compounded by the use of non-stabilized fertilizers as well as poisonous pesticides. At present
1
FAO/UNESCO/ILO joint Publication.
the technology that is being used for Agriculture/ Horticulture is 15 to 20 years out of date.
Secondly, it is harmful to the environment. Rational practices using modern, Hi-Tec inputs
that are cost effective and proven in the field can boost yield in an Eco-friendly manner. Such
efforts have been carried out in various parts of the Country on different crops and have shown
remarkable results. There is a way to forge ahead and save the environment from the Ecocatastrophe that we are creating every day. The time to act is now!
The participation rate for females in Agriculture, and particularly in Horticulture and
Floriculture, is readily acceptable to the most conservative of Societies. Rather than
encouraging practices alien to the ideology of the participants, it makes greater economic sense
to tailor them to suit the particular social makeup of the Society that is involved. It even makes
more practical sense, as the resultant benefits that accrue through a program that is participated
in vigorously and those that are merely planned and cannot be implemented or at least face great
resentment and mounting hostility, is fairly obvious.
The Proposed Project is of a Pilot nature. An Applied & Adaptive Research &
Development NGO (Khidmat Foundation) has carried out careful analysis and preliminary spade
work, since the last 9 years and will be available for Technical Assistance to the Project. The
Project has been worked out on a 'most needed' basis. Not only is the nature of the Project such
that it focuses attention on the most essential and very basic aspect of our economy, it also
caters for the bottom most rung of Society i.e. the subsistence land holders, contract farmers
and contract labor in the rural areas. Above all, it takes into account the great harm been
wrought upon our Environment. The project utilizes and places demand upon Compost from
Biodegradable Solid waste and will serve to eliminate this serious environmental problem.
The Project is proposed to be located in the Wet Mountain Agri-Eco in Abbottabad
District and the more Arid, Haripur District.
The SRSP would have the following contributions to make.
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Advocacy.
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Identifying NGOs/ CBOs.
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Identifying and Forming Groups/ individuals.
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Preparing Training Aids.
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Training of Trainers (TOTS), NGOs/ CBOs and Elected Representatives.
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Provision of Technical Support.
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Provision of Administrative Support.
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Provision of Linkages between Public - Private Sectors.
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Provision of Market Information.
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Marketing Assistance.
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Provision of Agricultural Inputs.
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Maintenance of Record.
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Reports & Returns.
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Monitoring & Evaluation.
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Analysis & Recommendations.
The first requirement for such an activity is determined by the rising cost of living. The
daily intake of fresh vegetables is around Rs.50/- per day or Rs.1,500/- per month for an average
family of 5 members. Secondly, the Project is situated in an Eco Region that can enjoy the fruit
of out of season horticultural produce with very little in terms of protection. Of course this
varies from District to District. Thirdly, the Nation can derive great benefit from the export of
horticultural products. The Barani areas have a lot to offer in Grade Export Quality Produce.
The precious resource of water is much abused and must be conserved at all costs, to
meet our growing requirements. It has been observed that a great deal of waste can be
economically harvested to perform miracles if used wisely. The pollution of potable water and
restricted recharging of our aquifers are two major issues that have serious consequences for
our very survival. The rehabilitation and even engendering of an orderly and efficient
Hydrological Cycle is imperative for progress to be ensured.
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Construction of low-cost, Water Harvesting projects including “Buns” (reservoirs).
Use of shallow wells and “Buns” for low-cost drip, sub-soil (reticulation) and sprinkle
irrigation.
Establishment of low-cost, Environment Protected Organic Bed, Sub-soil and
Misting Irrigated Kitchen Gardens for Vegetables, Medicinal and Culinary Herbs.
Establishment of Permanent, Pakistani, Sunken, Organic Vegetable Beds with SemiHydroponic, Sub-soil Irrigation (Environment Control through Mini Tunnels).
Orchard Rehabilitation for increased production through the use of Ecologically safe
Nutrients and practices.
It cannot be denied that organic content of soil is important for:
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Buffering Soil and Plants against alkalinity/ acidity and ill effects of unsafe chemical
fertilizers.
