INTEGRATED RURAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Despite a multitude of initiatives aimed at inclusive growth in the country, poverty persists because of limited access to productive resources, such as land, water, improved inputs, technology and micro-finance, as well as vulnerability to climate change and natural calamities.

It bears repeating that IFFDC's rural livelihoods approach places people at the centre of development and focuses on building assets and skills, supportive policies, robust institutions and regulatory structures that both encourage growth and protect the most vulnerable, so that women and men together can access new opportunities for income generation and employment for their sustainable livelihoods.

Towards this end, IFFDC is undertaking several measures in collaboration with IFFCO for increasing productivity, reducing input costs, value addition, non-farm income generation, providing marketing support etc. for enhancing the livelihoods of the poor and marginalised communities under the following projects. 

PROJECT DETAILS

The focus is on promotion of available appropriate technologies for Climate Smart Farming system development, Water resource development, Women empowerment, Capacity building, Skill development etc. that have not yet percolated to the farmerfields. To make a dent in this process, the IFFDC is adopting 'Farmer-Centric' processes through training, extension, exposure visits and cluster approach to achieve economies of scale and for having a demonstration effect. The need-based interventions for developing sustainable rural livelihoods undertaken in the project areas are as follows:

PROGRESS

• For conserving environment and ecology in the project area, 8,850 saplings of Mango, Ber, Guava, Strawberry, Lemon, Jackfruit, Coconut, Beetal Nut, Cashew etc have been planted on farmer fields. This is contributing to both an additional source of income and increased nutritional food availability for their families. 950 poor families were also provided with 1,925 LED Bulbs, which are helping to save electricity cost and carbon emission reduction.
• The capacity of the SHG members in project areas has been upgraded through imparting 12 training programmes on Proper Functioning & Management of Groups, Record Keeping etc. It has helped the SHG in smooth and effective functioning.
• Handholding support has been provided to 195 Women members of SHG for undertaking income generation activities such as Badi Making, Catering Business, Rice Shelling, Sugar Cane Juice Selling and Paper Plate Making etc. Moreover, help was also extended to 105 poor families for setting up fish farming, pig and poultry rearing units by providing them with improved breeds and technical know-how. This has resulted in developing an alternate source of income for their sustainable livelihood.
• For crop improvement and productivity enhancement, 1,080 farmers were supported with High Yielding Variety (HYV) Seeds of Vegetable, Pulses and Oil Seed Crops. 1,100 farmers have adopted and used innovative crop nutrition products i.e. IFFCO Water Soluble fertilisers and Bio-fertilisers. Further, IFFDC has been actively promoting the world's first invention of nano fertiliser viz IFFCO Nano Urea Plus and IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) by providing Nano Fertilizers bottles to 1,721 farmers. This has helped in increasing crop yields, reducing production costs, improvement of soil health and conserving environment.
• Water resources have been developed in the project area by constructing/rejuvenating 02 Canal/Nala, 04 Ponds, 17 Farm Ponds (Hapa) and 4 Wells. Water Use Efficiency of irrigation water has increased with introduction of sprinkler systems in 22 acres of land of 40 farmers. Similarly, a saving of irrigation water has been achieved by installing PVC irrigation pipes in 14 acres of crop lands owned by 32 farmers. As a result of these interventions 80 hectares of additional area has been brought under irrigation. On need basis, 4 Bore-Wells with Solar based Water Filter Units have been installed, resulting in 225 rural families getting safe drinking water.
• Project interventions including providing farmers with Petrol Operated Water Pump Sets, Spray Machines and SHG members with Power Paddy Threshers etc have helped the adoption of mechanised farming by them. These new techniques and technology have helped in generating additional incomes and reducing drudgery

OUTCOMES OF RURAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

• Due to increased water availability in the nearby wells and tube wells, farmers are now able to double or quadruple irrigation to their crops. New crops, Okra, Cucumber, Cabbage, Tomato, Peas, Potato, Chilly, Brinjal etc. have been introduced in the project area because of increased water availability.
• Assured water resources, have resulted in bringing 80 hectares additional area under irrigation. Farmers are now growing a second crop, due to which the cropped area and cropping intensity has also increased.
• As an integral part of the project process, Project communities of the project villages are institutionalised under Self Help Groups (SHG) by providing financial support for addressing immediate needs and setting up of Micro-enterprises after development of skills.
• Enhanced income of the members arising from various Income Generation activities and Micro-enterprises is leading towards their self-reliance.
• Awareness generation has helped in minimising social evils and improving livelihoods of the community.
• Farmers have started cultivating High Yield Varieties (HYV) and cash crops for more production and income, leading to doubling farmer's income and better livelihoods