Project Detail

Diversified biomass production system for livelihood for poor women.

This project aimed to improve the livelihood opportunities of the poor women by providing them employment assistance and management skills in creation of intensive biomass production plots yielding fuel wood, pulses, vegetables and fruits. It also wanted to establish methodologies to enhance productivity of land by soil improvement, nutrient and water management and multi tier, diversifies biomass production systems.
Major objectives of the project were-
? To upgrade knowledge and skills of women about land, water and forest resource management
? To establish diversified biomass systems on wasteland to meet fodder, fuel, partial food, timber and high value biomass requirement
? To monitor growth of plantations on wasteland and its growth response to nutrients and water
? To generate income from compost, vermicompost, nursery, seed production and botanical pesticides
? To involve women in measurement of biomass productivity of fodder, fuel, timber, bamboo and non timber forest produce
? To undertake experiments to increase biomass productivity of commercial plantations by nutrient and water management
? To create awareness about biodiversity conservation and sustainable development
Beneficiaries
Primary project beneficiaries were 20 poor women from the villages of Kalamana and Pallezari (10 from each village) in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. These beneficiaries were organized in two Self Help Groups (SHGs) viz. Dharti Mata group and Pallezari group. However, other community members of these villages and some stakeholder groups like teachers and NGO representatives from the area have also benefited from the project.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Jagrut Mahila Samaj

Country:

India

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,769.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 8,571.42

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

SGP/GEF/IND/OP2/03/MS12

Start Date:

12/2003

End Date:

11/2005

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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ACTIVE WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME

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Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

20 women, who are the primary project beneficiaries participated in all project activities like preparation of micro plans, development of experimental plots, production of vermicompost and seeds and in awareness raising meetings and discussions. Around 70 other male and female members of the community are participating in production of vermicompost. School children, teachers and other community members have participated in workshops, seminars, discussions groups and visits for the awareness on biodiversity.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

? An environmentally friendly rice production system in a watershed will be established nearly doubling the rice productivity in the local area where project is conducted. ? Model water storage, delivery and disposal systems applicable to small watersheds used for rice production; a replicable model. ? A package of practices for SRI, modified to suit local conditions of the project area will be facilitated for adoption by farmers to set practices to grow rice with minimum amount of water.

Capacity - Building Component

Capacity building efforts had been targeted towards SHG members, school children, teachers, NGO representatives and education department representatives. A number of meetings, trainings, discussions, seminars and exhibitions had been organized for raising awareness about biodiversity, vermicompost production, organic agriculture, water use and joint forest management. Project implementing organization had developed resource material on soil, water and biodiversity conservation and has been shared with the target audience. A resource group including experts, researchers, NGO representatives and community members was formed. This group developed capacity of students and teachers in assessing and documenting biodiversity.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Dhartimata group had grown 10000 saplings of Subabul on the waste land and Pallezari group protected 200 fruit trees. Though these efforts were small and localized but had positive global environmental impact in terms of carbon sequestration, climate improvement and in soil and land conservation. Likewise, through small demonstration plots agro-biodiversity increased. This project raised the awareness about biodiversity in local school children and other community members which will be helpful in conserving the global gene pool

Policy Impact

Links and participation that has been accessed by NGO from communities, Government department and other institutions: grampanchayat and Department of Agriculture Impacts the project is creating in terms of policy /Advocacy/Sustainability and Replicability of the Project purpose/strategy etc

Gender Focus

The project intends to promote gender equity by involving all the members of the beneficiary families in planning, implementation and dissemination activities.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

a replicable model is adopted by the Indigenous peoples along with a set of principles and practices to grow rice with minimum amount of water. Documents giving details of project management and other visual materials will be shared for dissemination of the technology to new areas.

Project Results

Project had been successful in income generation, creating awareness about biodiversity and agriculture and in establishing a good relation between the two village groups and concerned government departments. Both the village groups were able to generate an income of Rs. 58348 from different project activities like sale of vegetables, soyabean and vermicompost. In Dhrati Mata women group of Kalamana village, average income generated for each beneficiary was approximately Rs. 4700 and in Pallezari group average generated income was around Rs.1150. Due to good coordination with District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), Dharati Mata group got Rs 200000 sanctioned for the production of vermicompost on large scale. Likewise, District Agriculture Department is considering a proposal to assist 50 more farmers of the village for production of vermicompost for own use.

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