Capacity Building :

Stakeholders’ capacity building and networking has been a critical part of Myrada’s approach to improve its interventions and to spread its proven strategies to other parts of the country and abroad in promoting poverty alleviation programs.

Across all our project areas our staff and CBOs such as SAGs, SAG Federations, CMRCs, FIGs, FPOs, Watershed Committees were trained in institutions building, organizational awareness and management, project interventions, resource mobilization, networking with various departments etc. Around 15110 community members and staff attended these trainings and enhanced their knowledge and skills.

Myrada-KVK organized district level seminar on “Scientific Coconut Cultivation and Value Addition” in association with Coconut Development Board, Chennai. The program covered various topics like “mother plant and nuts selection, nursery raising techniques, scientific cultivation techniques for coconut crops, INM, IPDM aspects, harvesting techniques, machineries in coconut cultivation and different value-added products and its scope in the future markets etc.”. 60 farmers and 65 students from P.K.R Arts College for Women participated in the program. Officials from CDB, other line departments and scientists from TNAU, Coimbatore, participated and provided valuable suggestions to the farming communities for improving the coconut productivity in the upcoming seasons.

Skill training program on vermicompost production techniques was conducted for 25 days 22nd January to 19th Feb.’2020) in association with ASCI (Agricultural Skill Council of India). The participants were trained on “Selection of earthworm species, site selection, selection of raw materials, different microorganisms used for partially decaying the farm wastes, earthworm multiplication process, different methods of vermicompost production, care to be taken during composting process, of earthworms and harvested produces”. As part of the safe handling process training the participants visited TNAU vermicompost production unit and a successful entrepreneur’s field. 20 farmers benefited.

Beekeeping / honey bee rearing skill training for 117 farmers, slatted floor goat rearing training for 31 farmers and 2 months’ training in organic farming for 40 youth were conducted.

Four quarterly newsletters in Tamil and Activities Reporter in English related to various agriculture practices, income generation activities, science and technology and training and activities reports were published which helped farmers to read and update their latest science and technology related knowledge in agriculture development, short term crops cultivation, pest control, compost making, income generation activities etc.

Literature on remedies for white patches disease on the banana leaves attacked by flies, nutrition management on tapioca cultivation and soil enrichment were some of the topics published in the newsletters. Also, awareness on rearing of kadaknath breed chicken, which has a lot of health benefits in meat, was created through printing and circulation of information brochures to the farmers.

Capacity Building – Success story 1 :

Turmeric Assaying Lab – “A boon for Turmeric Growers”

Rationale :

Turmeric is one of the most important cash crops grown in Erode covering 7960 Ha and accounting for more than 25% share of state’s production. Farmers are mainly cultivating varieties such as BSR- 1, 2, Erode local, CO-2 and Roma in larger area and curcumin content of these varieties are less than 4% and fetch low market price. Farmers were selling the dried rhizomes/ product directly to the market without analyzing the curcumin content. Curcumin is the key component of turmeric that gives its typical yellow color and has several medicinal benefits. It is one of the key features that determine the quality of turmeric and consequently the price.

KVK  Intervention :

  • KVK with the support of NCDEX, New Delhi has established turmeric assaying laboratory in two locations in Erode district i.e. KVK Campus, Gobichettipalayam and Turmeric Regulated Marketing Committee (RMC),
  • The laboratories have the facilities to analyze the Curcumin content from the turmeric rhizomes for the benefit of
  • KVK organized 45 skill training cum awareness programs among farmers, FPO members, extension functionaries, traders and entrepreneurs on the importance of curcumin content and the use of the assaying
  • The unit extends the service to Erode, Perundurai, Modakurichi, and Kodumudi Taluks of Erode district and neighboring district like Salem, Karur and
  • As a result of this initiative, farmers and traders from different blocks of the district approached KVK to test the curcumin content of turmeric, which leads them towards a better price

Outcome and Impact :

  • Awareness created among 1450 farmers about need and importance of curcumin analysis. 1042 farmers and 535 turmeric traders utilized the services of curcumin assaying laboratories.
  • Sensitization of organic farming cultivation in Turmeric created among 135
  • AESC (Agri-Entrepreneurs Service Center) established in KVK, supports to create market linkages for turmeric rhiozome and turmeric
  • 15 entrepreneurs promoted by KVK are currently selling branded turmeric powder at a premium by highlighting the curcumin content.
  • IEC materials developed like display board, leaflets
  • Farmers are satisfied enough to confirm that they receive a 15-20 % additional margin because of the Curcumin analysis reports
Curcumin analysis details
Year
2017-2018 185 80
2018-2019 372 180
2019-2020 485 275

 Capacity Building – Success story 2 :

French Beans”” – Remunerative short duration Crop for Hill farmers

Rationale

Crops like maize, ragi, mustard and lablab are major in the hilly regions of Erode district. 25% of cultivable area in the district is hilly. After the Kharif harvest in January, it is a common practice for hill- based farmers to migrate from their villages in search of employment till the next cropping season begins. To address this issue, KVK initiated popularization of short duration French beans crop to enhance their income and livelihood.

