TOWARDS EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

FARMERS IN VIDARBHA

Progress Report January – March 2013

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

III Cross Road, Taramani Institutional Area Chennai – 600113, INDIA

www.mssrf.org

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Quarterly Report (January-March 2013)

Project Title: Towards Empowerment of Women Farmers in Vidarbha

PIA: M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai

Following is a brief account of the work done in the project during the quarter, January-

March 2013, on various thematic areas:

1. Institution Building:

1) Formation of women farmers groups:

During January-March 2013, a total of 46 women farmers groups have been formed

bringing 696 women farmers under the programme fold. The programme covers 2670

members in the districts of Wardha and Yavatmal as on March 2013.

2) Capacity Building of Women Farmers:

Capacity building programmes in the theme of Institution Building were organised at

the village as well cluster level. Awareness sessions on salient features of Panchayati

Raj institution, Women’s Rights and issues pertaining to domestic violence etc. were

imparted to women farmers. Further, trainings and demonstrations on interface with

government officials and federation formation were also given to women farmers.

Table 1. Total Membership Under the Programme till March 2013

Blocks No. of Villages No. of Women

Farmers’ Groups

No. of Women

Farmers

Wardha 22 65 987

Hinganghat 1 1 14

Deoli 17 50 840

Ralegaon 20 54 829

Total 60 170 2670

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a) Celebration of Savithri Bai Phule’s Birth Anniversary: Village level meetings were

organised across 11 villages to commemorate the memory of revolutionary leader

Savithri Bai Phule. In these meetings several important issues were discussed:

Women’s status, Women’s Rights, Patriarchy, Women’s health, Need for scientific

outlook etc.

Sl. No. Venue of the meeting No. of Participants

Name of Resource Persons

1. Anganwadi, Digdoh 25 Mr. Pankaj Wanjare, Wardha (Social Activist)

2. Anganwadi, Bhidi 22 Prof. Nutan Malavi, Wardha 3. Grampanchayat, Bodad 28 Prof. Madhuri Zade, Wardha 4. Jagannath Mandir, Zadgaon 18 Sister Dhabale 5. Grampanchayat, Kurzadi 18 Ms. Suchita Ingole 6. VKC, Lonsavali 18 Ms. Jyotsna Raut 7. Grampanchayat, Adegaon 17 Mr. Narendra Lokhande 8. Community Hall, Vihirgaon 46 Prof. Maya Deshpande,

Pandharkawada 9. Grampanchayat, Zargad 29 Ms. Patil 10. Anganwadi, Raveri 18 Ms. Mankar 11. Anganwadi, Warana 25 Ms. Nalu

b) Rallies held in villages: To spread awareness among the entire village on the MKSP

programme, rallies were organised in six villages. School students, Women Farmers

Group and non-Women Farmers Group members took active part in the rallies by

preparing and carrying banners as well as in shouting slogans during the procession

and by creating an atmosphere that was charged and energised. Number of innovative

methods was used to propagate the tenets of MKSP which includes creation of a scare

crow with local seeds to school children taking oaths about age of marriage.

Village Taluka No. of Participant

Topics Discussed Method of propagation

Bodad Wardha 70 women farmers + 50 students

Women’s rights, Health, Female feticide, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, quiz competition, Slogans, posters, placards

Sonegaon Station

Wardha 45 women farmers + 50 students

Women’s rights, health, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, slogans, charts, placards

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Vihirgaon Ralegaon 77 women farmers+ 60 students

Women’s rights, health, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, slogans, charts, placards

Chikana Ralegaon 20 women farmers+ 25 students

Women’s rights, health, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, slogans, charts, placards

Dahegaon Miskin

Wardha 57 women farmers+ 32 students

Women’s rights, health, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, slogans, charts, placards, Farmer statue

Zargad Ralegaon 69 women farmers+61 students

Women’s rights, health, Awareness on components of MKSP

Street play, slogans, charts, placards

c) Women’s day celebrations: On the 8th of march 2013, MSSRF was conferred a

national award by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

and the award was received by two of our Women Farmers Group members-Ms

Indira Mishram and Ms Jayshree Lokhande. To celebrate Women’s day several

events were organised across villages such as Mahila Melawa, exposure visit, rally,

demonstration on balanced diet etc.

d) Skill building on Liaisoning and Interface: Number of demonstrations for interface

was held and 180 women farmers participated in these exercises during the period.

