PHYSICAL PROGRESS

AGRICULTURE

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

• For enhancement food security and increase in productivity, a package of Rice and Wheat Intensification were introduced among the farmers of Ranchi, Pakur W. Sinhbhum districts of the project. The System of rice intensification is a tested technology already experimented in last UNDP Social Mobilization Project.

• At W. Singhbhum district organic method of SRI was introduced for the first time with tribal farmers. They were initially taken on exposure visit to Khunti district where PRADAN had demonstrated the technology earlier. A Film on SRI by Mr. Meghna Bhattacharya and SAMBHAV organization was exhibited in different villages to create awareness on package of practices associated with SRI. With help of KGVK hand operated manual weeder was introduced to check the growth of weeds and create compost in the SRI Fields. Also Dhanicha seeds as a green manure crop preceding to SRI crop was introduced successfully with these farmers. In Pakur & Palamau district large scale replication of successful SRI demonstrations was attempted by SMAs.(NBJK and SPWD) but long drought spells hinder the growth of SRI plots. At Hazaribagh & Ranchi district patches of SRI cultivation continued with support of PRADAN and GVT respectively but mixed response were observed for long drought spells.

• Introduction of SRI and SWI package of practices has reached to 2000 poor farmers of project area.

Demonstration of Poly House Technology for Healthy Seedling Raising

• To cater the requirement of quality seedlings to farmers, two poly houses were established in Ranchi District. by GVT and KSRA promoted Self Help Groups. Seedlings of Tomato, Brinjal, Cauliflower and other raised in the poly house were sold by SHG members to others farmers at a premium price.

• Similarly, a poly house was also established by NBJK with help of a five SHG members to cater the need of 25 farmers of Janum village of Angara block of Ranchi district associated with drip irrigation based vegetable cultivation. This poly house nursery supplied 40 thousand saplings every month grown on soil less medium i.e. coco pit and vermi compost on plastic tray. In addition, this poly house also supplied healthy seedlings of Tomato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Chili and Cucumber to nearby farmers of Jeetu village under SGSY scheme.

• The tomato crop undertaken by 25 farmers of Angara Block in Ranchi has earned Rs. 20-40 thousand to each farmer.

Seed Production and Multiplication Program

• A batch of 30 farmers was trained in seed production technology and seed multiplication in Ranchi district and all the farmers adopted this.

• 700 farmers were trained to utilize fallow land for second crop after rice cultivation. The farmers were benefitted immensely by sowing second crops like, Mustered, Pea, Mung, Paddy, Wheat etc. On an average, each farmer was gained an aggregate monetary benefit of ranging from Rs. 4200 to Rs. 6000 in one cropping season.

• Furthermore, a total of 798 farmers received training on vegetable cultivation and floriculture.

SELF- HELP GROUP: FORMATION/STRENGTHEN

Formation of New SHGs

For social mobilization and collectivization project has taken steps for organizing Women Self Help Groups across the project area with help of social mobilizing agency. In the five project districts 431 new SHGs were formed with 5568 women members, in addition to the existing 474 old SHGs comprising 6173 members. Steps were taken by project to improve the functionality of old SHGs by imparting training on book keeping, record maintenance and adopting five principles of micro finance. Due to active support and co-ordination by project team, SHGs have been allocated Public Distribution Shops (PDS) by district administration. In Hazaribagh and Ranchi district, project assisted in formation of federations of SHGs.

Support to SHGs

Project team facilitated to receive Rs. 4.74 cr. as one time grant of Rs. 10000/- as revolving fund to each group provided by Rural Development Department, Govt. of Jharkhand This was given to one year old SHGs for initiating internal credit and small enterprise based livelihood options.

Training for old and new SHGs Convened

• The members of both new and old SHGs were trained in financial management, leadership and operational issues by organizing seven training camps where a total of 410 members were trained .Among them 95% trained members were women only

• Training on formation of SHGs and Federations with technical support of APMAS in Gaya has been conducted and a total no. of 48 person from the project, SMAs, TSA,s and NABARD were oriented through this training program.

Exposure Visits for SHGs

• A total number of 80 farmers from 7 SHGs of W. Singhbhum went for exposure visit in PRADAN� project area in Khuti district for SRI. After return of the exposure trip farmers adopted SRI Technique in their respective fields.

• Two SHGs from W. Singhbhum went to Mayurbhanj, Orissa for an exposure on value chain of NTFP based livelihood options. They were exposed on techniques associated with Leaf plates and cup making devices and their functional aspects as well as economics.

• Also from Ranchi district 60 members of Farmers Field School went for an exposure on Wadi model of promoted by Gramin Vikas Trust, Ranchi.

