| Jeypore |
| |
| The projects on community-based
agro biodiversity conservation, natural resource management
and food security were strengthened through various
initiatives. |
| |
| In–situ on farm conservation
and Participatory Plant Breeding |
| |
| The focus was on in-situ on farm
conservation through PPB-led-PCS programmes, largescale
production of Kalajeera, cultivation of selected PPB
varieties, multiplication of F4 varieties and data collection,
including collection of agronomic characters of PPB
and PCS varieties. |
| |
| New strides in the benefits of
Participatory Breeding and improvement |
| |
| The model of conservation, cultivation
and commercialization of excess produce, put in place
during the past few years, started showing results.
The model has gained favour not only in the villages
where the PPB programme is implemented, but also in
several other villages. The benefits of the PPB program
were communicated through farmer - to - farmer extension.
Farmers took the PPB initiative forward by growing LRs
on a large scale, though they continued to grow HYVs
because of available markets and buy back arrangements
(Table 3.3). |
|
| |
| As a result of the participatory
improvement paradigm, the number of LRs has exceeded
the number of HYVs, reversing the situation of some
years ago. |
| |
| Farmers in Jeypore tract made concerted
efforts to produce more Kalajeera, the LR selected by
them from the PPB programme. Along with 8 PPB villages,
12 other villages took an active role in the production
of the variety that was found to yield 3.5 to 4 tonnes/
ha on an average. |
| |
| Farmers of Tolla village produced
seeds of Kalajeera in contiguous plots of 2.51 ha given
by 7 farmers as a participatory group endeavour. Due
to unfavourable rainfall distribution, optimal yields
could not be realized. Including grain and straw, the
cost : benefit ratio worked out to be 1: 2.5 (Table
3.4 ). It is obvious that cooperative seed production
of LRs like Kalajeera would be highly profitable when
commercialization is intensified and farmers’ rights
for the variety is obtained. |
| |
|
| |
| Participatory Breeding Initiatives |
| |
| A small experiment was laid to test
the logic of growing specific LRS in certain types of
land. The popular medium LR Sapuri was tested by farmers
in lowland. It was found that Sapuri grown in lowland
flowered about 10 days earlier and the yield improved
by 20 %. Taking the cue, farmers tested the traditionally
grown medium land LR, Gathia in upland and recorded
early maturity and yield improvement. Such farmer-driven
initiatives need to be nurtured and upscaled for enhanced
realization of the yield and quality potential of LRs
|
| |
| In 1999-2000, a few men and women
from farming families were trained in emasculation and
pollination techniques in rice. The crosses sown in
plots, suffered from heavy rains. To save the F1s, the
seeds were planted in pots. The growth was subdued and
only 200g of F2 seed could be retrieved. They were grown
in 5 lines along with 5 parents of UL and ML (eliminating
LL parents whose crosses failed) during Kharif 2002.
The F3 populations from each of the F2 lines were raised
in 8 lines each during Kharif 2003. Some failed leaving
in all 35 F3 populations. They were grown interspersed
with parents in a completely randomized design. Data
on 7 quantitative traits were recorded on two 3-plant
composite samples. Grain Filling % and Harvest Index
were computed to give 9 traits. |
| |
| This year a selection was made from
among the 35 populations produced by pollination techniques,
based on their statistical superiority over all the
5 parents. A multivariate mean test across all 9 traits
selected F3s that exceeded 4 parents (Sel 1:1 popln-
F3 -7), 3 parents (Sel 2: 2 poplns - F3 - 23, F3 - 31),
and 1 parent (Sel 3: 2 poplns, F3 -6, F3 -29). Those
F3s, as good as any parent, were grouped as Sel 4 (22
poplns). 8 F3 populations that did not exceed any parent
significantly were discarded. The 4 selections were
grown as F4 populations along with all the parents during
Kharif 2004 in a design alternating parents and F4s.
