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Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
Women’s Labour Bank for Reviving Paddy
In
Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur
Districts of Kerala
Detailed Project Report
February 2013
Prepared by
Maithri, 2nd Floor, Municipal complex, Court Road, Palakkad, 678001
2
Acknowledgement
Preparation of the Detailed project report for Women’s Labour
Bank for Greening the Paddy under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran
Pariyojana was made possible with the whole hearted help of the
members of various Grama Panchayats, Farmers, Kudumbashree CDS
members, officers of the Agricultural department and Grama Panchayats.
We also wish to express our gratitude to the elected members of
Block Panchayats, B.D.Os, Joint B.D.O.s, BPOs and other officials of
various Block Panchayats who rendered their support. We are extremely
grateful to the Presidents and members of Thrissur, Malappuram and
Palakkad District Panchayats for the cooperation and assistance.
We must thank Shri. Chandra Babu, Chief Executive of Programme
Management Unit for his helpful suggestions and encouragement. We
wish to record our appreciation for Shri S M Vijayanand, I.A.S., Joint
Secretary, MoRD, Government of India for making several constructive
suggestions for improving the quality of this report.
We acknowledge our gratitude to the Kerala State Land Use Board,
and SDC CapDecK for having provided the maps and Developmental
Plans of the Panchayats respectively. We gratefully express our gratitude
to Wadakanchery Green army for their support. We acknowledge the
contribution made by each one of them for the success of the project.
Maithri
Palakkad
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Contents
Summary of the proposal
Chapters
1. Project background, context and rationale 08
1.1. Profile of the area
1.2. Rural Poverty Context in the area
1.3. Existing Livelihood Initiatives and social sector initiatives
1.4. PIA’s prior experience in developing the prototype
2. Detailed intervention strategy and phasing 36
2.1. Objectives of the project
2.2. Project Strategy
2.3. Community Institutions Architecture
3. Detailed Program Components 44
3.1. Details of Proposed Action
3.2. Convergence with MGNREGA and other line departments
3.3. Training and Capacity building of communities
3.4. Training and Capacity building of Community Professionals
4. Implementation Arrangements 57
a. Implementation Plan
5. Implementation schedule 65
6. Results framework- impact, outcomes and outputs 66
7. Project monitoring and evaluation 77
a. Web based MIS and real time input-output monitoring
b. Review Mechanism
8. Budget estimates and financing plan 68
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A. Summary of the proposal
The proposal is to identify about 30,000 women agricultural labourers and
marginal farmers in 279 Grama Panchayats spread across 44 Block Panchayats and 3
District Panchayats - Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur - of central Kerala and
equipping them with adequate machinery, training and knowledge so that the
women’s labour bank formed through this process will be in a position to stop the
decline of paddy cultivation in the short term and reverse it in the long term.
The idea is not a new one. One of the Block Panchayat among the 44, the
largest, Wadakanchery, along with its 9 Grama Panchayats, successfully piloted the
idea during the last four years. Maithri, an accredited NGO, led the participatory
process with paddy farmers of 120 collectives, mapped the paddy fields along with
potentials and problems, visualized and projectised this operation. The result-
Green army labour bank -has now 950 trained laborers, 67 transplanters, four
combined harvesters and a strong maintenance unit.
Paddy cultivation is doubled from 2300 hectares, productivity jumped from
2.5 tons to 8 tons per hectare. The labourers are getting Rs.500 to 1200 per day
depending upon grades, and about 80-140 working days per year. This is expected
to reach 200 days in the next few years and the transformation of daily wages to
monthly salaries with adequate social security benefits is started from August 2012
onwards.
The resources for this path breaking experiment which mainly focused on
mechanization of transplanting operation for the prevalent second crop were
converged from different sources. This ranges from the unutilized and
underutilized farm machinery lying in the paddy collectives and agriculture offices
of the Grama Panchayats, plan funds of PRIs, Central sponsored schemes like
NREGS, RKVY, ATMA, SGSY etc., Kudumbashree funds, State sponsored schemes
like SDA etc. The overall fund utilization exceeded Rs 5 crores.
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For the last six years Green Army had successfully scaled up its operations to
neighboring blocks and districts, raising demands for its replication. The present
proposal is to scale up Green Army to remaining 43 blocks of the three Districts.
The focus of Green Army was mechanization of Transplantation for second crop
and converging resources for fertilizers, seeds, irrigation, procurement and finance
for paddy cultivation.
Based on this learning, the present proposal extends the operations to weed
removal using power weeders for 2nd and 3rd crops, harvesting of 1st crop using a
combination of small machines like reaper, thresher, winnower etc., drying and
packing of all crops. Then it expands to management operations like integrated pest
management, nutrient management and irrigation management of all the crops in
the project districts.
Along with the selection, training and equipping the labour team in each
Grama Panchayat, simultaneous efforts will be initiated for participatory mapping
and logical framework analysis along with the farmers of all paddy collectives to
map the problems and issues specific to them, identifying appropriate solutions and
strategizing them in a participatory manner. Hand holding support will be provided
to them for operationalizing the solutions by mobilizing the resources.
The project alleviation units of District Panchayats and the Kudumbashree
mechanism – From District Mission to CDS and ADS of Grama Panchayats- will
form the steel frame for implementation. Maithri, the lead NGO of Green Army
initiative will do the same work and the six year old Green Army will act as the
main resource agency for skill training.
The PIA is a consortium consists of these District Panchayats supported by
Maithri and Green Army. The Block Panchayats will anchor the labour banks,
federated upper structure of labour teams from the Grama Panchayats.
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Why MKSP
The Green Army succeeded mainly because of the determination shown by
the Block Panchayat even though all Grama Panchayats were not equally interested
in the idea. The support from the Thrissur District Panchayat for Green Army added
momentum and leveraged more funds for Green Army.
The Present status of paddy fields in these Districts warrants a coordinated
action because of interrelated issues of Bharathapuzha Basin, the largest in Kerala
and the main granary of Kerala encompassing the three Project Districts.
Downstream in this basin, the Kole land is a Ramsar site and made of confluence of
the nearby basins.
Since the issues are acute, they had to be tackled by covering the adjacent
basins and so the proposal to cover the entire three Districts. For operating in Three
Districts, an inter District mechanism – consortium is proposed, but the scale of
training and efforts for the convergence is large along with huge benefits.
Since the funds and resources cannot be mobilized from a single source
convergence has to be practiced in earnest. By leveraging all available resources
from the project area about 50% of needs for setting up of labour banks can be
mobilized. The rest is now being sought from MKSP.
Obviously MKSP is the only source left for upgrading and capacitating
women farmers, labourers and marginalized women farmers and equipping them to
earn a sustainable livelihood in consonance with sustaining agriculture.
The MKSP is also triggering the entire convergence effort. When a Centrally
sponsored scheme is implemented with the partnership of the Panchayat Raj
Institutions, the degree of interest of each stake holder is not a decisive factor. The
prevalence of positive forces is an essential condition for successes of an innovative
initiative. The main beneficiaries, outcomes, methodology- in fact all components of
the project closely tallies with the stated objective and criteria of the MKSP.
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Then the proposal is not a dream but scaling up of a successful model matured
through the years.
Budget.
The amount sought from MKSP is just 50 % of the cost- 30.27 crores spread to
three financial years. In tabular format, budget is presented at the relevant section
with cost sharing tables.
The existing farm machines with PRIs are mapped and now permission is
sought for the valuation, repair and handing over them to the labour teams of each
GP. There are 1291 farm machines available in these Panchayats and the current
market price of them is about Rs 58.86 crores. PRIs will provide will space and other
amenities for functioning of labour teams, labour bank etc. along with a part of the
training facilities. They will also absorb increases in cost during the project years.
