Project Detail

Demonstrative project to link ecosystem and livelihood mechanism to counter desertification in Jalihal area of Sangli district of Maharastra

Yerala Project Society is a registered non-government organization working in the drought prone area of Sangli district since 1976. The major activities of the organization are in the areas of income generation, housing, water harvesting and women?s empowerment. The goal of the project is to arrest migration by reclaiming degraded land and generating livelihoods. The specific objectives of the project are to train 50 women from migrating families for sustainable vegetable cultivation and form women vegetable grower?s groups and to provide alternative source of livelihood to arrest migration through demonstrating agricultural practices by using minimal inputs. The measures will bring 50 acres of land under green cover and stop soil erosion.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Yerala Project Society

Country:

India

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

Phase 3

Grant Amount:

US$ 36,265.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 25,604.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

Project Number:

SGP/GEF/IND/OP3/1/05/MS20

Start Date:

10/2005

End Date:

6/2008

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

All the inputs required for the project is locally available and the 'Jeevan Vahini' which is the basic infrastructure provided under the project, can work for 15 years without any change or repair. Skills for land preparation, nutrient management and other technical know how is going to be transferred to the SHG members through trainings.

Replication of project activities

During the first year, first batch of 25 women farmers will install Jeevan Vahini in their farms. Each women farmer will orient other members of her SHG on the use of the Jeevan Vahini, through discussion and exposure visit to her farm at least once a month. This way all the women for the village will know Jeevan Vahini Technique and the process. YPS staff will see that every woman maintains neat record of what she is doing in her farm. At the end of every crop these lady farmers will describe what they gained and lost to all members of their group. This way the technique will be systematically replicated.

Capacity - Building Component

During the first year, first batch of 25 women farmers will install Jeevan Vahini in their farms. Each women farmer will orient other members of her SHG on the use of the Jeevan Vahini, through discussion and exposure visit to her farm at least once a month. This way all the women for the village will know Jeevan Vahini technique and the process. YPS staff will see that every woman maintains neat record of what she is doing in her farm. At the end of every crop, these lady farmers will describe what they gained and lost, to all members of their group. This way the technique will be systematically spread.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The goal of the project is to arrest migration by reclaiming degraded land and generating livelihoods. Around 5 additional acres of land will be brought under green cover every year through the project interventions. Precision agriculture and multi-cropping will be adopted by farmers to augment agricultural income.

Gender Focus

The women farmers are the vehicles of change in the project. These women will be mobilized to form SHGs and trained to adopt sustainable farming techniques. All the project participants will be enrolled as members of ?Shetkari Mahila Gat (Women farmer?s group)?. NGO has already formed 26 groups of women farmers.

Notable Community Participation

Yerla has a sound record of using participatory techniques. The scheme proposed in this project requires substantial experimentation, and communication by SHG members. They will be fully involved in assessing and using the technology.

Project Results

The installation of the Jeevan Vahini systems has increased year round agricultural activities with good vegetation cover. The system will decrease soil erosion and land degradation in early years and improve soil fertility in later years. The communities, especially the women farmers have begun to understand the importance of integrated land and water management. The first crop of vegetable has given very good yield to the farmers and the subsoil irrigation system has enabled them to extend the agricultural activities till the month of June, whereas earlier it was not possible beyond the month of March. Production in Jalihal area and their supply to nearby Markets of Jath and Bijapur has fetched good price for the farmers. The District Agriculture Officer had visited the project area and has expressed interest to promote the system through the Agriculture Department.

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