|
Consultancy Studies
- 1. State Agricultural Policy Framework in
Andhra Pradesh
- 1994 (Consultancy
for Govt of Andhra Pradesh)
As part of its
efforts to prepare a Comprehensive Agricultural Development Project for Andhra Pradesh
(A.P.), the Govt of A.P. identified MANAGE to undertake a study on Agricultural Policy
Framework in Andhra Pradesh. The objectives were to review the overall incentive structure
for agricultural production and investment, determine constraints to growth and recommend
policy reforms and targeted public investment necessary to stimulate overall growth in the
sector. The study analysed the output and input prices and their effects on production,
assessed comparative advantages for different crops and farming systems and evaluated
government interventions or regulations with regard to pricing, storage, marketing and
movements. The role of subsidies in promoting technology, growth and poverty reduction was
critically examined. It reviewed strategy options for promoting crop diversification and
assessed the role of private sector participation in the provision of agricultural inputs
and services. The study also examined the legal system regulating land use, marketing and
food processing. The recommendations of this study attempt to reconcile the concerns and
compulsions of the State Government, the emerging impact of the macro environment and the
needs and aspirations of the farming community, trade and industry. The findings were
presented to World Bank officials and State Govt. officials in Aug 1994. The
recommendations were considered for policy action by state govt. and finalisation of
investment proposals to be funded by World Bank.
- 2. Work and
Training needs of women in Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh,
- 1996
(Consultancy for Govt of Andhra Pradesh)
- Dr.
Chitemma Rao, former Principal, Home Science College, APAU.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh
asked MANAGE to take up two consultancy studies as part of a Netherlands assisted project
for training of farm women in six selected districts of A.P. on "Role and Status of
women in Agriculture and related activities including factors complicating their access to
means of production in Andhra Pradesh" and "Training needs of the target group
in different agro-climatic regions of AP in order to enhance curriculum development and
training methodologies". As both the studies are field studies and closely
interrelated it was proposed to club these into a single field survey on Work and Training
needs of women in Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh. The study completed in
1995-96 by Dr. Chitemma Rao, assesses the role and position of women in agricultural
operations and their participation in decision-making and marketing; identifies problems
and constraints related to their accessibility to improved agricultural technology;
identifies suitable crop technologies, Covers the existing activities performed in
agricultural operations, skills available, skills required and the gaps; analyses women's
knowledge and their role; identifies their training needs in agricultural and allied
sectors; studies the impact of new technologies; suggests measures to impart knowledge of
new technologies to women and approaches for improving farm women's' skills in
agricultural production. The study reveals that despite women's significant
and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields, they have neither access
to agricultural information or services nor to production assets and no control over their
earnings. Women need to be involved in production-oriented training and extension
programmes not only as beneficiaries but also as change agents to have access to credit,
technology and skills to better their lot and increase their efficiency.
Recommendations
-
- More "in village" training
needs to be organised for farm women to suit their convenience, and
mobile training centres created. Residential vocational courses are
needed. KVKs should have necessary orientation to enlist greater
involvement of women and develop their technical competence in areas
of interest to women.
- Apart from crop specific training, farm women need to be
trained in organic farming practices, integrated nutrient and pest management practices,
in efficient use and maintenance of handtools; in appropriate measures to increase
cropping intensity, in agro-forsetry and silvipasture in rainfed areas, post harvest
handling, marketing, processing, bee keeping, where horticulture is prominent, mushroom
cultivation, construction and usage of smokeless chulhas and non conventional energy
devices.
-
Trainers should be trained in PRA techniques, community
mobilisation, group formation, communication methods and strategies and in Curriculum
development and Pedagogy. These programmes should be oriented to building up awareness and
confidence among women and motivating women farmers to form into groups.
-
Approaches suitable for the participatory planning of
extension strategy for crop production programme need to be developed.
-
There is a need for farming situation specific fine-tuning
of technologies for a given crop. Technologies must be location specific to be
ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable.
- Research and extension systems currently operating should
be reviewed to suggest ways and means of good coordination with responsibility and
accountability of each organisation.
- Research studies should focus on the problems of concern
and relevance for farm women.
- Appropriate and effective communication strategies must be
developed and field-tested to reach farm women.