They had assured yearly contributions to the project, fixed by DPC and LSGD of
GoK in the project years to finance any short fall on machinery purchase,
documentation and training and paid about Rs 5.5 crores so far. PRI s also will
intervene in the plan preparation of RKVY, ATMA, SDA, BRGF etc. to ensure
adequate share for machinery purchase input support.
The support services for lease land farming in the initial years are not
accounted here since the entire operation can be met from the existing resources.
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B. Chapters
Chapter 1: Project background, context and rationale 1.1. Profile of the area
1. Proposed project districts
2. River basins in the project area
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3. Agro ecological zones of the project area
4. Paddy fields of the project area
10
5. Super imposed map of river basins and agro climatic zones
6. Irrigation map of the area
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Problem Analysis
Decline of Paddy in the state
The cropping pattern in Kerala has undergone major changes over the last
few decades. Till recently, Kuttanad and Palakkad were the granaries of the State of
Kerala. But the situation has changed in the last few decades. There has been a
persistent shift in favour of plantation crops at the expense of food crops. During
1960 rice was the major crop occupying 779 thousand ha. 1975-76 onwards there
was a rapid decline in the area under food crops and a substantial increase in cash
crops like rubber, pepper, coconut, etc. The area under rice in 2003-04 was only one
third of the area during 1975-76.
Area under important crops 1960-2004(in '000 hectares)
No Crops 1960-61 1975-76 1995-96 2003-2004
1 Rice 779 876 471 287
2 Coconut 501 693 914 906
3 Tapioca 242 327 114 111
4 Rubber 136 212 449 476
5 Pepper 100 108 192 207
6 Cashew 54 109 103 88
7 Arecanut 54 77 71 93
8 Plantain & banana 44 52 73 107
9 Tea 38 38 37 37
10 Cardamom 29 54 44 32
12 Ginger 12 12 13 9
11 Coffee 17 42 82 85
Source: Kerala development report
Change in the area, production and productivity of rice during the period 1960-
61 to 1998-99 is shown in the next table.
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Area, production and productivity of rice in Kerala
Year Area (‘000 ha) Production (‘000 tons) Productivity (kg/ha)
1960-61 779 1068 1371
1965-66 802 997 1243
1970-71 875 1292 1477
1975-76 876 1331 1519
1980-81 802 1272 1587
1985-86 678 1173 1729
1990-91 559 1087 1942
1995-96 471 953 2023
1998-99 353 727 2061
During the decade 1960-61 to 1969-70 area under paddy crop in Kerala rose from
779 thousand to 875 thousand hectares. The positive growth trend in area continued
till the mid-seventies. However, within the period 1975-76 to 1998-1999 area under
paddy in the state declined from 876 thousand to 353 thousand hectares.
Though the rice productivity had increased from 1371 kilograms to 2061
kilograms per hectare, a more or less similar trend pattern as that of the area is
observed in the state’s rice production also. Production of rice in Kerala attained its
peak level in 1972-73 when the state produced 13.76 lakh tons. In spite of a sharp
decline in output during the next year, the state was able to maintain almost the
same level of production till the mid-seventies. During the period 1975-76 to 1998-99
production of paddy declined from 13.31 lakh to 7.27 lakh tons showing a decrease
of 44 per cent.
Since the early seventies, per capita availability of rice produced within the state
had been rapidly declining in Kerala. During the year 1971, the estimated per capita
daily availability of domestic rice in the state was 173.64 grams.
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It declined to 144.24 grams in 1981 and by the year 1991 it further decreased to
97.15 grams. Kerala is now importing more than eighty per cent of its rice
requirements from other States.
Several social, economic and cultural changes have led to conversion of paddy
fields. The paddy fields throughout Kerala are facing severe threats as they are
being converted to cash crop plantations. Even the marshes are filled for new
constructions. Majority of land owners feel that sustained paddy cultivation is not
economically viable and they aspire to shift into more remunerative crops and
cropping patterns. Paddy field conversion had led to enormous ecological
degradation in the region, reduction in humus formation, intensification of soil
erosion that affected the fertility of soil, reduction in water level in wells, ponds etc.
The ecological system loses its quality irrecoverably forever and the entire society is
the loser. It has led to loss of direct and indirect employment to farm workers and
rural women. The rural poor are experiencing acute water shortage now than the
past. They lost access to nutrient rich, low cost food materials, which had been
available through the paddy operations.
Now the majority are unaware of the true value of the loss of resources, its
consequences on the livelihood conditions and gravity of the problem. It is very
likely that the remaining paddy lands would be vanished in the near future, if the
present trend is continued.
Current Situation
District wise paddy area and its percentage to total paddy cropped area in
the State and the percentage of paddy area to the total cropped area of the State
among the districts for the year 2008-09 are given in the table below:
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No District Paddy
Area(ha)
% to State
total
Gross cropped
area (ha)
% of Paddy area to
Gross cropped area
1 Thiruvananthapuram 2995 1.28 163285 1.83
2 Pathanamthitta 2681 1.14 101502 2.64
3 Kollam 3859 1.65 166842 2.31
4 Kottayam 10951 4.68 216390 5.06
5 Alappuzha 34143 14.57 105043 32.5
6 Idukki 2115 0.90 285302 0.74
7 Ernakulam 12966 5.54 179194 7.24
8 Palakkad 96190 41.06 314687 30.57
9 Thrissur 27928 11.92 173344 16.11
10 Malappuram 11013 4.70 242737 4.54
11 Kozhikode 4038 1.72 204267 1.97
12 Wayanad 12746 5.44 190283 6.69
13 Kannur 7649 3.27 212670 3.59
14 Kasargode 4991 2.13 139397 3.58
Total 234265
2694943
Source: Agricultural statistics 2008-2009, DES
The area under paddy cultivation in the state as in 2008-09 is 234265 hectares.
Paddy accounted 8.69% of the total cropped area in the State during 2008-09.
Palakkad district is at the top with an area of 96190 Ha followed by Alappuzha
district with an area of 34143 Ha. Out of the total area of paddy cultivation,
Palakkad district occupies 41.06% and Alappuzha district occupies 14.57%. The
paddy cultivation is the least in Idukki district.
By analyzing the percentage of paddy area to gross cropped area in district
wise, it can be seen that Alappuzha district occupies 32.50% of paddy cultivation,
whereas Palakkad district occupies 30.57%.
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Out of the Gross cropped area, Idukki district occupies only 0.74% for paddy
cultivation, which is the least among the districts.
District wise area of paddy 2008-2009 (in Ha)
No District Autumn Winter Summer Total
1 Thiruvananthapuram 1350 1529 116 2995
2 Pathanamthitta 130 864 1687 2681
3 Kollam 1318 2423 118 3859
4 Kottayam 3331 2279 5341 10951
5 Alappuzha 8755 7267 18121 34143
6 Idukki 494 1564 57 2115
7 Ernakulam 5097 5907 1962 12966
8 Palakkad 45659 42388 8143 96190
9 Thrissur 4768 14326 8834 27928
10 Malappuram 1744 7748 1521 11013
11 Kozhikode 216 3144 678 4038
12 Wayanad
9850 2896 12746
13 Kannur 3723 3808 118 7649
14 Kasargode 2796 2025 170 4991
Total 79381 105122 49762 234265
Source: Agricultural statistics 2008-2009, DES
The productivity of rice in autumn, winter and summer season was 2428.41 (A),
2369.64(W), 2981.59 (S) respectively. The season wise production and Productivity
of Rice are furnished below.