The members’ confidence on engaging with the representatives of local

administration and officials of line departments were built through a series of

awareness and training programmes. A one to one interaction with the officials of the

different line departments with the women farmers was arranged. 38 women farmers

participated in this event.

e) Village level awareness meeting on Entitlements and Federation Formation: Village

level meetings were conducted for providing information on government schemes and

the concept of federation formation. These meetings for concept of federation were

attended by 725 women farmers and concept of entitlement by 519 women farmers.

f) Awareness on Panchayati Raj: Village level awareness camps on Panchayat Raj was

conducted in which 286 members participated.

g) Monthly meetings with CRPs and VRPs: Regular meetings were held every month to

share experiences, discuss difficulties, snags, successes and plan future activities for

the CRPs and VRPs.

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h) Executive Committee Meetings of Common Facility Centres: Regular meetings were

held every month by the executive committee to address the day to day management

issues.

2. Sustainable Agriculture:

A crop life cycle approach is taken on scheduling the capacity building programmes

under this head. Major aspects covered during the quarter January-March 2013 relates to

general awareness on sustainable agricultural practices. Detailed programmes were held

pertaining to soil and water conservation practices, INM and IPM. The process followed

for capacity building is awareness creation using various audio-visual tools and print

materials followed by field level demonstration for skill training.

a) Soil Test: Soil samples were collected from the fields of 740 women farmers and duly

sent for analysis. Using the results, awareness shall be created among farmers on

nutrient management.

b) Farm Yard manure: Creating awareness on the importance of farm yard manure and

arranging demonstrations on preparation of the same were main activities during this

quarter. 706 women farmers attended the demonstrations on FYM.

c) Facilitation for procurement of Dhal Mill: In Ajagaon village two Women Farmers

Groups were facilitated to own and operate a Dhal mill procured through the

Department of Agriculture, Wardha. The price of the Dhal mill was Rs.1.5 lakh of

which the government bore a subsidy of 50%, the remaining 50% was borne by the

Women Farmers Group members, using MKSP funds. A management committee

comprising of 23 members drawn from both the Women Farmers Groups in the village

prepared a detailed business plan and submitted the same to the Dept of Agriculture for

operationalising the Dhal mill.

d) Functioning of Common Facility Centres: Experience of the centres over January to

March indicate that on an average 48 farmer households in Lonsawali and 32 farmer

households in Sonegaon Bai borrow some implement or other.

e) The committees are discussing various proposals to make the units sustainable in the

long run.

f) Animal Husbandry: Cattle vaccination camps were organized at village level in

collaboration with the Govt. Veterinary Hospital. A total of 497 cattle were vaccinated

against foot and mouth diseases in these camps. About 133 of our women farmers had

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benefitted by these camps. In addition to our members other villagers had also

participated and gained.

g) Knowledge Connectivity: Gram Warta newsletter produced by the Village Resource

Centre of MSSRF was distributed to 86 Women Farmers Groups. A need assessment

workshop was conducted to get specific feedback from women farmers on voice

messages and other connectivity related issues.

Sl. No.

Activity No. of Events

Participants Remark/Topics

Male Female Total

1. Phone in programme

07 78 217 295 • Land preparation • Weather information • Weedicide application in

lead crops • Water management in gram • Wheat and gram

management • Animal care and

management • Land preparation for

orchard cultivation 2. Feedback

meetings 04 - 151 151 -

3. Helpline queries

- - 180 180 Received 180 queries

4. Voice messages - - 150 685 voice messages sent

3. Household Food and Nutrition Security:

a) Awareness on food and nutrition security: During reporting period village level

meeting were conducted to create awareness on household food and nutrition security

aspects: safe cooking appliances, safe drinking water, sanitation, health and kitchen

garden practices. 771 women farmers participated in the village level meetings.

b) Demonstrations: To demonstrate the Kitchen garden layout techniques, village level

meetings were conducted in villages. 70 participants attended the

demonstration/meetings.

c) Sarai cooker distribution: During the reporting period 229 sarai cookers were

distributed at a subsidised rate to women farmers

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d) Health camp: During the reporting period health camps were organized in villages in

collaboration with the Primary Health Centres. Basic health parameters were tested

and reported for 252 women farmers.

e) Diet Display: Diet displays were organised in villages covering 331 women farmers.