- Efforts are to be made for the collection of indigenous
practices and scientific rationale behind each of these worked out.
- Suitable low cost agriculture implements to be developed
for women specific agricultural operations through adequate field trials.
- Technologies for income generation should be generated,
field tested and operationalized
- .Operational research on development and popularisation of
value added products with millets, fruits and vegetables should be taken up.
The study suggests training and extension strategies
to achieve the overall development of farm women, which include making women more aware of
their rights and opportunities, motivating them to form cooperatives, organising
in-village training for women, adopting a participatory approach with women to identify
problems, making their training curriculum inter sectoral, developing a cadre of women
extension workers and evolving appropriate communication strategies.
-
- 3. Involvement
of women in Agriculture in tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh, 1996. (Sponsored
by Directorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI) 1996. (Sponsored
by Directorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI)
- Dr.
KPC Rao, Director, MANAGE
This study was sponsored by the
Directorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. The objective was to
identify the constraints and problems women in tribal and hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh
face in involving themselves in agricultural development programmes. The study also deals
with asset ownership, labour contribution and women's participation in decision making.
Women are involved in decisions pertaining to farming though not
always in financial matters. This is higher in tribal than hilly districts.
- Women contribute 50 per cent labour to all agricultural activities and their
involvement in decision making is directly proportionate to their labour contribution.
- Despite high literacy, electronic rather than print media is an important source
of information.
- Women have access to information and hilly people are better placed than tribals
in this respect.
- Some women are aware and have adopted new agricultural techniques
- Women are participating in economic activities and this has improved their
status.
- Interaction of government officials with women is picking up with new programmes
targeting women beneficiaries.
- Skills need to be imparted to women to involve them in agricultural and
subsidiary activities.
- Giving women a share in the property, farm mechanization and awareness creation
would reduce drudgery
- Women need to be organized into groups and take up income
generating schemes to improve their status.
Policy
implications
- Women should be given a share in the property with institutional mechanisms
developed to check fragmentation.
- Women need to be involved with developmental programmes. More women extension
functionaries may be employed in agriculture and allied departments to facilitate easy
interaction and skill transfer.
- Programmes for training and knowledge transfer should be tailor made for women.
They need to be trained in soil sampling, composting, green manuring, germination tests
and plant protection measures, eco-friendly farming; use of bio-fertilizers and
bio-pesticides, vermi-composting etc. Other areas include seed production, pest control,
post harvest handling, processing, marketing etc.
- Staff of development departments should be trained in PRA techniques to help them
to understand the socio-cultural and economic conditions of women.
- Researchers should develop an appreciation for the wealth of indigenous knowledge
available with the farming communities. Farmer participatory approach, participatory
planning of extension strategy for crop production programmes need to be adopted and
followed.
- Research institutions should focus research studies on problems of relevance for
farm women. Priority should be given to developing low cost agricultural implements for
specific agricultural operations in which women participate to a large extent.
- Women should be sensitised to their rights, opportunities, services and
programmes. Media should play a critical role to sensitize the community to women related
issues.
- Training to farm women should be participatory. A few trained women should be
selected and helped to practice technology with input supply on credit basis. These fields
can be used as demonstration plots for training other women.
The report concludes reservation of seats for women in
political positions will help to promote their participation and involve them in all
decision making activities related to agricultural development in the state.
4.
Formulation of National Guidelines on Watershed Development Programmes by Ministry of Rural
Development, 1994
Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment, Govt. of
India undertook a review of their DPAP/DDP programmes by a technical committee headed by
Dr. CH Hanumantha Rao, former member planning Commission. Based on the recommendations of
this committee the Ministry commissioned MANAGE to formulate a set of common operational
guidelines for their watershed programmes which would encompass 5 schemes of
DPAP, DDP, IWDP, EAS, JRY. The study was by Shri S.K. Arora, Director, MANAGE.
The previous guidelines had laid down the objectives,
components, cost norms and steps required to formulate watershed development projects but
lacked instructions on project implementation, leading to divergence in implementation
procedures in different projects. The present guidelines outline the various
implementation stages of the watershed development projects, the operational procedures
and provide sufficient operational flexibility at State, District and Project levels to
enable them to respond to differing situations and aspirations of the village community.