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Season wise production and Productivity of Rice 2008-2009
Season Production Productivity
Autumn 192770 2428
Winter 249101 2370
Summer 148370 2982
Source: Agricultural statistics 2008-2009, DES
The production of rice in autumn and winter season was highest in Palakkad district.
In summer season the production was highest in Alappuzha district and the same
was lowest in Kollam district.
District wise production of paddy 2008-2009 (production in tons)
No Name of district Autumn Winter Summer Total
1 Thiruvananthapuram 3360 3608 306 7274
2 Pathanamthitta 303 2155 4941 7399
3 Kollam 2983 5226 83 8292
4 Kottayam 10065 5842 16247 32154
5 Alappuzha 26254 21999 55997 104250
6 Idukki 1302 4057 135 5494
7 Ernakulam 10172 12334 3401 25907
8 Palakkad 111561 105045 23537 240143
9 Thrissur 9439 33583 28887 71909
10 Malappuram 3819 14704 4742 23265
11 Kozhikode 289 3902 1422 5613
12 Wayanad 25707 8154 33861
13 Kannur 6541 6904 192 13637
14 Kasargode 6682 4035 326 110433
Paddy is the principal crop extensively cultivated in all the districts of the state
having a unique three season pattern vise Autumn (July- October),Winter
(November– February) and Summer (March–June).
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Paddy area is the highest in winter season and it is the least in summer season.
In the autumn season, paddy is cultivated in 33.89% of the total paddy area, in
winter season it comprises 44.87% of the total paddy area and in summer season it
occupies only 21.24% of the total paddy area of the State during the year 2008-09.
But the primary data of 2012- 13 shows a much shifted trend to the winter crop. For
autumn and winter season Palakkad district occupies 1st position where as in
summer season paddy cultivation is highest in Alappuzha district.
1.2. Rural Poverty Context in the area
a. Poverty and Human Development:
A large number of expatriate working in the Middle East is hailing from
Kerala. The inflow from these large numbers of people should have been
contributed to reduce poverty to the zero level by now. But unfortunately this
didn’t happen and on top of that the traditional occupations and industries
provided livelihood to millions have declined. The major causality is agriculture
and related activities. The deterioration of environment had played a significant
role in the decline of agriculture and related livelihoods.
Evergreen forests were systematically destroyed and replaced by teak wood
plantations at best. In many instances they were replaced by settlers who started
with crops like tapioca which eventually became rubber plantations. But these
processes had significantly contributed to erosion of top soil reducing soil quality as
well as soil depth. Plantations are not substitutes for evergreen forest as far as the
environment is concerned. The result was shown by the decreasing number of
perennial streams and the reduced flow of still remaining streams. Thus the major
rivers of the district are now facing severe crisis, affecting hundreds of lift irrigation
schemes, drinking water schemes and quality of water in traditional sources like
open wells. The decreased flow and subsequent water availability had affected the
food crops severely.
18
Earlier most of the poor and marginalized were depending up on agriculture
– mainly food crops but the decreasing water availability, decreasing soil fertility
and subsequent decreasing productivity of agricultural land had affected the
incomes of small and medium farmers. The back born of the agriculture was these
types of farmers. Decreasing income in the absence of security measures like
weather insurance, post harvesting support, marketing infrastructure etc. forced
them to reduce the scale of agriculture operations as well as migration from food
crops to cash crops. Because of these, farmer’s interest in routine traditional
agricultural operations like bunding, terracing, circular trenching, poli koottal,
vegetative hedges etc. declined which further aggravated the water availability and
soil fertility.
The reduction in agriculture operations severely affected the income of
traditional agricultural labourers. In the total absence of social security measures
they were forced to migrate from the traditional occupation to other sectors like
construction and casual jobs which are fetching more income as well. The
remaining agricultural labourers were forced to bargain for more income just for
subsistence as their job opportunities were declined.
Along with this increase labour cost, dwindling availability of labour,
decreasing soil fertility, scarcity of green manure and water had caused increased
input costs of agriculture making it almost untenable. This vicious cycle had
increased the real poverty of the poor and marginalized. Changes in life style also
contributed to this. Replacement of vegetative hedges by stone walls, front yards of
sand by concrete, bathing Ghats in ponds by bathrooms etc. were some of the
apparent items. The relatively easy availability of income from the remittances of
expatriates also contributed to the decline because people have to take relatively big
strain to make a comparable income out of agriculture because of the above
complexities.
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So whatever excess income arrived through the remittances were not
channelized to improve the land resources but to construct palatial buildings. These
buildings also sapped the very roots of fragile environment by indiscriminate
mining of sand, laterite, granite, clay and decimating hillocks, rivers, trees and wet
lands completing the picture of destruction.
Now the production from the land is the least, investment in the care of land
is practically zero and the job opportunities had reached a nadir. This undoubtedly
has increased poverty among the marginalized. From the poor communities
whoever is having sufficient livelihood capitals - physical, financial, human, natural,
social, cultural, political – had utilized it moved upwards in the society from the
clutches of poverty whereas the people with scarce livelihood capitals where
bogged down by the cyclic events explained earlier. The routine State welfare
schemes were failed to change these communities despite an ardent effort, but just
able to maintain them. So poverty cannot be tackled in a single stroke in this
scenario. Specific programmes have to be developed bringing out the synergy from
various stake holders.
Conservation of remaining forests, river banks, streams, wet lands, hillocks,
revival of traditional soil and water conservation measures in the homesteads and
revival of food crops in the wet lands are to be given top most importance in the
current scenario. Constraints for revival of agriculture like availability of green
manure, mechanized labour, application of new technologies, weather insurance,
post harvesting support etc. are required. At the same time ensuring decent
livelihood for the agricultural labourers by constituting labour banks and making
them the repository of newly acquired machines and new knowledge and
capacitating them to fulfill the historical task is of paramount importance.
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Food security
It is becoming a critical issue. As per the available statistics about 15% of the
state’s food requirements are met from own production. Rest is coming from other
states. Decline of paddy cultivation, conversion of paddy fields, degradation of
irrigation schemes, poor levels of mechanization, increase in input costs, lack of
marketing support etc. created this pathetic situation. At the same time the
decreasing cultivation had contributed to decrease in the quality of the food. Earlier
fresh vegetables and rice were available in each locality where as it now comes
through a storage system / production system using unprecedented levels of
pesticides and preservatives. The diversity and quality of food in other aspect is
also lost - rice with husk, leafy vegetables, vegetables with fiber etc. - are substituted
by others. The labourers were paid in kind for paddy cultivation. This had ensured
the food security of the labourers hailing from marginalized communities. But the
disappearance of food crops also ended the food security of these communities. In
addition as long as homestead cultivation and agriculture operations exist, there
was availability of diverse number of food crops ensuring food security of small and
medium farmers and labourers to a large extend. But the decline of these activities
and conversion of whatever remaining into cash crops had a very undesirable effect
upon these people.
District/state level vulnerabilities Wetlands – Ramsar sites – losing out
The different types of wetlands existing in the State are paddy fields, mangrove
forests, kole lands, lakes, lagoons, backwaters etc. The wetlands are the most fragile
ecosystem of the State. These wetlands especially, the paddy lands are being
extensively converted during the last two decades for other purposes such
construction, mining, conversion to perennial crops etc. The conversion of wetlands
involves not only irreversibility in the environmental or ecological processes but
also uncertainty. Availability of good quality freshwater is now one of the most
important resource limitations of the State.
