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Annual Report 2015 16 HARC
Annual Report 2015 16 HARC
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Building Resilience towards Climate Change through Good Governance .............................................. 3
Diversifying Agriculture Practices for Adaptation to Changes in Climate............................................... 5
Invoking Scientific Tempers for Adapting Climate Smart Practices ........................................................ 9
Knowledge Management for Informed Resilience against Climate ..................................................... 12
Invigorating the Concepts of High Value Products for Resilience against Climate Change .................. 15
Diversifying Market Supply Chains for Reduced Risks .......................................................................... 17
New Partnerships & Actions ................................................................................................................. 20
Infrastructure Up-gradation.................................................................................................................. 20
Visitors/Volunteers ............................................................................................................................... 21
Learning ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Future Partnerships .............................................................................................................................. 22
ANNEXURE I........................................................................................................................................ 23
Information of Board ........................................................................................................................ 23
1
Foreword
In its endeavour to sustain the livelihood of marginal farmers of Himalayan region against the
adverse impacts of climate, HARC has been keeping its focus intact on replenishing the agriculture
practices, enhancing scientific temper of the communities, invigorating significance of high value
products and diversifying market supply chains. It is so, because changes in climate over the years
have altered the farming practices by many folds; the rich farmers can at least manage to adapt it.
Left are the ones, who have no means to ascertain their livelihoods with drastic climate challenges.
Many of these small-scale producers are still coping with degraded natural resource base.
To achieve better productive and resilient agriculture practices, major shift in the way land; water,
soil, nutrients and genetic resources of crops are managed for optimum and sustainable production
are required. With climate smart agriculture practices (CSA), the concept of farm related scientific
temper, soil health management systems, diversification of crops, package of practices, pro-poor
climate smart supply chains are promoted. Keeping the trends of erratic behaviour of climate change
in perspective, it is equally critical to enhance knowledge and skills of communities so that they can
courageously adapt against the fickle events of climate. The experiential information and knowledge
from older persons are priceless assets. Its complement to scientific and technological knowledge
can provide an important and enhanced contribution to the development and implementation of
such knowledge management mechanisms.
We are, therefore, truly thankful to our partner knowledge institutions, resource persons,
volunteers, media persons, friends of HARC who have been immensely helping us in achieving and
striving hard to make the society vibrant and resilient against the backdrop of Climate Change.
2
Building Resilience towards Climate Change through Good Governance
one of the very important indicators of an organized group. Here, the transparency, accountabilities,
responsibilities of people in a group helps them take appropriate steps against the vagaries of the
climate change. Whence formed and strengthened in groups, farmers have largely been able to
collectively upscale qualities and quantities of their farm production, knowledge and skills
development and collective marketing of their farm produce. Therefore, during 2015-16, total 648
farmer producers groups comprising of 9,960 farmers were formed and strengthened across 264
villages in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Dehradun districts of Uttarakhand. Below pie diagram illustrates
various groups formed and strengthened under each of the intervention districts
2,029
1,522
27
58
Uttarkashi
Chamoli
Dehradun
563
6,409
With a focused vision of
increasing the income of
marginal farmers of targeted
groups, various farm
interventions like grafting of
commercial varieties of Pear
on wild pear, cultivation of
floriculture crops like Lilium,
Chrysanthemum, vegetable Producer Groups meeting at Gudam in Chamoli
crops like Broccoli, Pea, Cucumber, Chilli, Cabbage, Capsicum, French Beans, improved traditional
crop varieties of Wheat, Paddy, Kidney Beans, etc carried out with these organized groups. To
strengthen and enhance the skills of producer groups on production, systematic procurement and
supply chains, 4 procurement plans for Malta (Citrus), Amaranthus, Turmeric & Ginger in Ghat,
Gairsain, Ukhimath, Kaleshwar & Ukhimath clusters were discussed and developed in a participatory
manner with total 85 farmers. Also, the required trainings on internal management systems,
enhanced agriculture practices and supply chains were provided to the farmers which immensely
helped them in transforming their lives and livelihoods. The details on same are mentioned in
subsequent topics.
