District Rural Development Agency Chamba(H.P)

Project Green Gold – A farmer friendly Project of livelihood generation for Rural Farmers of Chamba District.

The economy of Chamba District is predominately based on agriculture activities.However prior to the implementation of the Project major crops grown by the farmers were traditional crops like wheat, maize, rice etc. Project Green Gold was sanctioned by Govt for diversification toward cash crops. Chamba enjoys the status of having all its area falling under all the four agro climatic zones. The average land holding in the distt is 0.88 ha and cultivation of traditional crops is no more profitable occupation for the people. This project, has proved a boon to poor people, and is providing gainful self employment to eight thousand families by introducing off season vegetable, Flower cultivation, Mushroom cultivation, Medicinal Plant cultivation as well as animal Husbandry practices within a professional approach . Key Activities of the Project are :

Target under the project was to assist 9000 families by linkage with these four key activities. As a consequence 9000 families have been organized into 900 SHGs with the ratio of 80 % BPL and 20 % APL Families. Main aim of the Project is to enable 8000 BPL families of Chamba District to cross poverty line, and earn their livelihood through four key activities. The project also aimed for providing technical assistance and necessary inputs to the farmers, organization of Self help groups of local farmers for cultivation, harvesting and marketing techniques for produce, to induct high potential germplasm in local livestock progeny for creation of nucleus stock for future propagation.

To achieve said goal of the Project, the farmers of six Development Blocks ( excluding Pangi Block) have been organized into 900 SHGs ( 9000 families). In the beginning main challenge was to make people aware about the objectives of the project and to cover remotest pockets like Tissa, Salooni, Bharmour , Mehla Blocks, which are having tough and snow bound areas . The very first step in the project was to organize series of awareness camps in collaboration with Agriculture Deptt, KVKs, Herbal Garden and Ayurvedic Research institute Jogindernagar in remote pockets of the distt. In first phase most backward, poverty ridden areas of Tissa and Salooni were targeted. People of these areas are very poor, illiterate residing in far flung areas and unfortunately vulnerable to terrorist attacks from neighbouring state. Farmers were involved in the Cultivation of High altitude valuable herbs like Valeriana jatamansi (Sugandhwala), Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki), Podophyllum ( Bankakdi), Aconitum ( Atis); which are identified endangered species and can be grown on these high altitude snow bound areas only. People were encouraged to grow these herbs in their waste land. For their cultivable land they have been trained for cultivation of offseason vegetables and Flowers. For cultivation of High altitude herbs which was a new concept for the farmers of Chamba Distt seven mother nurseries in different development blocks as per climatic requirement of herbs have been established each being one Hectare area. Farmers are linked with each nursery for training by experts and source of germplasm produced in the nursery as nodal centre.

In the high reaches of the district above 7,000ft.; most of the land available is either in the form of sloppy grass lands or degraded waste lands which is not suitable for the conventional cropping. These are the natural sites for the high altitude Medicinal Plants. This type of land is not found in continuous patches or fields, as in the case of lower area, where the land can be developed in to field for cultivation purpose. In the higher reaches thus the term cultivation which is field- oriented activity, should be rather termed as growing or plantation, where the plantation of the herbs may be done in available patches without disturbing the contour of the land. The advantages of growing herbs in such areas are:

1. The land which is not utilized for any type of the Agricultural activity is suitable for Medicinal Plants. In this way; in the ZERO income land; what ever the return will come to the farmer is a bonus and additional income.

2. Growing of Temperate plants can be undertaken in rain-fed areas, as it requires very little irrigation and that too at the time of plantation only.

4. Less labour-incentive activity. Only seasonal 2-3 hoeing and weeding is required.

5. In the market the produce is sold in dry form, therefore, it is less perishable than Vegetables and fruits. No need of selling immediately, it can be delayed till the rates are high and suitable.

