CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR FARMER … News- October 2015...third year of project implementation, ... in Tamil Nadu to apply for support from the ... A total of 2070 beneficiaries

October 2015 Vol. 16 No. 4

The CIKS quarterly newsletter

For more CIKS news updates, visit www.ciks.org

Our centre organized a 3 days capacity building workshop supported by HIVOS, for selected farmer producer companies of

Tamilnadu on 29th September to 1st October 2015.

The training programme was attended by 12 APCs from the districts of – Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Tanjore. There were presentations and discussions on the business plan and progress of each of the companies. A series of talks with lively discussions were presented by experts. Mr. L.V. Shyam Sundar of Accent Management Solutions presented about compliance particularly with respect to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The topics of strategic planning and business planning were taken up by Mr. S. Balakrishnan of Vrutti, Bengaluru and Mr. G.V. Krishnagopal of ALC, Hyderabad. Mr. Nitin Chordia retail business consultant, Chennai presented about retail marketing opportunities. The topic of Governance in producer organisations was discussed by Ms. B. Poongkhulali and Mr. Thriyambak J. Kannan, Advocates, Madras High Court. Mr. Sudhakara Ganesh of TATA Consultancy Services, Chennai made a presentation about the Digital platform developed by TCS for farmers groups. Mr. A.V. Balasubramanian of CIKS made a presentation regarding the possibilities arising out of the Green Climate Fund of UN and outlined how a proposal can be submitted by a consortium of APCs in partnership with CIKS and other support agencies for Climate Change Mitigation

CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR FARMER PRODUCER COMPANIES

and Adaptation through Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management. The concluding sessions of the workshop identified the needs of each of the APCs and the follow up programme and requirements.

Cuddalore FPO Director’s presentation at the workshop

STATE LEVEL RECOGNITION FOR FARMERS’ CLUB

The Pagasalai Farmers’ Club in Nagapattinam district and Isakulathur farmers club in Tiruvannamalai District were established under the NABARD Farmers’ Club Programme with the guidance and help of CIKS. Technical and regulatory trainings and support has been provided to these farmer clubs by CIKS. As a recognition and honours for these efforts, these farmers clubs were recognised as the second and fourth Best Farmers’ Club at the State level.

CIKS NEWS October 2015 Vol. 16 No. 4

PROJECT WATCH A round-up of our activities

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Improving the Livelihood and Food Security of Small-Holder Tribal Communities

Project activities are in progress in the Jawadhu hi l ls block of Thiruvannamalai district covering 657 beneficiary households and 285.5 acres with the support of NABARD. For the third year of project implementation, 65 beneficiaries and 48.5 acres have been selected for WADI component. WADI (small orchards) fields are being maintained in 335.5 acres by 431 beneficiaries. 277 beneficiaries are involved in the livelihood activities like rearing of cows, goats and pigs, tailoring unit, petti – shops, fodder cultivation and bee keeping. Millet processing unit and Agriculture Service Facilitation Centre (ASFC) are being utilized and maintained by the farmers’ groups. A training on line sowing using seed drill was conducted at Melnellimarathur village on 16th

July by Dr. Mariyappan and his team from KVK ( Krishi Vigyan Kendra ). NABARD POPI and TDF monitoring meeting was held on 23rd July, to review the status and issues related to the ongoing activities. Towards the efforts for the formation of a Producer Company, nine awareness meetings were organized. Convergence activities took place with the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.

Women’s Technology Park for Promoting Organic Agriculture

This project is in progress in the districts of Kancheepuram, Thiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore and Karaikal with the support of the Department of Science

and Technology. A total of 2623 women beneficiaries under 173 groups in 67 villages are part of this project. Sixteen community vermicompost units, 14 azolla production units and three mushroom production units established under this project are running successfully. Business plan has been developed for the vermicompost units and credit linkages have been created for six units in Nagapattinam district. Demonstration of fodder grass cultivation, azolla production and mushroom cultivation are in place in the Sukkankollai farm. A total of 80 students from the Department of Zoology, Poombuhar Arts and Science College, Nagapattinam district were trained on Mushroom cultivation. Ten women from Chinnanellikollai village were trained on Azolla cultivation and forty women from eight villages in Cuddalore district were trained on kitchen gardening and seed production technology. The Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi had conducted a Group Monitoring workshop (GMW) at K.L.University in Andra Pradesh on 7th August 2015. Mrs. Subhashini Sridhar, presented the activities done under the project for the period from August 2014 to July 2015.