Agriculture depends largely on weather and climate for producing food and ensuring food,
nutritional and economic security of communities at large. Climate Change and agriculture practices
are therefore interrelated processes, where the erratic changes in former results in adversely
affecting the agricultural productivity. The challenges become more arduous when the agriculture
practices represent the one being carried out in hill regions where it is largely a rainfed dependent
venture. Crop diversification in agriculture practices and involvement of more farm related technical
aptitudes can leverage the possibilities of viable adaptation against the vagaries of erratic climate.
Women Farmer planting Lilium bulbs Farmers with Broccoli crop at Naugaon
To accentuate the concept
of crop diversification and
reduce the livelihood
related risks among farmers,
floriculture crops like Lilium
and Chrysanthemum were
promoted with marginal
farmers of the Naugaon
region of Uttarkashi district.
Lilium and Chrysanthemum
are hardy plants with very
low input requirements and
Women farmer harvesting Chrysanthemum flowers
abilities to evade stress
conditions owing to its very short life cycle of only 3 months. As a modelling of interventions, initially
Chrysanthemum & Lilium crops were initiated with 50 & 5 farmers respectively at Naugaon region.
The 50 farmers involved in chrysanthemum sold the whopping quantity of 3.5 tonnes of flowers to
the Dehradun market and received income at an average rate of Rs 80 per kg. An option of
alternative income, the cuttings to be prepared from these mother plants were also available with
farmers, which they planted to avail during the next seasons. Similarly, other farmers with whom
Lilium cultivation was modeled - earned handsome income of average Rs 8,000 from the small piece
of land (40 Sq mts) over the period of 3 months.
During 2015-16, the practices of transforming 13,950 un-utilized and most thriving forest species -
wild pear tree into commercially viable trees of Pear varieties was carried out with 869 farmers of
During last year, vegetable crops of improved varieties like Capsicum, Chilli, Beans Cabbage, Pea,
Cucumber carried out with farmers of both Naugaon and Pokhri blocks in Uttarkashi and Chamoli
districts respectively. While these crops were demonstrated with farmers to one diversify their
agricultural practices, the other necessity was to enhance their economic security in the wake of
emerging
erging erratic climate challenges. Moreover, a new oil variety of Basil, which is rich in oil content
Euenol was demonstrated with 20 women producers in Karnprayag block Chamoli district.
district Further
for introducing improved package of
o practices on nursery raising, sowing, manure and transplanting
transplanting,
interventions were organized with 74 women producers on both Basil oil and Sweet Basil varieties.
variet
As a result, these crops received greater acceptance among hill farmers of the region. The high value
crop Quinoa and Kidney beans was also procured to be promoted with target farmers of the Chamoli
and Uttarkashi regions.
Diversification of Crops
840 869
900
800
700
600
500
400 250
300 200 180 160
200 30 40 50 35 74 Total
100 Farmers
0
Invoking Scientific Tempers for Adapting Climate Smart Practices
Can the diversification in agriculture crop practices itself provide cushion to the erratic challenges in
climate? Well, no, the nourishment of soil health and availability high standards seed are also one of
the overarching factors which can greatly assist
farmers in adaptation to the changes in climate.
Uttarakhand on an average shows low to medium
fertility status especially in the hills. Due to
exposures to continuous runoffs, the hills
constantly lose their top soil and the lower, lesser
fertile layers lay bare. It therefore becomes
imperative to test the soil for fertility and levels of
nutrient present in the root zone. Before jumping
Testing of Soil for Nitrogen Content in Kjeldhal
to defining agricultural practices resilient to
climatic hiccups, we therefore, must walk with the approach of ecosystem compatibility. Soil is one
such component which forms the base layer for nurturing all life forms. The hill farmers are unaware
about the importance and nature of their soil, whilst the events of climate change add to their
doldrums by further degrading the qualities of soil. The erratic changes caused by the events of
Climate Change, therefore, makes it very difficult for farmers to assess their farm productions and
hence food and economic security.