21
Current problems in paddy sector
At present the paddy farm sector in Kerala is on the verge of a serious crisis
and farmers as well as the agricultural workers are facing a host of problems like
Non-availability of required number of labourers during the peak crop
season
Compared to plantation crops, paddy cultivation is highly labor-intensive
during transplanting and harvesting, but less so in other periods, and not at all
outside the cultivation season. It is estimated that human labour costs amount to
nearly 60 percentage of the total costs involved in paddy farming. Farming
operations like transplanting, weeding and harvesting in all of the fields are to be
done at the same time and it puts more pressure on the locally available labourers.
The worsening situation of labour shortages can be attributed to so many inter
related factors like decline of agriculture sector which forced the traditional
agricultural labourers to seek opportunities in other sectors, the growing
employment opportunities for the rural workforce in other sectors, lack of planning
between farm work and programmes like MNREGS and the growing aversion of the
new generation from traditional agricultural labour families to follow their
household occupation. Some decades back the households considered the
ownership of paddy fields as a symbol of their social status. Owners of large paddy
fields commanded much social respect and acceptance. Many well-educated
youngsters from traditional farmer households used to take up paddy cultivation as
their full time job even though they had ample chances to get permanent
employment in various government and private services. However, at present
paddy cultivation has lost its glamour.
22
Uneconomic size of holdings and breakdown of traditional management
systems.
There was a traditional management system for paddy cultivation.
It has been pointed out that an agricultural household with 5 to 6 member
needs at least 10 acres of paddy fields for its sustenance in the absence of other
sources of income. At present many of the land owners are keeping their land fallow,
unable to conduct paddy farming economically. Paddy as a crop needs much
personal care and strict supervision, which can be expected only from full time
farmers. Many of the land owners were forced to develop alternative occupation
and sources of income.
Lack of knowledge and access about scientific and modern crop production
technologies
Farmers in every part of Kerala had a deep knowledge of their own rice
varieties, of their environmental and nutritional requirements, and their properties
and peculiarities. This has enabled them to harvest a crop even under the most
severe stress situations. But know this knowledge is lost.
Both in the generation and dissemination of improved farm technology for
the development of the paddy sector, there is much gap. The Agricultural officers
being over burdened with clerical and accounting works seldom get time for
extension activities. Due to lack of extension services, new technologies are not
reaching the farmers.
Lack of Convergence
Rising costs of cultivation and agricultural inputs like fertilizers and
pesticides
There had been unprecedented increase in the prices of agricultural inputs.
Rapid increases in the cost of cultivation along with the relatively lower growth
rates in the farm prices of paddy, in the absence of any major improvements in farm
technologies have adversely affected the profitability of the crop.
23
The declining profitability in turn induces paddy farmers to reduce the extent of the
application of agricultural inputs that may adversely affect the crop productivity.
Lack of credit availability for small farmers
Credit is an important input in agriculture like any other commercial
activities. The farmers depend largely on credit for agricultural operations. Though
the farmers get loans on low interest rate from cooperative societies, failure of a crop
would make it difficult for the debtor to repay the loan, a scenario common in
Kerala. Mechanization of farming technology and permanent land improvement
activities require huge capital investments. It is a fact that a large portion of farmers
are not able to use the available credit facilities for supporting the actual agricultural
operations.
Decline in availability of organic manure
There is decline in availability of organic manure due to decrease in cattle
population as well as the green mass.
Destruction of soil properties due to the increased use of chemical
fertilizers
Even though soil testing laboratories had been set up at many places farmers
area are not aware of the importance of testing soil from their fields. The delays in
getting the results also deter a large number of them from soil testing. In matters
like the application of fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides farmers are not often
guided by farm experts or scientists. Many are not aware about the bio fertilizers.
Scarcity of water during the summer months
Rice is very sensitive to water stress.
Insufficient irrigation facilities:
The conversion has aggravated the irrigation and drainage problems, due to
improper maintenance of canals. Much of the canals were encroached and this has
affected irrigation and drainage of the paddy fields. The improper maintenance of
canal and silting of canals has also affected irrigation and hence paddy cultivation.
24
Scarcity of good quality seeds
Supplies of quality seeds is much less than demand while unscrupulous
traders are marketing inferior seeds.
Water logging
Water logging is an important problem in kole areas. Absence of proper
bunds is an important reason for this. Most of the time they are built temporarily
and are ineffective in controlling water flow due to deterioration and lack of
maintenance.
Saline intrusion
High susceptibility to pests and diseases
Pest attacks and diseases are creating problems in paddy sector reducing the
paddy yields considerably. Farmers do not have adequate knowledge or facilities to
protect the crop from diseases. A combination of factors is believed to have fuelled
the pest attack like presence of weeds, presence of rice stubbles and ratoons of
infected plants, presence of bacteria in the irrigation canals, handling of seedlings at
transplanting, warm temperature, high humidity and over fertilization.
Recurring crop failures
As Earth warms up, one of the biggest concerns is the effect on agriculture
especially on paddy .The higher temperatures and the attendant increased incidence
of extreme weather such as droughts, storms, and floods affect rice production. The
traditional agricultural practices in paddy were very much tuned with the calendar
of nature. Absence of accurate weather predictions and weather insurance make the
situation worse.
Low product price
Wide variations are observed in the price of paddy. Compared to non-
harvesting season farm price of paddy decreases considerably during the harvesting
season. In order to clear their debts and due to the lack of storage facilities a vast
25
majority of the paddy farmers sell their marketable surplus of the product
immediately after harvest at the then prevailing low prices. Even though, the State
Agricultural Department has envisaged the Paddy Procurement Scheme to
emancipate the farmers from middlemen exploitation, the scheme is still not
yielding the desired results. Lack of warehouses in this area is said to be main
hurdle for the successful implementation of the scheme. Usually they pay only half
of the due amounts to farmers at the time of purchase and the balance amounts are
paid only after they sell the procured paddy. Again they insist on proper dryness.
Therefore most of the paddy farmers sell their product either to the agents of private
rice mills or to private traders at a lower price.
Clay mining
The paddy fields, which are getting converted into deep depressions due to
clay mining, can seldom be reverted and this in turn affects the ground water level
and these lands cannot be used for cultivation again.
Conversion of paddy land
Population growth and preference for independent houses exerted pressure
on land. The richer sections found it convenient and economical to develop paddy
fields near motorable roads and developing them as house plots. Moreover, land at
present in Kerala is seen only as a commodity needed for residence and status and it
is also considered as the safest and best investment. Thus, many speculative
investors without any genuine interest in farming have already entered the land
market as buyers.
26
Degradation of natural resources and poverty
Strategy adopted to tackle the problems.
The major cause of poverty is the depletion of natural resources and the lack
of capacity of the poor communities to adapt to this, so the strategy to alleviate
poverty should be based on these aspects.
Revival of food crop cultivation is a need of the hour. But the fallow lands
have to be reclaimed by labour intensive operations like deweeding, bund
strengthening and live mulching. The drainage and irrigation canals have to be
widened, deepened and banks should be stabilized. Bunds along streams for flood
control, ponds for flood control and irrigation has to be renovated. Irrigation assets
like LI schemes, drainage pumps, VCBs, Check dams etc. has to be repaired or
newly constructed. New bunds / measures to prevent the water weeds, machines
for operations like tilling, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing, and
winnowing, structures for drying and storing etc. have to be constructed. All these
measures have to be done through CBOs like Padasekharam Samithies – of farmers,
labour banks of labourers. Developing adaptation strategies for climatic change like
careful selection of seeds and inputs, timing of agricultural operations in tandem
with climate pattern, coverage by weather insurance scheme etc. has to be
developed in tandem through community participation. Measures for conservation
of common property resources and private resources, soil and water conservation,
measures for increasing the availability of green manure, land productivity, flood
proofing and drought proofing have to be worked out. These plans have to be
worked out in each Padasekharam. Inevitably these initiatives need lot of resources
outside the scope of the MKSP.
