The project aims at ?Community- led biodiversity conservation of Native fodder species, grassland eco system and establishment of fodder banks in 10 villages of Usilampatti block, Madurai District, Tamilnadu?. The project area will cover 10 villages and involve 300 farmers of Dalits and other backwards classes (Backward castes like Kallar, Vellalar and Moopanar) of the nearest city Usilampatti of Tamil Nadu. There is a plan to form UNDP/EDUCATR- Milk Producers? Association under the Tamil Cooperative Societies Registration Act, which is further planned to function under the assistance of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers? Federation (AAVIN). At least 100 livestock farmers are planned to be members. The Trust plans to provide technical guidance to conservation, fodder promotional activities in a sustainable way. The main objective being to ensure the community to have income generation through fodder raising and sales and also ensure environmental sustainability. The Trust has good linkage with the line departments- Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Horticulture, Department of Backward, Most Backward & Minorities, Welfare and Tamil Nadu Coop Milk Producer Federation Ltd. (AAVIN), District Administration, Madurai, District Rural Development Agency, KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra), Nationalized banks and AGM-NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
Project Objectives:
1. Synergies the conservation efforts of local communities, women SHG?s farmers association and others who are actively involved in the conservation, cultivation and sustainable utilization of fodder plants.
2. Raise public awareness about the importance of the restoration of native fodder species (green fodder production) and grasslands.
3. Raise the community fodder plantation in common land.
4. Establishment of fodder bank to promote grassland biodiversity.
5. Assure grassland biodiversity conservation education through workshops and exposure trips and one to one dialogues.
6. Influence policy matters related to grassland biodiversity conservation, fodder bank and their sustainable utilization.
7. Generate additional income through fodder plants promotion.
Project Activities:
1. PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) Exercise on identification of native fodder species and dry land eco system
2. Capacity building training for staffs on conservation and promotional technique of fodder plants.
3. Establishing community fodder plantation in the common land. 10 women Fodder Growers Associations (FGAs) will take up the activity. A fodder plantation is therefore being established on the common land. Palatability tests will be conducted with several locally available fodders. The species like Acacia catechu Karungali, Acacia nilotica -Karuvelam, Albizia lebbek-Vagai, Dalbergia sissoo-Vette, Sesbania grandiflora- Agathi, Hardwickia binata-Achamaram, Lannea coromandelica-Uthimaram, Madhuca longifolia - IIIupai, Azadirachta indica - Vembu identified as suitable for promotion and planting in the proposed fodder plantation. The women FGAs (Fodder Growers Associations ) will conduct these activities and it will help in generating supplementary income for the resource poor. This activity will be implemented in 2 - 5 month.
4. Promotion of fodder bank in 20 hectares in 10 villages and the following native fodder species like napier, Guinea grass Cenchrus ciliaris - Kollukkattai pullu Cenchrus setigerus Karuppu Kolukkatti pullu, Pennisetum purpureum ? Yanaipullu, Crotolaria juncea ?Sannappai (Sunnhemp), Medicago sativa- Kudiraimasal -lucerne, Desmanthus virgatus- Velimasal-hedge lucerne, stylo, Arachis glabrata - Perennial ground nut, cow pee, sesbania grandiflora ? Agathi will be grown. Revolving fund will be provided to the selected farmers in 10 villages who will be interested in establishing fodder banks. The Project will motivate the farmers to establish fodder banks to provide fodder to the landless livestock farmers at the subsidized cost (at least 50%).
5. Conservation of native fodder species and plants in 10 villages
6. Training for farmers on various aspects of forage cultivation fodder banks
7. Workshop on biodiversity (grassland conservation) for 100 farmers.
8. Organize exposure trips for livestock farmers, one-to-one exchange, interaction session with technical and resource persons needs for fodder production and conservation of grassland biodiversity.
9. Established milch animal unit in selected 10 villages.
Project Outcomes:
1. Identification of native fodder species and grassland eco system in 10 villages.
2. Awareness raised on the importance of restoration of native fodder species.
3. Green fodder production to reduce the feed cost and to improve the productivity of the farm animals were demonstrated to the farmers and women.
4. Community fodder plantation established in 10 hectares of common land.
5. Fodder banks promoted in 20 hectares of land.
6. Conservation of Grassland eco system in 50 hectares of land
7. Staff capacitated on conservation and promotional technique of fodder plants.
8. 300 farmers trained on various aspects to forage cultivation, fodder banks.
9. 300 members sensitized on grassland biodiversity conservation.
10. 10 Fodder Growers? Associations established by women.
11. At least 100 livestock farmers become members of a federation formed through the project and it registered in the name of UNDP/EDUCATR-Milk Producers? Association under Tamilnadu Cooperative Societies Registration Act and afterwards it will function under the assistance of Tamilnadu Cooperative Milk Producers? Federation (AAVIN).
12. 30 milch animal units promoted in the selected 10 villages.
13. Established linkages with the department of Veterinary, Agriculture, Horticulture and the Department of Backward, Most Backward & Minorities Welfare and Tamilnadu Coop Milk Producers? Federation Ltd (AAVIN).
14. Conservation of grassland eco system in 300 hectares (replicable).