Quantitative data has been recorded. Based on a multivariate
analysis, superior populations will be selected and
advanced further. |
| |
| Forward
momentum: Participatory conservation, enhancement,
consumption and commercialization of rice landraces,
particularly Kalajeera, have opened up new avenues for
collaborating with the Government of Orissa, particularly
in seed storage, recognizing farmers’ rights, contribution
to poverty reduction, and marketing, including buy back
of seeds and grains. |
| |
| Quality
seed production: It was seen that pure seed production
would help farm families to get a higher yield as they
are able to withstand drought and flash flood conditions
for a longer period. The process of pure seed production
has been initiated in 8 demonstration villages and operational
villages of 7 NGOs. As of now, 37 traditional varieties
are under the process of purification and 10 traditional
varieties are under large-scale production by farm families. |
| |
| Marketing of traditional varieties |
| |
| Market survey and a study report
by an intern, clearly revealed that the local people
are unaware of the importance of rice from traditional
varieties. It was found that the number of traditional
rice varieties in the market is fewer than improved
varieties. To overcome such challenges, certain approaches
were adopted. |
| |
| The nutritious qualities of unpolished
rice were popularized through a door-to-door campaign.
Grain was collected from farm families, milled and sold
in the local market. Individual passbooks were issued
to each farm family participating in the programme.
Within a period of 34 days, more than 500 households
were made aware of the advantages of unpolished rice
and 25 ql of processed rice was sold under the programme
at the rate of Rs 18.00 or Rs 20.00/kg. It is planned
to form a network which will take care of the marketing
of unpolished, aromatic and other special kinds of rice. |
| |
| Natural Resource Management |
| |
| Plantation: The villagers of Tolla
utilized their wasteland by planting 1,000 cashew seedlings
in 4.8 ha of land. Before planting they had a Central
Village Comittee (CVC) meeting along with MSSRF staff
at which the resolution was passed, the plan of action
prepared and responsibilities distributed. The seedlings
were given to the farm families at a subsidized rate
by the Horticulture Dept. One member of each farm family
contributed labour to prepare the land and fence the
plantation area. |
| |
| Fish farming:
In Tolla, fingerlings of Rohi, China Rohi, Bhakura,
Mir kali, and silver carp were introduced in the percolation
pond in late August, after the pond was purified with
lime. In San Taliaguda 2,000 fish fry and 2.5 kgs fingerlings
of Rohi, China Rohi, Bhakura, Mirkali and silver carp
were introduced in one acre of the reservoir. |
| |
| Vermicompost:
There are 57 vermicompost pits in the demo villages
and the idea is spreading widely in the peripheral areas.
Rs 24,000 was mobilized from the Spices Board, Koraput,
for the construction of 24 pucca vermicompost pits at
Jhalaguda and Taliaguda. Besides vermicomposting, Nuaguda
village has started production of vermiwash, which acts
as a biopesticide and bio - hormone for plants. |
| |
| Community
Water Bank: As per the action plan every farm
family participated in the construction of the mahabandha
(reservoir). It will contribute towards the water needed
for the livestock and agriculture in 24 ha of land.
In summer, it will cater to horticultural activities
in 16 ha of land, benefiting at least 35 families in
the village. It will also support the growth of the
forest adjacent to it. |
| |
| Use of
biofertilizer and biopesticides: The use of biofertilizers
is increasing in the demo villages. They are applied
one month before transplanting. Neem, karanja and turmeric
are used by all the families to save their grain and
seed from insects and pests. One hundred grams of the
pesticide was sold at Rs 3.00. |
| |
| Use of diesel pumps: Diesel pump
sets provided by MSSRF are being used for various purposes.
At Nuaguda and Pujariput, the villagers use them to
run the rice huller unit and for lifting water for floriculture
and vegetable cultivation. This has reduced the drudgery
of women in the villages to a significant extent and
helped the farmers to get a better price for rice. The
income from the pump sets goes to the village fund. |
| |
| Community Gene-Seed-Grain Bank
Continuum (CGSGrB |
| |
| The main activities of the year
were seed and grain loan distribution, loan repayment,
formation of management committees, monitoring of seed
sowing area, individual passbook distribution, impact
study and storehouse repairs. |
| |
| Management committees now operate
the CGSGrB. The CVC has been monitoring the activities
which include accounting, verification of seed in the
field, and distribution. For each of the above responsibilities,
threemanagement committees, each with three members,
were formed in consultation with the CVC. In each of
the committees, one member is from the CVC, one from
MSSRF and one from Panchabati Grama Unnayan Samiti (PGUS)
– a registered farmers body. For better monitoring and
accounting, individual passbooks were issued to farm
families. Approximately 142 acres of land is now under
cultivation of LRs, the seeds of which were taken from
different community seed banks (CSBs) and the land races
grown and selected under PCS. |
| |
| The CSBs in 6 villages have 4,438.5
kg seeds of different landraces. They were used by 113
farm families in 61.7 ha of land. Similarly the grain
banks of these villages supported 187 families at times
of distress with 11,964.5 kg of grain. It ensured food
availability for 37 days and protected families from
exploitation. |
| |
| Community Food Banks (CFBs) |
| |
| The CFBs in the eight villages were
strengthened. There were regular meetings to resolve
problems. The passbook system was introduced for easy
record maintenance by the management committees and
for transparency in transactions. |
| |
| A noticeable impact of the CFB operation
has been a fall in the acute food scarcity during lean
periods, consumption of seed, dependence on moneylenders,
distress sale by the farmers and food scarcity during
natural calamities. Food support was also extended by
the banks to the handicapped, orphans and the aged.