Opportunities
There is great concern in the society about in the fate of paddy cultivation
and wetlands. Lot of debate is taking place in civil society about this. But converting
the debates in to concrete action was elusive so far.
27
One glittering exception to this scenario is the Green army. Green army filled
the local news pages, television channels, attracted visitors from near and far and
inspired the community.
Initially people were wary about the mechanization and trained labour force
and laison with the paddy collectives. With the launching of participatory process
involving the farmers, the whole scenario changed into a positive one.
The size of the project with respect to the locality-about 1000 trained
labourers, 67 transplanters and activities like Operation Ponnamutha - an army style
-5 days operations – where a large paddy collective of an area of 900 acres were
transplanted. People watched the progress with disbelief.
The powerful three tier PRIs makes the scenario brighter. The people
centric PRI leaders are very supportive. There are enough resources with PRIs to
support and sustain the present proposal.
The successes of Kudumbashree are phenomenal and much discussed. It
had organized the woman of poor households, showed them the possible horizons
and inspired them to reach higher levels. The CDS of Grama Panchayat is matured
enough in all aspects to add strength to this a campaign.
Lastly, the presence of Maithri an NGO with stated objectives of
supporting Panchayat raj, strengthening the NRM and focusing on poor and
marginalized, blazed fresh trails in the project districts by successfully developing
and implementing projects on watershed planning, implementation, participatory
community water supply and irrigation management and visualized, planned and
lead the process of Green army formation. Maithri had also developed the
perspective plans of 2 out of 3 of the projects districts and one third of the local
bodies.
28
1.3. Existing Livelihood Initiatives and social sector initiatives
1. Introduction
Wadakanchery Block Panchayat in Thrissur District has set a successful role
model for other Panchayat Raj Institutions through its innovative project which
empowered the underpaid women workforce in the traditional agricultural sector as
well as rejuvenated the declining paddy sector. The Green Army, the State's first
skilled agricultural labour bank, formed by the Block Panchayat offered a solution
to the acute labour shortage in the farm sector. The project also increased food
production by ensuring people's participation in farming. Green Army created a
role model for traditional sectors, which has brought technological advancements in
to the traditional agricultural activities.
2. Back Ground
Earlier Wadakanchery block consists of nine Grama Panchayats viz.,
Desamangalam, Erumapetty, Kadangode, Mundathikode, Mullurkara,
Thekkumkara, Varavur, Velur and Wadakanchery. Now two Panchayts – Velur and
Kadangode are separated. Agriculture and animal husbandry was the mainstay of
the population, involving a major section of the people, directly or indirectly. But
like other parts of Kerala, paddy yields in Wadakanchery Block have been declining
and rice production started to drop drastically over the past few years. Many
farmers started opting out of farming. Many of the paddy fields were kept fallow
and conversion of paddy fields began. Demand for labour in agriculture came down
with the decline of cultivation of rice and other seasonal crops. This also affected the
agricultural labourers who depended on agriculture work for their sustenance. They
shifted to other fields like construction labour etc. This created severe labour
shortage in agriculture sector.
The reasons for the decline in paddy are many and complex. The Block
Panchayat realized that the development of the local economy and the status of
agricultural workers could be possible only through the rejuvenation of paddy.
29
They formed the labour bank as a component of GALASA (Group Approach for
Locally-Adapted and Sustainable Agriculture) in 2007 to achieve these objectives.
3. Participatory planning
One of the important factors behind the success of labour bank was participatory
planning in each Padasekharam. In this exercise each of the Padasekharam was
mapped with the active participation of the farmers in the area. Different type of
crops (Virippu, Mundakan and Puncha), their extent, irrigation facilities etc. were
mapped. Problems of paddy cultivation and its causes were discussed and the
farmers put forward suggestions to improve paddy cultivation.
Achievements of participatory planning process are
Farmers understood the various issues of paddy cultivation in depth. Usually
there is an antipathy between the farmers and agricultural labourers. In this case the
farmers understood that labour bank will support their agriculture and were
positive towards the labour bank.
The mechanization process was smooth and there were no opposition from
farmers. Once convinced the paddy collectives handed over the agricultural
machines to the labour bank.
A calendar was developed for paddy cultivation which helped to
synchronize the agriculture activities and works of labour bank.
Development of a Decision Support System regarding planning for
Wadakanchery Block Panchayat with the help of RS and GIS was done by Maithri.
This helped in placing control and use of local spatial data in the hands of those
who generated this knowledge. This is through local specific, user-friendly and
integrated applications of geo-spatial technologies.
As a part of this project about 6000 hectares of paddy land was mapped along
with each field’s potential for crops, seeds, irrigation facilities etc. This data was
further analyzed to develop a comprehensive plan to achieve zero fallow land status
30
in the block during a span of 3 years. Spinoff plans on irrigation, watershed
management and labour bank were developed and implemented through a
convergence strategy.
4. Structure of the labour bank
The labour bank is a non-profitable society registered under the Travancore– Cochin
Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955. The trustees include the present and
last Chairpersons of Wadakanchery Block Panchayat, representatives of agriculture
department, KAU, Maithri, Cooperative banks etc. in addition to representatives of the
workers. There are 950 workers in the labour bank of which 252 are males and 648 are
females. The membership of the labour bank is limited to labourers who had obtained job
cards and were participating in the MNREGS works actively. The structure is
Each labour group has a leader and deputy leader. At the Block level there is an office
equipped with a coordinator, agriculture expert and accountant.
5. Training
Traditional farming operations are tedious and laborious. Equipping farmers with
modern implements and machinery reduced the fatigue of the labourers and made farming
a preferred occupation. The scientists of the Kerala Agricultural University trained the
Green Army members in mechanized farming. The initial training was in the Agricultural
university campus.
Subsequent trainings were organized in the paddy fields in Wadakanchery itself. First
two batches were trained for 24 days and next 3 batches for 15 days. The topics covered are
Mat nursery preparation for mechanical transplanting
Transplanting using transplanters
Labour teams (Grama Panchayat level)
Labour Groups of five workers
Labour bank (Block Panchayat level)
31
Farm machinery repairing and maintenance
Operation of tiller, transplanter, power sprayer, cono weeder etc.
These trainings increased the skill and confidence of the labour bank members
and they are now operating and maintaining the machines smoothly. As more
training became required the senior members of the labour bank organized the
trainings using the module prepared by KAU with a nominal monitoring of KAU.
6. Machines and implements
The total requirement of machines and implements for the block was calculated
on the basis of the area under cultivation during the three cropping seasons of
paddy, the targeted percentage of mechanization and operations that can be
mechanized easily. The number of farm machines available with Krishi Bhavans,
Panchayats and the paddy collectives was collected and steps were taken to hand
over these machines to the labour bank. The remaining machines and implements
were purchased by converging resources from various agencies, programmes and
projects.
Details of machines and implements purchased and reassigned
No Implement/ Machinery Total
1 Transplanter 67
2 Combined harvester 4
7. Convergence
Convergence of various funds for the common goal of attaining food security
was one of the reasons for the success. Funds were mobilized from Rashtriya Krishi
Vigyan Yojana, State Paddy Mission, National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme, Government of Kerala (through its various departments and programmes),
Thrissur District Panchayat, Wadakanchery Block Panchayat and the nine Grama
Panchayats coming under Wadakanchery Block Panchayat. Planning and project
preparation support for this was given by Maithri.