Enhancing Livelihood Security Through Agriculture Producer Company

This project is being implemented in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu with the support of ProCIF – Small Grants Fund, The Netherlands. A total of 500 beneficiaries including 278 women and 10 Village Agri

Business Development Service Providers (VABDSPs) have been selected from 19 villages. A total of 57 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) such as Sustainable Agriculture Self Help Groups (SASHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Farmers’ Clubs have been established. Kurinji Sustainable Agriculture Producer Company Limi ted (KSAPCL) has been incorporated under this programme and functioning with a total of 401 shareholders. Monthly meetings of the Board of Directors (BOD) were conducted regularly. Series of orientation programmes were conducted for the beneficiaries. Monthly meetings of 32 farmers’ groups and VABDSPs were also organized.

Strengthening of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

This project is being implemented in Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu with the support of Tamil Nadu Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (TNSFAC). Cuddalore District Mangalore Millets Farmer Producer Company Limited and Rajaraja Chozhan Farmers Producer Company Limited in Cuddalore and Thanjavur districts have been selected and strengthening efforts are in progress. In Tiruvannamalai district Thenpennai farmer producer company limited was inaugurated on 7th September. In Nagapattinam district efforts are on to incorporate a new Producer Company. In all the four districts orientation meetings, technical trainings, exposure visits,

NEWSROOM Happenings and more

CIKS NEWS October 2015 Vol. 16 No. 4 Page 3

Financial Literacy Awareness ProgrammeOn 10th July, a Financial Literacy Awareness Programme was organized in Sirkazhi in Nagapattinam district as part of the NABARD Foundation Day celebrations. A total of 125 members of SOFA and VSAPCL participated in this event. The programme has created awareness about various available schemes.

NABARD Foundation DayA.V. Balasubramanian attended a function held at the NABARD, Chennai Regional Office on 13th

July to celebrate the NABARD Foundation Day. On that occasion two farmers’ clubs namely Pagasalai of Nagai District and Isakulathur of Tiruvannamalai district supported by CIKS in the field areas were given Awards.

Travel to New DelhiOn 17th July, A.V. Balasubramanian delivered a talk on the topic “Can Farmer Producer Companies be the Road to Agricultural Sustainability” at The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi as part of the “Science Society and Nature Series” which is part of a set of public lectures being organised by the Museum.

Meetings in NABARDOn 13th August NABARD had organized a meeting on “Green Climate Fund” for which they are the National Implementing Agency. A.V. Balasubramanian made a presentat ion on “Susta inable Agriculture for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation” during this meeting. He also shared an outline of a proposal from CIKS that is being developed. On 25th August, A.V. Balasubramanian attended the meeting of “Regional Advisory Group” of the Tamil Nadu Region of NABARD and he also made a presentation on “Organic Farming : Potential and Prospects”.

Interaction with National Agro FoundationOn 1st September, A.V. Balasubra manian had a discussion with M r . M u r u g a n , N a t i o n a l A g r o Foundation to explore possibilities for signing an agreement for mutual collaboration. A.V.Balasubramanian and K.Vijayalakshmi visited the NAF laboratories at Chennai and their field station at Illedu on 11th September and shared a note about the possible areas of collaboration.Travel to AhmedabadOn 24 th September, A.V. Bala-subramanian attended a workshop in Ahmedabad, which was organized by Friends of Women’s World Banking (FWWB). The meeting was attended by various donors and banking agencies who are supporting and planning to support Farmer Producer Organisations. On 25th September he also had a discussion with the FWWB team on possible support to help FPOs in Tamil Nadu to apply for support from the – “Green Climate Fund” which has been set up by the UNCCF (United Nations Climate Change Fund).Workshop at M.S.Swaminathan Research FoundationOn 22nd September, A.V. Bala-subramanian delivered a talk on – “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Sustainable Agriculture” at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation at Chennai. This was part of a workshop that was organised at the National level for various officials of the Government of India as well as Scientists of Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras for building capacity on this topic.

demonstrations, field workshops and need assessment exercises were organized. 143 Farmers’ Interest Groups (FIGs) have been formed. 28 Local Resource Persons are in place and helping out in the project implementation. Business plan development is in progress. Selected share holders and directors from Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur FPO’s completed an exposure visit to Producer Companies in - Salem, Madhya Pradesh and Warangal area. The Annual General body meeting Cuddalore FPO was held on 19th August.

