Project 09cf-5337 - agro-info

09cf-5337 Further uniting the farmers of India!

budget	€ 144.655,07	status	execution
start date	01-04-2009	date end	31-03-2010
location		country	india
financer	Agriterra
executor	Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations	intervention level	national
Programmes	\| work area 04: Institutional Development (IS) \| IFAP 01: Re-centre resources to agriculture \|
description	CIFA aims at creating a platform for the Indian farmers associations at the national level through formation of a cohesive functional organization for effective lobby of farmers issues at different levels of the government structures This proposal is a follow up/continuation of the project 08cf-5160, the first project contract between CIFA (...more...)
description	CIFA aims at creating a platform for the Indian farmers associations at the national level through formation of a cohesive functional organization for effective lobby of farmers issues at different levels of the government structures This proposal is a follow up/continuation of the project 08cf-5160, the first project contract between CIFA and Agriterra. CIFA has as main goal to enhance the reach of CIFA expand its membership/network base. At present CIFA claims to have 390 farmer organisations as "member". CIFA want to increase this to 550 farmers organisations and further strengthen the network; create a better and pro farmer policy environment; further strengthen the 5 commodity associations at national and state level; empower farmers organisations and support their growth; train farmers on new technologies; promote women farmers activities; improved national and international networking and partnerships. (...less...)
results & observations	CIFA, a network organisation of farmers’ organisations at national level in India, has grown in several aspects in the first nine month of project implementation. CIFAs membership base expanded from 399 to 450 farmers organisations, varying from local level self help groups to state levels farmers associations. It is (...more...)
final results & observations	CIFA, a network organisation of farmers’ organisations at national level in India, has grown in several aspects in the first nine month of project implementation. CIFAs membership base expanded from 399 to 450 farmers organisations, varying from local level self help groups to state levels farmers associations. It is not clear how many individual members CIFA is representing. Commodity associations were strengthened at national as well as state level, especially the sugarcane, wheat, rice and pulses commodity groups. One of the key activities of CIFA is lobby and advocacy. The main event was the National Farmers Convention in which about 1.600 farmer delegates participated from all over India. Various policy proposals and status papers were presented. The empowerment of farmers took place through various social mobilisation programmes, modern technology dissemination and publication of marketing of agri products. CIFA prepared a draft strategic plan, outlining the mission, vision and main objectives and proposed activities of CIFA to be achieved in the coming years. The draft plan was perceived as being too ambitious and not specific enough, and lacked financial projections. CIFA is working on finalising the plan after receiving comments from Agriterra. In terms of institutional development, CIFA has participated in several international workshops and forums. At national level good linkages are established with industries, research institutions etc. Part of the recourse mobilisation of CIFA comes from industries. The envisaged women’s wing of CIFA could not be fully established and is still an ad hoc institution; this is not very convincing so far. Agriterra was not in the position to continue its financial support for the last three months of this project (January-March 2010) due to lack of funds. It is however expected that CIFA will complete most of the planned activities from its own generated resources. Opinion projects officer: Due to the enormous size of India, with many different cultures and ecological zones, it is a real challenge, and perhaps quite impossible, to represent and lobby on behalf of all farmers of India. CIFAs endeavours are appreciated but it is very difficult to assess the effectiveness and relevance of CIFAs interventions for the Indian farmers. CIFA claims to work at national, state and local levels, which is, in my opinion, far too ambitious. CIFAs strength is to unite farmers associations / organisations and focus should be on lobby and advocacy at the national or state level. Grass root level interventions should be implemented by members organisation, having their own strengths. Agriterra and CIFA agreed to start working on the participatory generation of policy proposals at the end of 2009. CIFA is an organisation that should limit its interventions to national and state level lobby and advocacy interventions only, and should not take up grass root level activities such as trainings to farmers. Financial support from Agriterra may help CIFA to implement some of its networking activities, but such efforts should be restricted to national levels activities, focussing on commodity groups and lobby and advocacy. It is not realistic to expect the establishment of a women’ s wing as envisaged by CIFA; it is too early for this as CIFA itself is not clear yet what the mandate of such a women’ s wing should be and how it should be run. (...less...)
specialisms	\| Institutional development \| Policy generation \| Training \|

	APPLICATION
	APPLICATION

	DEFINITION
	DEFINITION

	EXECUTION
	EXECUTION

	RESULTS
	RESULTS

	PROGRESS
	PROGRESS

	RELATIONS
	RELATIONS

PROPOSAL

Agri-agency	Own contribution executor	Other parties	Total requested budget
Agriterra	CIFA
€ 0,00 + € 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 102.330,00

The mission of CIFA is to represent the farm sector in India to the government and other authorities for formulating proper policies of Agriculture, including export import policy, taxation policies, restrictive trade policies, Agricultural Reforms and for allocation of adequate budget, based on its contribution to National GDP and also on the basis of population, relying on agriculture and allied activities. CIFA aims at creating a platform for the Indian farmers associations at the national level through formation of a cohesive functional organization for effective lobby of farmers issues at different levels of the government structures

Project background and rationale: Project follows up on the project 08cf-5160, the first project contract between CIFA and Agriterra. CIFA has as main goal to enhance the reach of CIFA expand its membership/network base. At present CIFA claims to have 390 farmer organisations as "member". Not clear how many farmers CIFA represents.

2. Project Objectives:
i.To enlarge the earlier activities to cover more farmers (farmers empowerment)
ii.To include more Partnership programs with like minded organizations (Networking and partnership development)
iii.To conduct more studies and prepare status papers (Policy Advocacy)

Project Activities:
1. Organise the National Farmers Conference 2009
2. 5 Interaction meetings of Parliament Members Forum in tandem with parliament sessions
3. 5 Commodity meetings: Cereals, Sugarcane, Cotton and Pulses and horticulture
4. Developing Partnership with commodity groups and retail chains in Commodity Extension.
5. Trainings for national and state level leaders in aspects of Farmers
Social mobilization,technology transfer, Online Trading & HRD and Leadership trainings.
6. Formation of state level Commodity Associations
7. Production of Documentaries in 5 Languages
8. Publications and Website:
9.Monitoring & Evaluation studies including preparation of Policy issues and Status Papers on specific commodities - Sugar Cane, Paddy, Hpulses, horticulture and Cotton
10.Inter- exchange visits of Farmers to participation in inter state, national and International Conferences

Project results:
Increase the no. of Farmer organisation in CIFA from 390 to 550 (12 states)
Strengthen 5 Commodity associations at state and national level
a better and pro farmers policy environment at national level
Information about new farming technologies; marketing and commodity issues accessible to farmers;
Partership programmes established with private sector and public sector like ICRISAt, Coca Cola, ITC, World Bank etc)

Budget request:
Total: € 148.768
Agriterra: € 81.865 (55%)
CIFA: € 66.903 (45%)
Agriterra budget will only be used for financing activities and not for salaries or operational costs.

M&E:Logframe has been prepared with reasonable indicators and results.

Outreach : 44700 men and 7590 women (this includes outreach achieved through publications, website and documentaries.

Sustainability and cost efficiency: CIFA has shown last year to be a cost efficient organisation and is able to organise big events (like the farmers conclave) with limited financial resources. CIFA has a modest office in New Delhi and is spending its resources mostly on activities. From a sustainability point of view it would be good if CIFA prepares a strategic plan as these one year proposals do not show the longer term options and impacts of the project activities.

GOALS

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