Nitrogen and Potassium are largely deficient in most hilly parts and their deficiency symptoms are
largely confused as diseases by
farmers, prompting the use of
unnecessary chemicals (fertilizers,
pesticides, insecticides). Hence, a
sophisticated soil testing lab was
established at Naugaon. Presently,
this is the only lab in Uttarkashi
which tests for Nitrogen. The lab Promoting Soil Testing & Analysis for Climate Smart Agriculture
operates with a testing capacity of 6 parameters viz pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Nitrogen (N),
Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Organic Carbon (OC). These 4 nutrients apart from being the major
macronutrients also form the structural framework of the plants. Since they are required in major
quantities, they need to be addressed first while evaluating soil health. Their deficiencies are more
pronounced and acutely affect growth.
In order to carry out soil health management activities with marginal farmers, 30 sampling, testing
and analysis was carried out with farmers - who had cultivated Lilium, from different fields varying in
elevation, aspects, slope and exposures. In addition to this, a rough survey of physical conditions of
soil such as structural, drainage patterns, irrigation sources, profile depth, etc was also accounted.
These types of information became handy when customized recommendations were provided to
farmers through customized soil health cards and SMS services. A cumulative bank of these
collected data is also maintained and color-coded as a village-wise representation of soil nutrient
and fertility status. To replenish the soil with organic inputs so that gaps between soil and plant
health systems are minimized qualitative and quantitative production, Phosphorus Solubilising
Bacteria (PSB), Azetobactor, Decomposing Cultures (DC), Neem cakes and Vermi bags were
demonstrated with all the farmers under flower and vegetable promotional activities at Uttarkashi
and Chamoli districts.
On the other hand, Tissue Culture technology
adopted and promoted by the organization to
assist farmers of the Himalayan region in adapting
against climate change does exactly that. The
rootstocks and plants of Apple and Potato
respectively were developed through in-vitro
propagation inside the Tissue culture lab and
thereafter hardened in open lab. When grown on
the farmers field, these developed plants have
started showing significant adaptation and Hardening of Disease resistant potato sapling
Months
During last year, information dissemination and community awareness on interventions carried out
by the organization were also floated on Social Media platforms like facebook and twitter.
Moreover, the website of the organization was also updated project interventions. To assist the
vulnerable farmers with updated knowledge, linkages and relationships were explored and
developed with scientists, experts and knowledge institutions on climate smart agriculture practices,
strengthening upper & lower land market linkages, etc. Hence, for smooth implementation of
interventions and assisting farmers against the erratic challenges of climate, networking with Central
Potato Research Institute for soil testing and analysis, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM,
Jammu) for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on institutional support on Basil cultivation,
quality measures and package of practices, Florance & Flora a premier agency for floriculture,
Krishi Vigyan Kenrda (KVK) at Gwaldam for vegetable and spice cultivation, etc.
Resource Person
Trainings/Workshops Exposures
Visits
Indian Himalayan region is a repository of nutritional and exquisite agriculture and horticulture
produces. These produces, be it fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, medicinal and aromatic plants, etc
shows characteristics of wider acceptance among communities. But the terrains of Himalayan hill
areas are treacherous and harsh in terms of vulnerability and structure. To add to that, Climate
change fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas, remoteness of terrains, small and scattered
landholdings, low fertility of soils, improper irrigational facilities, non-exposure of producers to farm
related technical interventions leads to meagre production and higher logistic cost for marginal
farmers of the region.
As a result and with the challenges of hovering climate change events, it has become very difficult
for hill agriculture to compete directly with the quantity and prices of the produces from low land
regions. Hence, the sustainable livelihoods in hill areas can be streamlined only with the
development of high value products that offer advantages of some niche and hill specific products.