6. The Black litter formed after the decaying of the organic matter such as leaves or old woods, is available in plenty under forest areas, is highly suitable organic manure for the growing of herbs. The Mycorhizal contents in this manure, enhance the Medicinal Ingredient levels in many of the Medicinal Herbs. Moreover it is cheaper as it is available at arm distance near the cultivated land. It fulfills many of the organic cultivation conditions, essential in case of Medicinal Plants.

Under the legal implications of the Wild-life protection act and Biodiversity act, in future wilds are not going to serve as the source of the Raw-herbs for the manufacturing of the Herbal Produce. By the enforcement of these laws, it is mandatory to the Industry that only the cultivated derived raw material can be utilized. Secondly to meet International Standards laid down by WHO and further under GMP regime, the uniform efficacy of the drug of each lot is a must to be maintained which can only be achieved in sustained way through cultivated source.

In view of this, the people involved in this process, at the different locations in the district are going to take lead. No doubt that the return through this activity is slightly late as compared to the Vegetable and Floricultural activities. On account of the long gestation period of the herbs, but it should be viewed that every farmer has two types of land under his possession, i.e. one ideal for cultivation and second otherwise not suitable. As mentioned above that the lands unsuitable for the cultivation can best be utilized for the growing of the valuable herbs. It goes in favor of the people of the high altitude areas, that cold temperate conditions which are highly suitable for the apple and off-season vegetable are also most conducive for growing the Medicinal and Aromatic Herbs. Where the economy of the people of these areas has been boosted through Apple and off-season vegetable cultivation, the growing of the herbs in their rest of the lands will certainly strengthen it in a long way.

Under off-season vegetable cultivation of Cauliflower, Cabbage, Tomato, Peas, Potato, of improved varieties have been started. Initially, farmers were not responding, toward the activity being new introduction in remote pockets, because people do not get away from traditional practices easily. But when they started receiving returns ten times more, as compared to traditional farming ,now vegetable cultivation has become the main stay and the most popular component of the project. Problem of marketing has been solved by organization of SHGs into Marketing societies of farmers, with no middlemen. Exposure visits of farmers in Big Sabzi Mandis of North India have helped linkage of the farmers directly with big dealers. Due to long gestation period of 3-4 years in cultivation of herbs farmers are more attracted toward vegetable and flower cultivation with gestation period of 2-3 months and 3-4 crops in a year.

Mushroom cultivation being another new concept in Chamba Distt farmers are trained at National Research Centre for Mushroom at Chambaghat Distt Solan and KVK Chamba .Button Mushroom Cultivation on trial basis by procuring Compost from outside distt was carried with encouraging results; but due to non availability of Compost and infection during transportation from far away place, need of Mushroom compost unit was felt. A mushroom compost unit of Capacity 60 tons per cycle has been constructed near Chamba Town to meet the farmer demand at doorstep. This unit will start functioning at the end of this year.

Improved Dairy Management programme is being run in Chamba as a component of project Green Gold by DRDA and Animal Husbandry Department jointly. It aims at helping farmers to improve upon their economic states by improved and scientic intervention in their Animal Husbandry practices and thereby manifold increase in milk production. Regular cattle rearing is a tradition in almost all rural household. The main thrust of IDM is to convert this traditional activity into a commercial one and make it a source of regular gainful and sustainable employment.

As in other components in Improved Dairy Management too, the assistance is through S.H.G and not to individuals. Against the target 385 SHG and 4000 families, 399 SHG and 4337 families have been brought under this component. Extension and training constitute the major activity being undertaken by organizing village level field workshop by Animal Husbandry experts. The farmers are acquainted with the scientific managemental practices on modern dairy farming with focus on increase in milk yield. Till date 382 Field level workshops. have been organized & 97000 improved semen straws have been provided to every Vety dispensary for breed improvement which forms the backbone of this programme. And now after one year, a new progeny of calves has come up and these calves shall be producing at least 12-15 litter milk per day during their lactation.