Nutritious dishes were cooked and displayed by members and a nutrition expert talked

to the members on the importance of nutritious food.

IV) Other Activities Related to Project Implementation:

a) Baseline Survey: Baseline survey is in progress and up to this quarter, collection of

information from 1800 women farmers has been completed.

b) Monitoring and Evaluation: Data collection using the monitoring tools have been

completed for the selected households and data entry in progress.

c) A study to understand the nature and extent of empowerment of women farmers in the

programme has been initiated. The Study is carried out by an independent consultant,

an academic from Mumbai.

d) Convergence:

Item of Convergence No. of Units

Subsidied Unit cost (Rs.)

Contribution by members (Rs.)

Total cost (Rs.)

Name of Scheme/Department

Bicycle 1 3140.00 360.00 3500.00 Shesh Fund - Panchayat Samiti

Blanket 40 375.00 0.00 15000.00 Electric Motor 1 19500.00 0.00 19500.00 Sowing Machine 1 1200.00 1200.00 2400.00

Gharkul 4 68500.00 1500.00 280000.00 Indira Awas Yojna- Zilla Parishad

Well 1 110000.00 0.00 110000.00 Vishesh Ghatak Yojna - Zilla Parishad

Dhal Mill 1 75000.00 75000.00 150000.00

Gatiman Kaddhanya utpadan karykram - Krushi Vibhag

Seed of fodder crop - Jowar& maize 7 3224.00 776.00 4000.00 Krushi Vibhag - Zilla

Parishad Knapsack sprayer pump 7 850.00 650.00 10500.00

Maternity Benefits 1 0.00 0.00 700.00 Janani Surksha Yojana - Health Department

Treatment/surgery/etc 14 17660.00 17931.00 35641.00 Health Insurace - MGIMS, Sewagram

Total 78 281789.00 79486.00 595600.00

MSSRF‐MKSP activities  January – March 2013

MSSRF‐MKSP activities  January – March 2013

Name of PIA: M S Swaminathan Research FoundationProject Title: Towards Empowerment of Women Farmers in Vidarbha

Reporting Duration: January - March 2013

Parameters UoM

Up to end of reporting period (up to Dec 2012)

Current Period (Jan-Mar 2013)

Up to end of reporting period (up to Mar 2013)

1.Outreach

1.1No. of women farmers trained- caste wise: No. 7014 696 7710

1.1.2 ST No. 1158 153 13111.1.1 SC No. 1618 147 17651.1.3 OBCs No. 3649 255 39041.1.4 others No. 589 141 730

1.2No. of women farmers trained landholding wise: No. 7014 696 7710

1.2.1 landless No. 560 104 6641.2.2 Marginal Farmers No. 548 127 6751.2.3 Small Farmers No. 3193 347 35401.2.4 Others No. 2713 118 2831

1.3No. of women farmers trained- SHG membership: No.

1.3.1 Existing member of SHG No.

1.3.2New member brought under

SHG fold No.1.3.3 Not a member of SHG No.

1.3 Community Institutions No.1.3.1 SHG Programme:

1.3.1.1 Number of SHGs intervened No.

1.3.1.2Number of Clusters of SHGs

intervened No.

1.3.1.3Number of Federations of

SHGs intervened No.1.3.2 Livelihood groups:

1.3.2.1Number of Informal Women

Farmers' Groups formed No. 124 46 170Number of Women

Farmers'Group Federated No. -

1.3.2.3Number of Formally registered

Producer Organisations formed No. -Number of Informal User

Group of community who are SHG members No.