KVK Intervention :

KVK trained 460 farmers through 48 training programs on French beans cultivation.

With the support of IIHR, Bengaluru, French bean varieties such as Arka Komal, Arka Sharath and Arka Arjun has been demonstrated in the farmers’ fields.

KVK promoted institutions like CMRCs and FPOs have been networked to meet the seed requirement of the farmers.

FFS (Farm Field School) comprising of 12 sessions each was held to impart various advanced technologies in French beans cultivation to 30 farmers of Kadambur hills.

Average cropping intensity has increased by 160%.

Average net income per acre has increased from Rs.4,120/- to Rs.69,220/-.

Created on farm employment opportunity to the family members.

Migration has reduced among tribal and hill dwellers.

42.4 tons French beans seeds have been made available to the farmers through KVK promoted institutions.

With the extension support of peoples’ institutions, the French bean cultivation area has increased to over 6000 ha in the hilly regions of Erode district.

Seed procurement through people institutions
Seed procurement quantity (ton/year)
Year Bargur region Kadambur region Thalavadi region
2017 3.2 4.5 3.8
2018 4.3 5.4 4.2
2019 5.0 6.2 5.8

Myrada Green college :

Myrada, with its stated mission to improve the lives of the rural poor, recognizes that providing skilling and entrepreneurship support to the small and marginal farmers, youth and women can play a significant role in the growth of their income.

In December 2016, MYRADA Green College was established with the support of Welthungerhilfe and Green Innovation Centre under the countrywide project called “The Green College Initiative – Developing Green Entrepreneurship” at Holalkere in Chitradurga. Myrada Green College (MGC) aimed to train three thousand Ecoprenures during 2017-2019. Income growth through sustainable agricultural practices forms the basis of all trainings at MGC. MGC’s outreach extends to three districts viz., Chitradurga, Chikkamagluru and Hassan. It imparts trainings on agriculture, animal husbandry and rural entrepreneurship.

  • During 2019-2020, a total of 496 farmers from the three districts attended the short duration courses (2-4 weeks duration) conducted by MGC on topics like livestock rearing, groundnut cultivation practices.
  • A total of 675 farmers were trained in medium duration courses on backyard poultry, sheep rearing, organic cultivation and bee- keeping, FPO Management. In addition to learning about rearing or cultivation, the trainees also learnt various aspects of marketing. Directors and functionaries of FPOs underwent a series of trainings covering governance and management aspects of the
  • The group-based, farm-based learning approach of Farmer Field Schools were adopted to for training farmers on better techniques, and nudging them to adopt sustainable farming practices. 550 farmers participated in these
  • The MGC with the help of Skill Green Global trained 14 HPRYs (High Potential Rural Youth) in fastracking their entrepreneurships. These youth learnt various aspects of business planning, business development, networking and communication, branding, budgeting etc. to enhance their micro-enterprises.

The story of Nanjegouda, Jadagatta Village, Arasikere, Hassan.

Nanjegouda owned two cows; these were his primary means of income. However, his cows were falling sick often and he was also spending a lot of money on buying feed for them. This coupled with low milk made this an unprofitable venture. He was thinking of giving it up. He was approached by the field staff of MGC to attend short duration training on livestock rearing. Through the training, which was a mix of theory and practical demonstration, he learnt about animal health management, vaccination and preventive measure for diseases, clean milking techniques, feed management, azolla and other fodder production techniques, silage production etc.

The training gave him the confidence to persist with cow rearing. Improved skills have helped in healthier cows, better milk yield. He is growing multi-cut sorghum and is making silage to save on buying feed from outside. These measures have helped him reduce costs and improve income.

  • 7717 Members of SAGs from all the project locations participated in various trainings organized in the fiscal year and benefited in promoting savings and lending, income generation activities, employment opportunities
  • 2100 Executive members from 420 Farmers Interest Groups, Watershed committees and Farmer Producer Organizations were trained in the management of their institutions and enhanced
  • Eight project staff participated in the 4 days “foundation training on Hydrogeology’ and 2 watershed program staff attended 16 days training on “understanding ground water” at ACWADAM, Pune and enhanced related knowledge and
  • 24 staffs were trained in ‘Demand Side Water Management’ conducted by Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI),
  • 167 Community Resource Persons were trained and engaged in the project implementation in different
  • 235 Internet Saathis (women) were trained and engaged in promoting digital technology among rural women and adults using mobile phones for accessing information and technologies in education, business promotion, marketing and various socio – economic development
  • 318 staff members from different NGOs were trained on different methods and practices of community developmental projects / programs and related
  • In partnership with Karnataka Milk Federation, Myrada deputed 6 staff of CIDORRs from Kolar, Chitradurga and Chamarajanagar districts to facilitate in the formation of SAGs, capacity building and strengthening program at the Milk Unions located in Chickbalapur, Ramanagaram and Bangalore Rural districts from July, 2019 which is
  • CEO of Kazhani Farmers Producer Company Ltd., Gobichettypalyam, Erode, attended a two- week seminar on “ICT in Agriculture Value Chain Development” organized by GIZ (a German Social Development Organization), at Feldafing in