• Similarly, In Hazaribagh district 350 farmers went on exposure visits to see SRI and tomato cultivation within district.

VEGETABLE CULTIVATION BASED DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

To establish a fully functional drip irrigation based vegetable cultivation project demonstrated a model of micro-drip irrigation at Janum Village of Angara Block District Ranchi. The objective of this demonstration was to

• Demonstrate a regular income mechanism for Enabling Rural Poor to Overcome Poverty.

• Empowering women to access new agriculture technology and adopt new practices for a regular income source for family.

Out Come

• Increased farm productivity of participating farmers and an annual income generation of more than Rs. 50,000 per 1000sq.m of cultivation area.

• Increased local employment opportunities in on-farm and off-farm activities leading to reduce distress migration

• Increased livelihood options to participant families (>2 options per family).

• Inclusion in basic banking facility to build a capital base for self and family.

Institutional Arrangement for Demonstration:

• There was a technical agency for technology demonstration with 25 farmers of Janum Village and each one having a 0.25 acre land for vegetable cultivation. This technical and hand-holding support to farmers continued for one year.

• Project team closely monitored & supported entire field level operation including farmer mobilization, organising Farmer’s Club and opening their bank account for functional autonomy.

Achievement

• 25 brick kiln workers who were previously farmers but lost the hope of income opportunity through agriculture based livelihood option, were again back to their agriculture field and earned Rs. 25-40 thousand from a single tomato crop in summer season.

• Farmers from nearby villages, other block and districts came on exposure trips to these farmers and they were successfully convinced to initiate same practices under SGSY financial support.

• Several government officials including Development Commissioners, DDCs, Director-RSETIs, LDMs, NABARD officials, senior administrators from state government as well as officials from Government of India visited demonstration site and interacted with farmers on their change in life and life style.
• Rural Development Department, Government of Jharkhand agreed to scale up this technology based livelihood options with 100,000 farmers across the state with financial support of Govt. of India and JICA. A proposal has been submitted to DEA, Govt. of India for necessary financial support.

• Rural Development Department Government of Jharkhand formulated a bankable scheme with help of NABARD for small and marginal farmers having at least 0.25 acre of land and irrigation source. This initiative will be supported as a special scheme under SGSY program for 50% subsidy and a special provision of capacity building fund was also made available for handholding the farmers.

LIVELIHOODS ORIENTATION TRAINING FOR STAKEHOLDERS COMPLETED BY BASIX

A three-day orientation Training program was organized for the JSLPS project functionaries as well as partner SMAs and TSAs. A total of 36 participants were trained in different paradigms of livelihoods and it’s context and approaches .The objectives of the orientation training program were to build an understanding of the conceptual & promotional aspects of livelihoods, prospects and challenges of different livelihood promotion models.

AND VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ARE REENERGIZED

The project envisages on strengthening village level institutions, 286 Village Development Committee (VDC) formed. Each VDC has been given proper representation of women as well socially deprived communities, members have been reoriented to issues of livelihood as well other aspects of village development.

FARMERS GROUPS

Farmers are organized into groups to enhance their livelihoods and marketing of produces. 112 farmer groups organized in different project villages. They were exposed to new agricultural practices and new technologies through farmer field schools by GVT, KSRA, PRADAN, SPWD and NBJK.

Training to Farmers Groups

As many as 36 farmers groups were imparted training in water management, crop management, improved seeds and other related issues. It comprised a total of 552 members at Ranchi district. As a follow up, they were exposed to double cropping and seed management.

FOREST RIGHTS COMMITTEE

On recently declared the Forest Rights Act 2006, a special drive on dissemination of FRA 2006 was launched in 50 villages in W. Singhbhum and Palamu districts. A total of 44 Forest Rights Committee formed across the project districts are facilitating villagers in submitting application for getting Patta (Land Right Document). The committee also helped villagers in protecting the forest and managing other livelihood issues.

Training on Forest Rights Act 2006

Two trainings were organized on Forest Right Act-2006 (FRA) & Livelihood Promotion by Institute for Community forest Governance (ICFG) at Tribal Research and Training Centre (TRTC), Chaibasa, W. Singhbhum. The objective of training was to enhance awareness on FRA-2006, to understand the process and procedure for claiming Community Property Resources and Community Forest Management. A total of 125 participants benefitted from this training program.

MICRO-PLAN

State level training on Micro Planning

A Four days micro planning ToT was organized for the project staff, SMAs to initiate the village level micro plan. 38 participants from SMA, TSA and Project team attended the training.

Village level Training & Preparation of Micro Plans

As a follow up, four block level trainings organized for 33 members of SMAs and volunteers. The trained participants formulated 298 micro plans with following necessary PRA exercises which include social mapping, resource mapping, well being ranking, geographical transacts.