The new borne female calves are being taken special care of in respect of ecto and endo parasitic coverage, nutrition and hygiene, so that these females conceive at the age of 18 month and calves in 28-29^th month. Concerted efforts are being employed for eradication of infertility. Sexual health camps are being organized and minerals, nutrients and harmons are being provided free of cost to overcome this most prevalent disorders along with motivating the farmers to go in for A.I only. Literature in simple language on various aspects of Animal Husbandry has been supplied to each of families as a ready reference. Till date 257 sexual health camps have been organized. This has resulted in an encouraging leap in conception percentage from 40% to 65% & crossbred a herd of about 600 female calves has been produced in the District till date. Particular care of cowsheds is being taken for proper hygiene. For this Rs. 1000/- per farmer is being provided for Pucca flooring, drainage, mangers construction. 903 families have been benefited so far.

There is also a plan to involve private sector in this activity to provide gainful employment to interested rural youth. For this BAIF Pune and Reymonds Bombay have shown their interest and shall start functioning in Chamba too in near future. Rs. 74 lakh are to be spent on this. Door step lifting of milk produce is another highlight and milk shall be lifted from every nook and corner of District by Milkfed. A milk plant has been established at Parel for the purpose.

In addition to all above activities fodder development is being taken up presently with more focused approach which includes Pasture development, Plantation of 1000 fodder trees per Panchayat and setting up fodder demo plots in each Panchayat. Farmers have also been trained for improving the food value of wheat Bhusa, paddy straws and such like fodder and under this 326 fodder enrichment camps have been organized.

Major achievement conception rate shown a significant increase & about 500 female Calves borne as progeny.

Physical Achievements of the Project Green Gold

Sr No

Key Activity

Targeted SHGs

No of SHGs Involved

Benefits availed by the farmers

Infrastructure created

Gross Returns to the farmers
(Rs in Lacs)

Net Income (Rs. In Lacs)

1

Cultivation of Off-season Vegetables

600(6000 families)

550 (5500 families)

290 trainings/ field workshops organised in collaboration with Agriculture Deptt, inputs like seeds, pesticides provided to the farmers at subsidised rates as per Project guidelines. Establishment of demonstration units for testing of high yielding varieties with farmer friendly techniques and further cultivation by SHGs. Farmers earned Crores of Rupees through new varieties of Cauliflower, Tomato, French bean, cucumber, cabbage, peas etc. introduced in this project.

15 Nos of Polyhouses constructed at cluster level, 50 water harvesting structures, 2414 ha area brought under this component. (649 ha in Salooni where before project it was 158 ha)

2450.00

2125.00

2

Cultivation of Medicinal plants and Flowers

200 SHGs (2000 families )

185 SHGs (1800 families)

185 trainings/ awareness camps, Institutional trainings at Ayurveda Research Institute Jogindernagar, KVKs, UHF Solan organised. Demonstrations for developing farmer friendly techniques for propagation of high altitude medicinal herbs in mother nurseries and further transplantation in farmers fields. 600 bighas area under herb and Flower cultivation in Distt ( Herb cultivation is purely new concept in Chamba Distt).

9 No.of polyhouses at cluster level for demonstration, 7 mother nurseries for production of germplasm.

53.00

42.50

3

Mushroom Cultivation

15 SHGs(150 families)

38 SHGs(200 families)

23 SHGs trained for Mushroom Cultivation at NRCM Solan, KVK Chamba. Field workshops/trainings organised. SHGs Trained for Value addition.

Mushroom Compost unit constructed at Udaipur Chamba.

6.50

5.50

4

Improved Dairy Management

385 SHGs ( 3850 families)

399 SHGs(4000 families apprx)

400 Field workshops, sexual health camps, artificial breeding camps organised, Paravet staff trained at BAIFPune.

Milk Chilling Plant set up at Parel Chamba under this project and handed over to HP Milk Fed. For further operation.

35.60

30.00

Total

2545.10

2203.00