The guidelines also aim to promote upgradation and adoption
of low cost local technologies and materials and emphasize the importance of people's
participation in the programmes and the need to improve technical as well as management
skills of project staff and the village community. The guidelines were approved by Govt.
of India in October 1994 and came into operation from April, 1995. Meanwhile Government of
India, Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment desired that MANAGE should prepare three
Manuals on Watershed Development viz. The Technical Manual; Operational Manual and
Trainers' Training manual which would work out in detail the technological options, the
operational modalities and training curriculum for capacity building of the project
implementation agencies.
5. Manuals on
Watershed Development
- (I) Technical Manual
- Dr. J. Venkateswarlu
This
manual enlists technologies relevant to different agro-climatic regions in India. Focus is
on people friendly, low cost technologies, which are simple and easy to operate and
maintain and are based on local materials and indigenous knowledge. The manual is divided
into five parts dealing with Resource Inventorization, Resource Conservation, Arable
Cropping Systems, Non Arable farming Systems and Watershed in retrospect.
- (II) Operational
Manual
- Dr. N.K. Sanghi.
This manual describes the operations that
Project Implementation Agencies and Watershed Development Teams and facilitating agents
will need to carry out step by step for initiating participatory planning and
implementation in different phases of the watershed programme. It specifies formats for
process documentation, action plans and accounting procedures for PIAs and WDT members as
well as watershed development committees and user groups.
- (III) Trainers'
Training Manual for
Participatory Management of Watershed Projects
- Dr. G.R. Desai and Shri. S.K. Arora
The Trainer's manual works out the training
curriculum for capacity building of the project implementation agencies. The manual is
based on four modules dealing with (a) Common Guidelines and technical issues, (b)
Participatory Rural appraisal and Community Organisations, (c) general management and
project management skills and (d) Administration and Accounts matters.
- 6. Reorganization
of extension services in the Dept of Agriculture for better Research-Extension Linkages in
Himachal Pradesh
- Dr. R.K. Samanta
The study conducted in Hamirpur, Kangra, Shimla and
Solan districts of Himachal Pradesh (HP) examines the existing pattern of extension
services, perceptions of farmers, extension workers and scientists and suggests
reorganisation of extension services.
There are four kinds of institutions in Himachal
Pradesh that can cater to the needs of the farmers. These are (a) Public Sector extension
and Training system, (b) Non-Governmental Organizations, (c) Private Sector and (d)
Farmers’ Organizations.
Recommendations
Some of the recommendations suggested for
improving research-extension linkages in the state, are given here:
- It is recommended that a separate extension cell may be created at headquarters
at the state level to strengthen extension services upto village level.
- A coordination committee may be formed at the block level with representatives of
the four institutes to monitor for better extension services to the farmers.
- Joint Director (Extension) at headquarters should draw effective coordination and
support from State Agricultural Universities, Development Departments, Research
Organizations, Private Sector, NGOs, Farmers Organizations for appropriate technology
generation. Farmers' feedback should be passed on to the Institutes to develop suitable
technology.
- Officers at all levels should hold regular monthly meetings to discuss problems
and find out probable remedies.
- Educational qualifications for VEO recruitment should be made minimum of 12th
standard so that they are able to understand the various facets of agricultural
technologies for effective dissemination.
- Extension workers may be motivated through incentives for their effective
involvement in extension services.
- State department of Agriculture may develop infrastructural facilities of the
State Agricultural University for research.
- Private sector may be encouraged to supply production inputs including seeds
directly to farmers and develop their infrastructural facilities and buy back produce from
farmers directly. Department of Agriculture may give more emphasis on strengthening
extension services and skill upgradation of farmers to adopt new technologies for profit
maximisation.
- All extension literature and videocassettes on Crop Production technologies may
be available with extension personnel for effective dissemination of the same to farmers
and also be available for sale to interested farmers.
- Extension personnel should facilitate farmers to form Self-Help Groups for
resource sharing and effective utilisation of extension services.
- Women extension workers may be recruited to provide better services to women
farmers.
-
- Farming Situation Based Extension (FSBE) approach may be implemented so that
farmers’ needs and priorities are taken into account.