32
Budget of Wadakanchery Block for supporting Green Army during 2009-10
No Programme Machines Training
Revolving
fund
Docum
entation
Seed&
fertilizer Beneficiary Irrigation Total
1 RKVY 30,00,000 30,00,000
2 ATMA 59,000 59,000
3 Block Panchayat 25,15,895 10,45,045 9,00,000 5,00,000 49,60,940
4 SDA 30,00,000 30,00,000
5
Fallow land
development 3,60,000 3,60,000
6 District Panchayat 12,50,000 12,50,000
7 Grama Panchayat 29,42,010 46,06,000 75,48,010
8 SGSY/Kudumbashree 2,67,955 2,67,955
9
Beneficiary
contribution 32,50,000 32,50,000
10 MGNREGS 77,52,521 77,52,521
Total 84,57,905 13,72,000 9,00,000 5,00,000 92,16,000 32,50,000 77,52,521 3,14,48,426
8. Method of Operation
A rate for each labour activity is arrived by a discussion with farmer groups,
farmers and Block Panchayat. For example the charge for transplantation is fixed as
Rs 2000 per acre inside the Block and Rs 2500 for outside the Block.
Individual farmers and farmer groups have to intimate their labour requirement
to the Green Army office. They also have to pay an advance amount which is
already fixed. Green Army office has already developed a calendar for farming
operations. Based on this calendar they will schedule the works and assign the
nearest labour team. Money is handled at the office only.
9. Achievements
Equipped with modern farm techniques and interventions, it has already
doubled the paddy production in Wadakanchery Block Panchayat. The area of
cultivation in the Block Panchayat has increased from 2,300 hectares to 4,599
33
hectares during this period. It is operating in the 120 Padasekharams in the Block
Panchayat. Now they have extended the work to outside areas also.
Minimum 100 working days a year, with daily wage of Rs 500-1200 per day is
ensured, under this scheme. From 2012, 150 working days with a minimum monthly
salary of Rs 6000 along with social security benefits like contributory provident fund,
health insurance etc. has started.
34
1.4. PIA’s prior experience in developing the prototype for proposed interventions
Basic PIA Information
1 Name of PIA
2 Legal Status (NGO / Network NGO / CBO / Producer Co. /
Section-25 Co. / Pvt. Co/ Other – Please specify)
Consortium of Palakkad,
Thrissur and Malappuram
District Panchayats represented
by their PAU s, Maithri and
Green Army. All partners had
taken resolutions to initiate the
project.
3 If Network NGO, number of partners being supported?
It is difficult to compile
information of the consortium in
this manner.
4 Registration No. & Date of Registration
5 Name of Donors in the past 3 years, if any (give max3)
6 Name with Size (Budget in INR) of relevant projects
handled in the past 3 years (give max 3)
Annual Revenue of PIA for the most recent audited
financial year
8 List ongoing projects (max 3.) and their Size (INR)
9 Completion of last project (MM/YY)
10 Total value of assets available with the PIA?
11
Experience of working with
(i) Women SHGs/Groups (Y/N)- 1(a) in
Appraisal Sheet
(ii) Agriculture based livelihoods with existing
women groups (Y/N)- 1 (b) in Appraisal Sheet
Yes
12
In the proposed project, what % of the implementation
will be undertaken by existing capacities and what %
will be leveraged from external community based
organizations in the project area? – 1 (d) in Appraisal
Sheet
Existing - 10%
External -50%
35
13. Human Resource (Give details of staff with relevant experience proposed for deployment
towards the proposed project. Details should also include availability of Community Resource
Persons with relevant knowledge deployed under the project.
Answer to this question may be put as Annexure. - 1(e) in the Appraisal Sheet
Name Sex
(M/F)
Position Education
qualification
Relevant Experience
(Years + Sectors)
14. Please attach following as Annexure -
(i) Last three years audited financial statements
(ii) Description of training resources and infrastructure available with the organization
which is proposed to be deployed for the MKSP project e.g. brochure, training
material, training hall, trainers etc.)- 1 (f) in the Appraisal Sheet
1. The District, Block and Grama Panchayats have space and equipment for
training along with faculty of agriculture officers transferred to the PRI s
and members of working group as faculty.
2. The Extension Training Centers of Rural development department
3. The KAU and two KVK s in the project districts
4. Green army with its machinery and vast pool of trainers
5. Community college being set up by Green army with Peingandoor Primary
Cooperative Bank
Maithri with its Little Tree training center, 7 zonal centers and hundreds of
community volunteers and scores of regular staff.
36
Chapter 2: Detailed intervention strategy and phasing
2.1. Objectives of the project
a. Vision of Success
All Grama Panchayats are going to have a well-equipped and trained
women’s labour team which can deliver all operations of paddy at reasonable
labour rate either in whole or in parts for the benefit of all paddy farmers.
All paddy land in the Grama Panchayats is cultivated at best for a crop in a
year, possibility two, producing at least enough food grains for the people of the
Panchayat. The productivity of labour and land had increased to such a level that an
agricultural labour will get about rupees 10000 per month and a farmer gets rupees
one lakh per acre in a year. All kinds of security - social, food, health etc. - assured
for both of them.
All these efforts will be achieved by conserving the resources further –
producing more green biomass, farm yard manure, and using bio fertilizers like
pseudomonas, use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers as an exception, all back
breaking manual works lightened by machines, water conserved and judiciously
used etc.
The farmers, labourers, politicians and common people are conscious of the
efforts taken. The entire process is democratic and transparent.
Women Labour groups will become the guardian angels of the wetlands of
the Grama Panchayat.
b. Goals
The project has been proposed to achieve the following goals.
Increase the productivity and production of paddy through mechanization of
paddy operations like ploughing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting,
threshing and winnowing. The target is 100% of the operations in first crop
(Virippu), 50% of the operations in second crop (Mundakan) and all
operations of third crop (Puncha). This will improve the efficiency of farming
37
operations, reduce production cost address the labor shortage at peak time,
and reduce input losses.
Convert at least 100 acre of the fallow land in each Grama Panchayat in the
districts of Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur to agricultural land and
support them in achieving the status of “Zero fallow land” step by step. This
will ensure the livelihood of the 100 women workers in each Grama
Panchayat.
To bring uniformity in the use of seeds, in the timing of paddy operations
like water management, sowing, weeding, harvesting etc. in the paddy
collectives. This integrated approach will make paddy cultivation more
profitable and manageable.
c. Key Outputs The expected output of the project after 3 year is as follows.
Increase in productivity – Timely application of inputs, scientific farming
practices and mechanization will reduce the farming cost. The correct
application of manures and fertilizers, pest management and water
management will increase productivity. Current average productivity of
paddy is 1.5 -2 tones/ acre. The expected productivity is 3 – 4 tones/acre.
Increase in production – These will be increase in production due to three
factors (1) due to increased productivity (2) due to increase in area of
cultivation as the fallow lands are converted to cultivable land (3) efficient
management number of crops cultivated in a particular plot.
Water security - The paddy field play on important role in ensuring the
ground water level. The revival of the paddy land will have positive
implications like rise in water table and improvement in water quality,
leading to water security.
38
Security and status of Agricultural labourers-At present the agriculture
labourers have no social as well as financial security and they are treated as
inferior people. The activities visualized in the project will enhance their
capacity; increase their social and financial security. These in turn will
increase their social acceptance and respect. Their upward mobility will be
thus ensured attracting more people to the sector.
Decrease in cost of production- The mechanization will reduce the labour
cost as well as input cost. Other measures like IPM, INM, and IWRM will also
help to reduce the cost and make the paddy cultivation profitable. By
integrating various farming techniques and methods, optimal use of resource
will be achieved along with maximum production.