Producer Organisation Promoting Institution (POPI) Programme

CIKS has been selected as a Producer Organization Promoting Institution under the NABARD Producer Organization Development Fund (PODF) scheme. Under this project, i t is proposed to promote ten Producer Companies in the districts of Dindigul (3), Thiruvannamalai (5 ) , Ramanathapuram (1) and Kancheepuram (1) In a second phase NABARD has sanctioned a project to CIKS for the promotion of four more Producer Companies in the districts of Thiruvannamalai (3) and Dindigul (1). A total of 2070 beneficiaries have been selected from 35 panchayats of the above mentioned districts. A total of 144 Farmers’ Interest Groups (FIGs) have also been formed. Efforts are in full swing to incorporate ten Producer Companies in the name of Kurunji, Mullai, Seed, Managiri, Neithal, Kanchi, Vadamadurai, Thandrampet, Pudupalayam and Chengam Sustainable Agriculture Producer Company Limited. A total of 1169 shareholders have been selected for these FPOs. A total of 37 orientation trainings and two technical trainings have been conducted for the farmers in the newly selected villages and for the Directors and CEOs of the FPOs, respectively.

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Editorial Team : Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi & R. Abarna Design & Layout : R.Anand & S. Ramesh

CIKS NEWS October 2015 Vol. 16 No. 4

• On 3rd July, Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan, IFS, Chairman of Tamil Nadu Forest Corporation Limited visited CIKS to explore possibilities for working together.

• On 26th July Mr. Sudhakara Ganesh and Mr. Sathyam Selvan of TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) Digital Farming Initiatives visited CIKS for a discussion about possibilities for collaboration.

• On 4th August, Mr. Balaji of Green Organic visited CIKS in connection with linking up of farmers groups on organic produce.

• Dr. Kantha Murali of University of Toronto, Canada made avisittoCIKS,Chennaiofficeon4th August, with regard to placement of interns with CIKS

• On 7th August, Mr. Jacob of IFHD (Indian Foundation for Humanistic Development), Bengaluru.

• On 18th August, Mr. G. Ramprasad and Ms. Nrithika Sridharan, from the New Initiatives division of the Murugappa group made a visit and had discussion to explore possibilities for marketing indigenous rice varieties.

• On 15th September, Dr. Dharini Krishnan (Consultant Nutritionist and Dietitian, Chennai) and Dr. Raj Gururajan (Professor of Information Systems, University of Southern Queensland, Australia) visited CIKS and had a discussion with A.V. Balasubramanian about areas for possible collaboration.

• On 16th September a team from NTT Data consisting of Fukaya San, Irithani San, Madurantakam Sathya and others visited CIKS for a discussion about collaboration to launch a website to help farmer producer companies market their organic produce.

VISITOR'S BOOKWho's been dropping in at CIKS

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30, Gandhi Mandapam Road, KotturpuramChennai - 600 085. INDIAPhone : 91-044-2447 1087 / 5862E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected] : www.ciks.org

INAUGURATION OF KURINJI PRODUCER COMPANY

The Kurinji Sustainable Agriculture Producer Company Limited (KSAPCL) established in Dindigul district with the support of NABARD and ProCIF – Small Grants Fund, The Netherlands was inaugurated on 9th July at Chithiraigowdanpatty village and the first General body meeting was held on the same day. A total of 500 beneficiaries including 278 women and 10 Village Agri Business Development Service Providers (VABDSPs) have been selected from 19 villages. The company has been incorporated under this programme and functioning with a total of 401 shareholders. The Chief guests on the occasion were Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi, Research Director of CIKS, Mr. L. Sanjeevi, AGM, NABARD and Mr. Robins, ProCIF, Bangalore.