Food Stock in all the CFBs has increased by over 100
%. Focus was on networking and capacity building with
a view to enhance livelihood security through SHGs and
micro enterprises. |
| |
| Evaluation of the project and documentation
of findings is now being planned. It is also proposed
to develop training material on the operation and management
of CFBs and conduct workshops for replication. |
| |
| Promoting Nutritious Millets |
| |
| Under the broad objective of enhancing
the contribution of nutritious but neglected crops (millets)
to food security and to the incomes of the rural poor,
various steps were taken, such as farmer participatory
varietal trials on finger millet, little millet and
Italian millet; participatory yield enhancement trials
on nutritious millets; value addition, processing and
marketing and creation of local capability for the production
and supply of good quality seed. A survey was conducted
on the use, constraints and opportunities of millets.
Documentation of local knowledge has been undertaken. |
| |
| Farmer Participatory Varietal Trial:
The trial was conducted in two replications through
RBD design. An ex-situ collection of 100 finger millets,
25 little millets and 35 Italian millets was studied.
There was also a local collection of 9 finger millets,
4 little millets and 3 Italian millets. The farmers
were able to see the changes in plant growth in the
different varieties. In the final varietal selection
43 farmers (20 men + 23 women) and 5 scientists participated.
They considered the duration, grain and fodder yield,
taste, colour, time of maturity and land type to identify
the variety. Out of the ex-situ collection 7 finger
millets, 9 little millets and 7 Italian millets were
selected. From the local collection, the participants
selected 2 finger millets, 1 little millet and 1 Italian
millet. |
| |
| Under this experiment two field
demonstrations were also conducted. Farmers were trained
on improved agronomic practices, optimizing seed rate,
sowing in time and in rows and quality seed production.
The farm families were introduced to finger millet-based
scientific intercropping of little millet, pigeon pea
and niger. |
| |
| Value
Addition and Networking: Four exhibitions were
conducted in tribal fares in the region and 40 kg of
finger millet powder, 30 kg of de-husked little millet
and 15 kg of de-husked Italian Millet were sold by 2
women SHGs of Balia village. A biodiversity fare was
conducted for the farmers of the 16 demonstration villages
to assess the diversity of agricultural crops of the
region. Four SHGs were established through the Community
Food Bank Programme and the members were trained to
take up value added millet production and marketing
activities. Four NGOs of three districts have shown
an interest in replicating these activities. |
| |
| Bhumipuja of Biju Patnaik Medicinal
Plants Garden and Research Centre |
| |
| The Bhumipuja of Biju Patnaik Medicinal
Plants Garden and Research Centre was held on 16 November,
2004. Twelve acres of land, adjacent to Jeypore town,
was allotted by the Govt of Orissa to MSSRF to conduct
ex-situ conservation and research on medicinal plants
used by tribal people. The Honourable Chief Minister,
Mr Naveen Patnaik performed the Bhumipuja in the presence
of Prof M S Swaminathan, Mr Ravi Narayan Nanda, Minister
of state for Science and Technology and Water Resources,
Mr Surya Narayan Patra, Minister for Energy, Mr Balabhadra
Majhi, Minister, SC-ST Welfare and Ms Subha Sharma,
Collector, Koraput. At a special workshop on Herbal
Focus held at Koraput, eminent scientists and resource
persons from universities, Govt. Departments, research
organizations and Panachayat Boards discussed the promotion
of medicinal plants in Jeypore tract under the aegis
of MSSRF. |