To develop high value products, interventions like introduction of innovative low cost drying
technology were also promoted with Tulsi (Basil) producers of Chamoli district which helped in
enhancing both quantity and quality of basil produce. To address the challenges caused by climate
change, 4 new value added products
i.e. Mix Fruits Chutney, 2 Basil Tea
variants & 1 Periila Chutney, were
developed into high value products
at Common Facility Centre (CFC) in
Karnprayag block of Chamoli district.
These interventions have helped
farmers promote their livelihood,
both by marketing their produce and
Low cost Drying yard for improving Basil Quality
earning incomes through primary
and secondary value additions.
Further, to establish quality norms in every product which are being processed by the co-operative
at Common Facility Centre (CFC), total 337 product lots of Basil tea, Basil oil, Mango, Ginger, Chilli
Pickle & Malta Squash were tested in in-house laboratory. Besides in house testing, 14 samples of
pulses, cereals & spices also tested through an external lab SGS, Mumbai for analysing nutritional
value and chemical constituents. The analysis of value added products from internationally
recognized lab (SGS, Mumbai) for physical and chemical identification, barcode registration of all
products (GS1 India), and organic certification of the processing unit from Uttarakhand State Organic
Certification Agency (USOCA) has helped these high value products acquire wider market and higher
customer segments.
At Himalayan hills, very little is known among the producers about supply-chain management
systems. But it is quite pertinent for small land holders who are primarily concerned for managing
their farms to look for sufficient savings for their own needs and subsequently market any surplus
produce at the best available price. It was also pertinent because previously farmers were never
considered an innate entity of supply chains.
During last year, Cyclopentene panel or Eco-friendly mini cold store was established at our Naugaon
centre. The 5 tones capacity cold store was established to primarily manage and regulate changes in
supply chains of fresh vegetable produces and storage Lilium bulbs and potato tubers. It is also
envisaged to utilize this cold store for the storages of cut flowers based on fluctuating market
demand and supply requirements.
1200
1000 755
800
600 401 406 No of beneficiaries
400 Average income (INR)
115 72 73
200 10 20
0
Squash Pickle Basil Spice Pulses
(Tulsi)
During year 2015-16, total 177 women beneficiaries were engaged in various value chain operations
e.g. processing of Malta and packaging. Through the operations, these women earned total INR
3,24,000. Additionally, 458 farmers also earned daily wages from selling Agriculture, Horticulture,
and meicinal produces as well as through processing and packaging activities. The
he minimum of INR
70 to maximum INR 35,000 earned by the women farmers, thereby resulting in earning an income of
INR 3,31,430. It eventually contributed in providing sustainability to the household income of these
marginal farmers.
1,000,000
800,000
600,000 481,245 463,331
300,200 Sales ( in INR)
400,000
100,384
200,000 16,100 17,040
-
To define and set up the progressive approach of cooperative A long term 5 year business plan for
HARC-Alaknanda
Alaknanda Krishi Vyawashaya Bahudeshiya
Ba Swayatt Sehkarita was developed in participatory
manner. The main purpose of developing the plan in this manner was to develop aptitudes and
attitudes of cooperative women office bearers on availing financial
ancial support from banks and
expansion of their businesses.
In Kalsi & Chakrata blocks of Dehradun district and under the ILSP project, commodities of Livelihood
Collectives like kidney beans and ginger of 527 Kgs were marketed out of which INR 1,20,760 was
earned by these farmers. Earlier beneficiary were largely dependent on marketing their produce to
mediators while now they are able to sell their produce to cooperative. It is therefore creating
healthy trading competition between local traders and cooperative. As a result, farmers are also now
directly negotiating with buyers that has not only increased their negotiation skills but also providing
them leverages to get higher market returns on the produce and cushion to livelihood risks.
During 2015-16, HARC started working with American India Foundation to enhance livelihood
and increase income for 1,500 disaster affected women beneficiaries of 4 blocks i.e. Ghat,
Karnprayag, Gairsain and Ukhimath of remotely located districts Chamoli and Rudraprayag
respectively in Uttarakhand. The activities which were planned and carried out with women
cooperative and beneficiaries revolved around knowledge and skill development, technical
interventions, product development, marketing, etc on 6 value added Himalayan commodities of
Tulsi , spice variants and supply of raw traditional produce.