Integrated management of paddy fields
The integrated management of the paddy collective will be achieved which
will increase the profitability. The timely and uniform operations will solve
most of the current hurdles in paddy cultivation.
Pooling of resources to local economy -Paddy, being a labour intensive crop,
pump a large amount of money to the local economy. During the cultivation
of paddy only the cost of fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and maintenance charges
of machines go to the outside the local economy. Rest is going to the local
economy which will raise the financial status of the workers as well as
farmers.
39
Project Strategy 2.1. Community Institutions Architecture
(a) Past Experience of PIA
The lead partners of the PIA, PAU s of the District Panchayats have got
sufficient experience by implementing SGSY and special SGSY projects.
It needs additional pages to compile the information related to the three
PAUs. The major stake holders of the project, Grama Panchayat and their CDSs are
synonymous with formation of women group and nurturing them. The CDS system
itself is a federation of SHGs promoted by Kudumbashree. The CDSs are
professionally supported by the district mission of Kudumbashree which comes
under the District Panchayat. The CDS of Grama Panchayat has got experience of
promoting hundreds of SHGs, teams of labourers, thrift and credit operations and
hand holding scores of micro enterprises by leveraging resources. The 279 Grama
Panchayats has got tremendous experience and institutional capacity for nurturing
women groups.
Another supporting entity, the Green army itself is a predominantly women
group with a built in bye-law condition to transform itself to all women institution
within the next three years.
The lead NGO Maithri had facilitated thousands of community based groups
among socially and economically backward communities during the last fifteen
years to promote community water supply, irrigation, sanitation, housing,
agriculture schemes etc.
So the partners together bringing about the best available hands on expertise
available in the state of Kerala for forming and nurturing women based groups and
collectives for the up liftment of the community.
40
1. The best practices adopted by the women groups promoted by PIA
The experiences listed here are that of Maithri and Green Army.
The organizational structure is visualized in a structured manner, the basic
building block being a team of five persons from a locality coming together to
deliver a special task, say transplanting of paddy.
The members may have special skills or all-rounders. In every year, the team
leader gets elected. The small number of group and continuous interactions among
them virtually assures in depth analysis, knowledge generation and transferring the
knowledge into action. This happens very quickly since the implementation of any
better practice directly transmits to savings of resources and better outcomes for the
group.
The team leaders of the labour groups meet once in every month at the
labour bank level. This meeting has got a dedicated session for discussing the
problems faced by the group and how they tackled it. This provided ample
opportunity for documentation and sharing of best practice.
Another feature is the use of successful team leaders as trainers for
subsequent trainings. This ensures the inculcation of best practices from the
beginning itself. The trainers are also able to relate in a better manner with their
interlocutors due to similar cultural background and value systems.
Then the continuous evaluation of groups by training agencies and farmers
are giving a good opportunity to understand errors and short comings from a
different perspective along with appreciation. Since the payments and opportunity
to move up is according to grades there is a continuous interest in learning and
internalizing the best practices.
2. Strategies undertaken in the past in enabling access to credit and markets through the women groups/federations
This strategies –thrift-credit, thrift linked bank loans, matching grants from PRI’s
etc. is being practiced widely. In addition the interest subsidies and capital subsidies
41
are mobilized widely for micro enterprises. In the case of Green army the funds
were mobilized as grants from various agencies. Then the trained persons were
asked to put in a proportionate share of their revenue into a special head as
beneficiary contribution to form a corpus fund.
(b) Proposed Plans/Strategies as part of the Project 1. Proposed strategies to ensure implementation of the project community
processes including use of community resource persons and enhancement of their capacities
Farmers have a wealth of knowledge related to agriculture. Any intervention
which aims to improve the agriculture should be based on their knowledge and
experience, so participatory planning at each paddy collective is proposed. Mapping
of each paddy collective will be done with the help of farmers. Various participatory
techniques will be used for these specific problems in the paddy collective its causes,
effect etc. will be listed using Logical Framework Analysis. Based on the suggestions
by farmers, solutions will be worked out. These solutions will be converted to
projects. Proposals will be developed and funds will be converged from different
agencies and programmes. At all stages of these processes, participation of the
farmers will be ensured.
Naturally the labour bank will come as a part of the solution to improve the
agriculture. As the idea is coming from the paddy collective themselves, they will
own up the Labour Bank. Preparation of agriculture calendar will be also done in a
participative manner in each paddy collective. Synchronization of the paddy
activities and paddy operations of labour team will be also worked out.
Detailed operational plans for mechanization, integrated pest management,
integrated nutrient management and water resource management etc. will be
developed and internalized by the farmers through this participatory planning
process.
42
For facilitating this participatory community process resource persons will be
selected from the former women Panchayat members with an experience and
aptitude in paddy cultivation. They will lead the process forward.
2. Systems and checks placed to ensure that the local resource persons are accountable to / managed by the women institutions.
Training to women
Byelaws of labour groups
Dovetailing the Gram Panchayat programmes
3. Plans to enable women institutions to put in place a transparent self-monitoring
and review mechanism internally for program improvement
There will be a review mechanism internally for programme improvement.
There will be periodic reviews at appropriate levels, at the labour team, group,
labour bank and at district level. The decisions of these reviews will be made
available to all concerned.
The teams are formed as joint liability groups federated at Panchayat, Block
and District level. There will be an activity mapping of each level. This will facilitate
a transparent democratic decision making process.
The performance chart of the each labour bank will be displayed at the
offices of Grama Panchayat. This will help for better monitoring and planning.
4. Systems/ and procedures proposed to put in place for adoption of best practices by the women institutions
Cascading of training-There are 3 types of trainings given to the team
members-skill training, knowledge based trainings and management training. These
trainings are given to the best persons selected by grading. All of these trainings will
be cascading to the lower levels. Along with this the best practices will reach lower
levels.
43
There will be grading based on continues evaluation from the clients,
training agencies and third parties. During these grading processes the best part of
the individual will be projected and more members will try to achieve this.
In the periodic review meetings the best practices of a team/group/bank
will be highlighted and shared. There will be financial as well as non-financial
incentives for the groups practicing the best practices like saving of consumables
and fuel, labour, productivity etc. Exposure visits will be organized with in the
Panchayat and outside the Panchayat for sharing and learning the best practice.
5. Building federations at different levels for sustaining collective action
Linkage with Kudumbashree at the Panchayat level
One to twenty Labour groups will be formed in each Grama Panchayat
depending on the number of paddy collectives and extend of paddy area. The group
members will be from one or more adjoining Kudumbashree NHGs surrounding
the paddy collectives. In each Grama Panchayat a labour team will be formed at
CDS level as the federation of labour groups. They will function attached to the CDS
and will be physically positioned in Gram Panchayat’s Kudumbashree CDS office.
At the block level the labour bank will be formed federating the labour teams. The
labour bank will be an exclusively labour owned organization with all the office
bearers elected from the labourers themselves.
Labour Team (At CDS level)
Labour group (From one or more Kudumbashree NHGs
surrounding a paddy collective)
Labour bank at Block Level
44
Chapter 3 Detailed Program Components
3.1 Details of Proposed Action
1. Plans for promoting and enhancing food and nutritional security for women
farmers
Regular salaries for agricultural labourers increase in the financial security of
the worker will reflect in the food quality as well as quantity. A decent regular
monthly salary will increase their purchasing capacity as well as food security.
Payment in kind
In earlier days payment to agriculture workers for harvesting were given in
kind, the paddy itself. This ensured their food security for a period. This system of
payment in “kind” can be adopted in this project also.