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Making the soil more friable.
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Retaining moisture.
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Providing Earthworms and beneficial microorganisms with suitable environment
and nutrition.
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Providing safe nutrition to plants.
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Growing produce for specialized Organic Markets.
The aspect of plant nutrition is sorely neglected. Out of date and ecologically damaging
nutrition regime needs to be checked. Chelated Micro nutrients; Natural Rooting and Fruiting
Hormones, Beneficial Micro Organisms, Foliar and Split Applications of Liquid Fertilizers,
Banding of safe Chemical Fertilizers, Use of Natural Carrier, Spreader, Sticker Surfactants and a
host of other Modern Hi-Tec yet Low Cost Environmentally Safe Nutrients and Compounds
such as Sulfur Coated Stabilized Urea and Polymer Coated Nutrient and Hormone Treated Seed,
registered with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of the U.S.A. and locally available to
the Khidmat Foundation are some of the Modern Alternates to our Plant’s Nutrient Needs. Grade
A, Export Quality Produce needs all of the above.
It has been observed that a majority of our Orchards need the introduction of correct
cultural practices. Pruning, Conservation Irrigation and Ecologically sound Pest Control will
go a long way towards enhancing their productivity.
The proposed Project will go a long way towards inculcating, through demonstration,
correct Land-use management (focussing particularly on loss of soil quality, erosion and
management of environmentally sensitive areas such as the foothills and watersheds of Major
Dams and Waterworks (Tarbella and Ghazi-Barotha). Urban solid waste pollution will be
controlled through encouraging the composting of Biodegradable solid waste. The project
will also demonstrate effective community-based approaches towards reducing the threat to
the global environment by controlling Solid Waste; N2O emissions; Phosphate and Nitrate
Leaching and by reducing the pressure upon scarce Natural Resources. It will strengthen
the capacities of Community Based Organizations and local scientific and technical
resources. Lessons will be drawn from the conduct of this Community-based activity and will
be shared with Rural Support Program Networks all over the Country. It will serve as an
ideal opportunity to establish a High Impact demonstration of the viability and effectiveness
of decentralized, small grant funding mechanism based upon the principles of community
participation and local decision-making in project design, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation. The SRSP is an Organization dedicated to the promotion of sustainable
development and has ample outreach and cooperation with grass roots groups at the local
level with particular emphasis upon women’s organizations. The SRSP is already engaged in
carrying out education, information, policy and advocacy activities in relevant areas. It has a
well-established organizational structure with demonstrated capacity in project management,
reporting and accounting and has been working in the Districts of Abbottabad and Haripur for
the last five years. The SRSP enjoys good repute in the area and has shared the Project
concept with the local communities and which are eager to start the proposed activities. The
N2O emissions are 92% from Agriculture and 8% from Waste and this represents a major
Green House Gas. The Project proposes control over both of these sectors. If replicated all
over the Country a substantial reduction in N2O emission can be achieved at low cost and in
fact with accrued benefits. The Use of Pesticides and un-stabilized Fertilizers is harming Biodiversity to a great extent. Insect and Microbial life is most threatened as well as flora and
fauna in order of diminishing threat. The leaching of Phosphates and Nitrates into surface
waters has all but eliminated aquatic fauna, flora, insects and microbes.
The above efforts represent a revolution in production. They actually work and can be
readily passed on to the poor at a very low cost. It is high time that such an effort was
launched. We do not have to await desertification before coming to our senses. Micro
Management at Low Cost is just what the Doctor is ordering for Pakistan. We must take this
prescription now and prosper. The project will motivate and enable communities and people to
maintain the productive capacity and biological diversity of their environment. Training
and Awareness Raising is an essential part of the Project design, exchange of experiences
and communicating results will be kept in mind while documenting and recording the
Program. Monitoring and Evaluation, both internal through the SRSP and external through the
local Media will be emphasized. The Project links poverty alleviation to environment
protection and will act as a beacon for similar efforts in other parts of the Country.