- Modern transport facilities for marketing of farm produce may be established.
- Extension personnel at all levels must be trained on new extension methodologies
and agricultural innovations.
- Integrated approach may be followed to provide basic training on agriculture,
horticulture, fisheries, forestry, soil conservation and plant protection.
- Farmers may be trained on new profitable ventures like organic farming, IPM etc.
services of skilled farmers may be utilized for training.
- Farm women must be encouraged to venture upon less labour oriented agriculture
enterprises like floriculture etc. and their training organised at village block levels
Besides recommendations, three alternate
models on effective extension organisation and Agricultural Knowledge System
(AKIS) have
also been suggested for improving research-extension linkages in agriculture in HP.
7.
Techno-economic
Social Feasibility study on introducing sunflower in the districts of North Tamil Nadu
- (Consultancy Study for S & S
Industries , Tamil Nadu)
- Dr. GR Desai, Dr. K.P.C. Rao, Dr. T.D.S. Kumar, Dr. N.K. Sanghi
MANAGE conducted a
techno-economic social feasibility study in 4 northern districts of Tamil Nadu to
understand growth of various crops with respect to their area, production and
productivity; benchmark current cropping pattern and returns from various crops,
understand knowledge level in agronomic practices of various crops and skill gap in
getting desired productivity and assess the scope of the sunflower industry based on crop
physiology, cropping pattern and environment. The results and recommendations have been
submitted to the organization incorporating their suggestions.
- 8. Agricultural
Extension Management for eco-development in Protected areas
- (Consultancy Sponsored by FAO and
coordinated by WII)
An institutional consultancy on agricultural
extension was assigned to MANAGE by FAO under their project entitled
""Strengthening Wildlife Management and Eco-development Planning
Capabilities." The terms of reference for the project include assessment of extension
methods currently in use in villages in and around protected areas and designing an
appropriate training programme for concerned functionaries, focussing on skill development
in the required extension management techniques.The assignment was the outcome of the
realisation that strengthening and optimizing the capabilities of agricultural extension
and other developmental systems operating around Protected areas is an important
determinant of the effectiveness of planned eco-development processes. Past efforts at
coercive measures to stop over exploitation of forest resources and damage to the
ecological balance had failed to achieve desired results. It was realised that the only
sustainable modus operand would be to generate alternative economic opportunities for
people in and around protected areas, to yield returns equal or higher than what is
available through exploitation of forest resources.
Eco-development has as its goal restoration/improvement of
ecological balance of a given region. In the context of Protected areas, however the
operational process of eco-development would largely involve developmental and employment
generation processes through which the dependency of the human population around the
protected areas on forests can be effectively brought down thereby relieving the forests
from the pressure of human survival needs and facilitating natural restoration of the
eco-system therein.
MANAGE studied the ground realities of current extension
approaches and designed an appropriate training package on participatory extension
management aimed at facilitating development of team work, inter organizational
collaboration and extension process skills to functionaries from all development
departments.
- 9. Agricultural
Extension Management for enhancing safflower productivity and coverage in Madhya Pradesh
- (Consultancy
for Marico industries) Dr. G.R. Desai and Dr. T.K. Chakravarty
MARICO requested
MANAGE to help in identifying and analysing ground level problems related to safflower
production and diagnose reasons for shortfall in production of safflower seeds and suggest
remedial measures and collaborative work arrangements between the company and state
government of Madhya Pradesh. Diagnostic workshops were conducted to understand farmers
perspectives, problems, rewards in respect of safflower cultivation and marketing,
estimate current yield gap in safflower and assess available research based knowledge and
assess the adequacy of extension input supply and marketing infrastructure and
possibilities of improvement. As a follow up of the action plans drawn in the workshop
Govt. of M.P. organized a number of training programmes on safflower cultivation
technology for extension workers in 10 districts. MARICO also took up corresponding
initiatives in seed distribution and marketing. A similar diagnostic event
focussed on Maharashtra where short and medium term action plans were drawn up for three
districts representing three agro-climatic regions of the State where safflower was
concentrated viz. Buldana, Parbhani and Solapur. A workbook in this connection for
assessment of critical aspects related to supply of production has been submitted to
MARICO.
|