1.3.2.2Number of Informal User

Group of community not in No.1.4 Geographical coverage

1.4.1 Hamlets/ Habitations No. 59 1 60

1.4.2 Revenue Villages No. 52 0 521.4.3 Number of C.D. Blocks No.1.4.4 Number of Districts No. 2 0 2

1.5 Farm land covered1.5.1 Own land hec 3682.73 832.62 4515.351.5.2 Share cropping / lease land hec

Irrigated land hec 767.6 208.66 976.26

1.5.3% Irrigated out of total

intervention area % 20.72 25.06 21.62

2. Input:

2.1Capacity building (Trainee Days)

2.1.1Capacity building of women participants days 62 10 72

2.1.2Capacity building of Community Professionals days 24 6 30

2.1.3Capacity Building of Community Resource persons days 34 6 40

2.2

Finances invested/leveraged -breakup source wise (Rs. Lakh)

2.2.1 Communities Own Resources Rs. 144,130.00 342,810.00 486,940.00 2.2.2 Grants from MKSP Rs. 5,851,943.00 245,393.00 6,097,336.00

2.2.3

Government Grants/Subsidies(other than

MKSP)-Pl specify Rs. 2.2.4 PIA own fund Rs. 2.2.5 Grants from Donors Rs. 2.2.6 Credit from SHGs Rs. 2.2.7 Credit from Banks Rs. 2.2.8 Credit from any other source Rs.

2.2.9

Funds leveraged from other govt. programs

(MGNREGA/RKVY etc) Rs. 3,941,710.00 299,449.00 4,241,159.00 2.3 Finance used as: (Rs. Lakh) Rs.

2.3.1 working capital, Rs.

2.3.2capital investment at individual

level Rs.

2.3.3capital investment for common

infrastr. Rs. 285,184.00 - 285,184.00 2.3.4 Capacity building of CRP Rs. 222,008.31 232,086.00 454,094.31

2.3.5Capaciti building of Community

professionals Rs. 22,321.45 37,248.00 59,569.45

2.3.6Capacity building of

beneficiary/ target women Rs. 3,957,168.72 1,830,902.00 5,788,070.72

2.4

Physical Assets Created (to be defined by PIA as provided in Profile)

2.4.1 E.g. Plantationsunits

3. Output

through PIA's MKSP Interventions

3.1.1Total volume of crop output produced tonnes

3.1.2Gross output of the livelihood interventions in Rs.lakh

3.2.1

Planned increase in productivity per Ha (From -- To)

3.2.2Benckmark productivity level Per Ha

3.2.3% of families meeting benchmark yield %

3.3.1Net incomes to participating families through MKSP Rs.lakh

3.3.2

Proportion of Families having Income Range from intervention sunder MKSP

3.3.2.1 < Rs.7500 %3.3.2.2 Rs 7501-10000 %3.3.2.3 Rs.10001-15000 %3.3.2.4 more than Rs.15000 %

3.4.1Average additional foodgrains per family Kg

3.4.2 Food Sufficiency 3.4.2.1 less than 6 months %3.4.2.2 7-9 months %3.4.2.3 9-12 month %3.4.2.4 > 12 months %

3.5 Human Resource Development3.5.1 Community Resources Persons No.

3.5.1.1 Women No. 78 3 81Community Professionals Groomed No.

Women No. 9 0 93.5.2oviders/Entrepreneurs Groomed No. 14 0 14

3.5.2.1 Women No.3.5.3/Evergreen/Sustainable Farming No.

3.5.3.1 Women No.3.6 Marketing initiatives

3.6.1No of crops marketed through

collective marketing No.

3.6.2No of women benefitted

through collective marketing no.

3.6.3 Total volume of crop market Qtl3.6.4 Total value of crops marketed Rs.

3.6.5Incremental benefit per qtl

through matrketing Rs.

3.6.6Value addition activities taken

up No.3.6.7 Net amount of value addition Rs.

3.6.8Woman/man days created

through value addition No.

3.7Fund Handling- Not required If PIA is a community

Payments made through community organizations Rs.

Payments made directly by the PIA Rs.