During the financial year, HARC started working in partnership with The Hans Foundation (THF)
in a project titled Investing in Climate Smart Agriculture Practices for Better Livelihood. The 3
year project aims to enhance and ascertain the livelihood opportunities of 3,000 marginal
farmers from approx 60 villages in Uttarkashi & Chamoli district. Under the project, agriculture
related activities through diversified means like grafting wild species (Pyrus pashia) with
commercial variety of pear, promotion of disease resistant staple crop Potato, floriculture and
introduction of new crop Quinoa, Basil, vegetable & traditional crops, etc were initiated and
carried out.
Infrastructure Up-gradation
Under the project supported by The Hans Foundation, a Tata Xenon vehicle was procured to assist
the implementation of program activities. The purpose of this dual function vehicle was to transport
the raw materials and also carry the project staffs to field areas. Under the same project, up-
gradation of training centre for enhanced knowledge development activities at Naugaon &
20
Dehradun centre was initiated. The purpose of this development is to accelerate proper
dissemination of knowledge to the intended farmers. As an investment on this activity, no boarding
and lodging fees will be taken by the organization from farmers for training activities and resource
person visits.
Visitors/Volunteers
During 2015-16, 71 different visitors made the scheduled visits to our centers at Dehradun, Naugaon
& Kaleshwar region to learn about the activities undertaken and implemented by the organization.
As visitors, District Magistrate, SDM, Director of Horticulture, various scientists, officers from
international agencies, army officers and academicians were part of the groups who came and
appreciated the work organization has been doing on climate change and supply chain development.
During last year, the organization also hosted 3 students from Delhi School of Social Work for
internship activities. During their internship with the organization, the students learned and
provided their assistance through conducting surveys and analysis of climate resilient commercial
and traditional crops, developing case studies of farmers on farm related technical interventions and
Self Help Groups
Learning
During 2015-16, staff from the organization attended various interactions and training programs vis-
conducted in and outside the organization. Among many workshops and trainings attended by the
staffs of the organization, the workshop on Communication strategy and use of social media was an
eye opener for the organization, as it helped organization in making its presence in social media like
facebook, twitter for showcasing and exhibiting its work across different platforms. The training
program on improving internet presence and fundraising capacity at Dehradun was also attended to
get know-how of the same. Being the partner of The Hans Foundation, the organization also
attended Synergy workshop 'Uttarakhand UK 2020 organized by The Hans Foundation at Dehradun
to bring synergy to the development efforts in the state. To develop linkages with experts, input
providers and market agencies, the organization also visited and developed institutional linkages at
Horti Expo 2016 in Pune, India.
21
Future Partnerships
In its new partnership to promote resilience of communities against the risks, HARC will be
teaming up with Wetland International South Asia to promote concept of Integrated Risk
Management (IRM) in Naugaon watershed at Upper Yamuna Catchment of Uttarkashi district.
For program period of 2016-20, it is envisaged that the IRM related interventions will be carried
out in the region such that one who is needy get the most and as the outcome of the program,
the model will be developed, replicated and engage practitioners and policy makers to adopt the
same.
For enhancing livelihood of Himalayan communities through action research and transforming
wild produces into high value products, HARC will be working with Uttarakhand Council for
Science & Technology (UCOST)& cooperative (HAKVBSS) under National Mission on Himalayan
Studies during the period of 3 years from 2016-19 with 3000 Himalayan community members at
Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand.
In next year, HARC will be working with Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Simati (UGVS) for field
oriented Action research interventions of 2 years to enhance livelihood of rural poor of
Uttarakhand under the Challenge Fund of Integrated Livelihood Support Project (ILSP). Under
this project, HARC will be promoting 100 direct members of PG/VPGs of Ghat & Pokhari block of
Chamoli district by Upscaling of Basil as an agriculture crop for with marginal farmers through
technological interventions & promotion of high value products.
22
ANNEXURE I
Information of Board
23