Project Detail

Conservation of local Cultivars and Increase in Pearl Millet Production in Jasdan and Malia Block of Rajkot District in Gujarat

?India has the largest area under pearl millet and this crop is at the third rank after rice and wheat production in India. Today, farmers? concern is mounting as the cultivation of traditional millet seeds like Bajra, Jowar, Ragi, and foxtail is shrinking year by year. The local farmers in the region of Gujarat in India discuss that millet production is shrinking and are slow to adopt the millet farming and are confused as government policies promote the use of chemical inputs that are forcing them to use of traditional varieties production transgenic seeds that influence the farmers? perception of less production if traditional varieties are used.
?The millet are valued for both grain and stove, as its grain is the major source of dietary carbohydrates of human diet in western India and stove forms the basis of livestock ration during the dry period.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Paryavaraniya Vikas Kendra

Country:

India

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 16,696.40

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 5,764.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 376.00

Project Number:

IND/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/2013/15/GUJ01

Start Date:

10/2013

End Date:

10/2015

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

60 trainings and consultations on the issues of importance of millets and alternative organic farming will be organized for the farmers. 500 farmers will be trained on importance of on-farm biodiversity for sustainable agriculture. 2 exposure tours will be organized at model millet farms. Awareness generation regarding millet farming and organic farming practices among young generation from agriculture community by using social networking sites. 2 events of 50 participants each will be organized from places like Ahmedabad and Rajkot.

Gender Focus

Farmers (both men & women) will become permanent source of knowledge to be shared with other farmers and the coming generations. Women will be liable to take necessary decisions relating to selection of seeds for sowing, preserving and while deciding which crops will be taken up. 20 Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be formed with more than 275 women members will be linked with banks for timely and cheap access of credit. Women farmers will also be responsible for maintaining the seeds bank, Millets grain marketing, and development of the model millet farms.

Policy Impact

Forming links with State Government departments like Department of Agriculture and Department of Research. 2 new traditional varieties of pearl millet seeds will be added to government Germ Plasma. A network will be formed between Millet Farmers Groups at village level and district level and the project will be implemented in close cooperation with State Agriculture and other Government Departments like Director of Agriculture- Gandhinagar and Director of Research- Junagadh. Under the circumstances the technology will be accepted and may form a part of the State Government policies. The technology will also refuse confidence in the minds of the local officials.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Radio, Door Darshan, News papers will be used as a medium to create consumer awareness regarding millets as food grains. Documentary (20-30 minutes) will be produced displaying the process undertaken. Booklet and pamphlet will be printed providing information on various aspects of growing millet crops and millet farming.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The beneficiaries are not indigenous community.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The program will be introduced through group meetings with 1000 farmers in 20 villages of the Jasdan and Malia blocks. 3 workshops with different stakeholders will be organized and inputs will be received to better utilize the outcome of the project. 1 agriculture bio diversity festival will be organized to demonstrate various aspects and importance of agro-biodiversity. 2 program launching seminars will be organized. Farmers will be motivated to participate in organic food festival organized by IIM- Ahmedabad. Millets tourism tours will be organized for 100 farmers to promote millet farming concept and create awareness among the urban mass. Review meeting will be organized at village level on monthly basis.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project aims at increase in Pearl Millets production and conservation in Jasdan and Malia Block of Rajkot district. 2 seed banks of traditional pearl millet seeds will be established in 2 blocks. Formation of network of millet farmers at district level. E-marketing facility where consumers in Rajkot town can buy pearl millets will be developed. 100 model pearl millet farms will be developed based on the guidelines from ICAR?s regional millet research centre, Jamnagar (different crop varieties of pearl millet will be used like hybrid, composite and traditional). 20 Network of millet farmers at district level will be formed. There will be an increase of 20% in production of pearl millets on 1000 farms bringing about 400 hectare land under millet cultivation. 2 post harvesting units to be established for value addition to pearl millet providing income increase, food security, fodder security, nutritional security, livelihood security and ecological security to the farmers.

Notable Community Participation

The project will establish a business model to link the production with the market both on shelf and through e-marketing promoted by youth.

Project Results

* 325 farmers from 3 blocks involved in demonstration farm activity. Farmers were provided with kits of seed+fertilizers. promoted a new brand ?CHANGLA? A taste of Tribal Traditions? for our products made of millets by our tribal partners.
* 700 farmers were trained on issues like understanding of on-farm biodiversity. Need for agro-biodiversity for sustainable agriculture.
* Organised 30 trainings for 600 farmers in project villages on seed conservation, organic farming and soil conservation.
* The village has formed 3 SHGs whose members (15-20 each) contribute Rs.100 per month and bank accounts have been opened for all 3 of them. They currently have about Rs.35,000 in savings account and have given loans of Rs.1.12 lacs for activities like agriculture, fishing, social and health related areas.
* After learning from an organization called ?Zero Budget Organic Pesticide?, three types of organic pesticides were made by women SHGs and being sold at Rs.150 per bottle. The results are very encouraging and farmers have started using it in 40 hectares of land in 12 villages. The NGO provided Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) as alternate for DAP and organic manure as alternate of urea for half acre area.
* Soil testing carried out for 172 farmers from the project area.
* Tested 2 variety of Bajara seeds at Food Testing La of Agriculutre university Junagadh which shows that these varieties are very high in protein and good at iron.

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