| final results & observations |
ACTIVITIES
The Demonstrations on rice have been modified to cater the needs of the irrigated lands of the farmers. The focus is on saving on cost of seed, water and maximization of profits. Hence very successful method of rice cultivation ‘System of Rice Intensification’ (SRI) has been introduced to about 200 farmers. This method is a validated technology through which the farmers have achieved very high returns. Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) a public research institute under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has started collaborating in organizing Front Line Demonstrations in CKO adopted villages. Before launching, awareness camps have been held to educate 2500 farmers (about 20% women).
There has been increase in membership to the grower’s cooperative societies of mango, number of trainings/ workshops have increased with diversified topics on various aspects and stages of mango growing. The trainings have resulted in a better yield of about 25-30% and farmers have started grading of mangos resulting in a better price. About 400 mango farmers have been trained (15% women)
11 Workshops (7 targeted) for cotton farmers were achieved and about1800 farmers (20% women) have been trained, demonstration plots in cotton have been planned in next phase and number of female beneficiaries has increased. Mostly framers have now switched from traditional cotton to Bt cotton, which yields higher and requires fewer inputs. As the cost of seed of Bt cotton has been reduced with60%. Field visits by scientists have increased considerably.
Demonstrations targeted for pulse farmers were successfully held and 40 quintals of elite pulse varieties (high yielding) has been produced/ procured for distribution to the farmers. About 150 farmers have been trained (15% women)
Maize demonstration farms (12) are added to enhance the crop opportunities and harvest index of the farmers in the backdrop of deteriorating natural resources, especially availability of water. Maize does not require irrigation.
500 farmers have been trained in setting up vermicompost units and use in semi organic agriculture. With CKO’s help and funding, 150 vermicompost units have been set up by these trained farmers. However, required inputs of dung and green manure were not available during the summer at all farms. Therefore, CKO has established 14 large vermiculture units with progressive farmers in 2006.
CKO believes that the prosperity of the country lies in a healthy rural population. Hence, great importance is given to hold rural health camps. 6 camps were organized, in which about 3000 people attended (25% women).There has been active participation by chains of elite hospitals. Rural men and women were checked and treated for cancer, heart diseases and eye ailments.
CKO believes that strength of the country lies in empowering rural women in different fields. Women should become literate and only then they can grasp the developments that are taking around her & pass them to her offspring and make them worthy citizen of this country. Targeted membership (225 women) to the Reading libraries (15) for women has been achieved and more women are showing interest in joining these clubs. The number of books in the libraries covering various subjects to be read is increasing. The women develop interest in developing other income generating activities after learning about different topics. It is expected that about 50% of these women will soon start a small scale income generating activity.
As part of capacity building of the rural woman CKO started Women Thrift societies to inculcate saving for the future. These groups have grown substantially in membership up to 42 groups and 5020 members (planning was 30 groups and 600 members). The principal amount in circulation among members has also increased considerably and is about € 5.500. The response to these societies has been overwhelming. CKO is mobilizing human & financial resources in excess of what was earlier planned to meet the demands from these groups for training and capacity building, including accounting and management skills
Targeted 2 but conducted 8 veterinary camps for cattle were held where 3500 cattle were treated for their ailments and artificially inseminated free of cost
‘Metro Cash & Carry’ a private business house and State Animal Husbandry department joined hands with CKO and successfully completed a mega project Sheep Health Improvement Programme which aimed at training in maintenance of sheep, shepherds’ capacity building, in training of sheep health workers and deworming /vaccinating sheep. A Total of 113 shepherds have been trained initially (ToT) and they have trained a Total of 22.000 farmers.
Not planned activities:
In an endeavor to provide farmers expert advice and solutions for the problems at their doorsteps, CKO has entered into an MOU with International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) a Govt. of India institute of repute (in October 2006), in harnessing the ICT and provide expert advice to the problems at the individual farmers field level. Small groups of about 60 farmers are formed with a field coordinator who visits their fields in rotation, takes 5 digital photographs and electronically transmits to IIIT where each photograph is critically analyzed by a panel of Agricultural scientists. They will transmit the possible remedies electronically to the CKO field coordinator, who will deliver the advice at the farmer’s doorstep. This service is named as e sagu (e cultivation). This new activity has high demand among farmers and by the end of December 2006, 21 villages have been covered and 600 farmers have been enrolled. This activity will be further expanded in the future.
RESULTS
There has been steady increase in the number of groups, societies and their membership. At the end of December 2006 there are 162 groups, 3819 members of which 763 females (20%). For the women empowerment programme the final figures are 57 groups with a total of 5345 members (all women). So a total of 219 groups and 9164 indirect members (incl. 6108 women). The target set was 289 groups and 7255 indirect members. The no. of groups has not grown as such because CKO decided to not enlist the membership of Rythu Mitra Groups and Women Credit Societies, as the government is supposed to cater these groups and not CKO (before these groups were included in the target groups). The discontinued societies are a total of 193 societies with 2850 indirect members. Progress is therefore very satisfactory.
CKO has been successful in implementing this project and has reached quite a number of farmers with its variety of activities. CKO is conscious about the gender balance in its activities, and although this varies between the different activities, they are making a good effort including female farmers in all activities.
CKO is expanding the number of members from 271 groups with 4508 members (April 2005) to 219 groups with 9164 members (end 2006) of which 6108 are women. Membership increase of women in the women thrift societies has been explosive. The ICT service for farmers is an innovative activity which will be further developed by CKO in the future. Farmers show a lot of interest in this service. The support by Metro Cash and Carry will be stopped in 2007 and therefore, CKO is requesting Agriterra to continue supporting the shephard programme financially. (...less...) |