2. Strategies addressing sustainable/evergreen/regenerative agriculture
a. Soil Health improvement
Improvement of soil health can be attained through integrated nutrition
management practices. Soil testing is the primary step proposed here. Through this
balanced use of Macro and micro nutrients can be ensured. Excess use of fertilizers
results in increased input costs and pollution of soil and water. These practices lead
to increased pest and disease attack and unnecessary use of Plant Protection
Chemicals. Through proper analysis of soil all these issues can be addressed. Use of
bio fertilizers assures steady supply of nutrients and it reduces artificial fertilizer
inputs. Regular crop rotation practices with legume crops in paddy fields help in
balancing soil nutrients and adding bio mass to the soil. To keep soil health use of
organic fertilizers is proposed.
b. Soil & water conservation and ground water recharging
Just upkeep of paddy farms itself help in ground water recharge. It also
reduces soil erosion. The hard layer of soil formed underneath through frequent
unscientific agriculture practices will be broken by use of chisel ploughs. Chisel
ploughing is done 10-12 feet distance across the slope. Training will be given for
45
proper water management in paddy fields. SRI system of irrigation for paddy
farming will be practiced.
c. Low cost sustainable practices such as NPM/ IPM/ INM
Use of bio control systems are proposed for pest and disease control. Trico
cards are used for stem borer and leaf roller pests. Psudamonous is used for
improving soil fertility in a natural way which in turn will help the plants to resist
diseases. Integrated efforts will be adopted for brown hopper through simultaneous
water drain practices in a Padasekharam. Attack of Chaazhi/Gundhi Bug is
addressed through selecting a single variety seeds in a single Padasekharam. Like
this rat control also will be done through integrated effort.
Through all these efforts pest and disease attacks can be reduced. At the same
time safe food grains are also ensured to the society. Input costs are also reduced.
Skilled professionals and experienced farmers will be involved for proper diagnosis
and timely interventions in case of pest and disease attacks.
d. Management and control of seeds
Selection of local specific seeds will be done through participatory
approaches including experienced local farmers as well as professionals.
Conservation and use of locally adaptable varieties will be done. Adaptability will
be checked in the changed climatic conditions on a trial basis and will be introduced
to larger areas after it is proved satisfactory.
Production of suitable seeds will be done in the same Gram Panchayat or
Padasekharam. Seed quality will be assured through giving necessary training in
seed production technology. Seed processing will also be followed to ensure quality.
Field level trials of newly released seeds will be done before extending to main
fields in large level.
e. Mitigation of risk of exposure to hazardous farm practices
Use of PPC s
Use of harmful chemicals for plant protection will be minimized through
integrated pest and disease management and adopting bio control system.
46
Unavoidable use of chemicals will be done after taking necessary precautions after
proper diagnosis. Needy chemicals in right quantity and in right time only will be
applied. Direction and prescription from expert hands will be ensured.
Manual works
Tedious physical works will be minimized through use of available tools and
machines. Manual transplanting is a major tiresome work in paddy cultivation. It is
addressed through transplanting machines. Power weeders will be used for
weeding. Reapers, combined harvesters, threshers and winnowers for harvesting
will also reduce the physical labour.
f. Bio-diversity enhancement- - poly cropping, multi-layer farming etc.
Integrated pest and disease management practices leads to reduction of
chemicals and this will help in maintaining the ecosystem of paddy lands. Damages
to friendly creatures like frogs, crabs, earth worms etc. are minimized. This will help
to get better control over pest and diseases. Care will be taken for survival of
endemic wetland plants which are friendly to paddy. Use of bio control agents and
bio fertilizers also help in improving the bio diversity.
g. Use of indigenous knowledge
Participatory planning processes including experienced and conventional
farmers will be conducted. It will help in transfer of indigenous knowledge to new
generation. It will be preserved through proper documentation.
h. Suitability of technology to the local agro-ecology
Participatory approach will be adopted for assuring suitability of
technologies. Bitter experiences of farmers will be analyzed; improvements made
will be explained by experts, suitability will be checked through thorough field
trials. Proper orientation will be given to the team on newly introduced
technologies, exposure visits will be conducted to fields of successful farmers using
the same technologies, standardization made by them etc.
47
i. Resilience to climate change – Integrated Natural Resource Management
Paddy field itself is a shock absorber for flood and drought, which can hold a
large quantity of water on flooding season and recharge to ground water. This
ground water helps to overcome the drought situation. So reviving paddy
cultivation itself will make a big change.
Throughout this project local adaptability of paddy varieties, past
experiences and knowledge of farmers, conventional irrigation practices etc. will be
discussed through participatory methods. Thus a refined method will be developed
and followed. Renovation of traditional water assets will be done in convergence
with MGNREGS and other development schemes.
3. Targeting : Approach and Details on landless, small and marginal farmers as
project participants
Unlike many other crops paddy cannot work as a standalone unit. Selection
of seed, operations like transplanting, harvesting, water management all these
requires a uniform coordinated management of all paddy fields in a paddy
collective. In earlier days there was a traditional management system, which
operated based on some unwritten norms shared between the farmers.
The redistribution of surplus land from large farmers as per the land reform
act and division of family property led to fragmentation of land. These made the
paddy operations unviable. Difference in seeds, timings of paddy operations and
practices created lot of problems. Labour availability and management of the
operations also created problems. Paddy needs much personal care and strict
supervision. As the size of the holdings was uneconomic the farmers were unable to
conduct paddy farming successfully. Many operated below efficiency, some kept
their field fallow and others turned in to cash crops. Now the paddy operations are
uneconomical for the small and marginal farmers. An integrated management of
paddy fields is the only solution to the problem.
In this project proposed, all the paddy land owners are the beneficiaries of
the programme. All farmers especially small and marginal will get direct benefits.
48
The landless sections are now working as daily wage labourers. They will be
incorporated in the labour bank. All willing marginal women farmers can also join
the labour bank.
4. Phasing: Progress of implementation over time.
Already the project is phased out. Out of the 14 districts in the state the
project is covering only 3 districts. Even here the project will be done in two phases.
In the first phase all Grama Panchayats in the 3 districts except the coastal Grama
Panchayats will be covered. In the second phase, all of the coastal Grama
Panchayats will be covered. The second phase will start after an interval of 1 year
from the beginning of first phase. This phasing out is proposed as the cultivation of
paddy and necessary interventions in the low land waterlogged areas of the coastal
saline zone is entirely different from the normal midland paddy fields. Moreover
the present role model – Wadakanchery Green army is developed through the last
six years in three phases which is covering almost 1/4th of the one project district.
Unless we cover these project districts as a whole the punch will be lost and impact
will be gone.
5. Plans for Post-project Sustainability and Scaling-up strategies.
The labour team in a GP is integrated with its Agriculture office, CDSs of SHGs, the
Grama Panchayat and the private service provides of the area.
Their link to all these institutions and collectives is an organic one. Some
people may sit in all these bodies. These entities also have an experience of working
together for the last 15 years. In fact CDS formed and grew up through a similar
process.
At the block level, facilities are available for all professional support –
administration, accounts, training, finance, maintenance, co-ordination etc. which
can be paid from the surplus of the labour bank. Again the same people are sitting
and deliberating at Block and District Panchayat levels.
In order to reduce the turn over and drain on resources, transfer facility may
be provided for all trained stall, within the team on skill based work or among the
49
various Panchayats of the Districts on a geographical basis depending upon the
special needs.
Special training on team building and problem solving, practicing of
democracy through participatory techniques and inculcating these values and
norms along with transparency measures is the true guarantee for the survival. The
participatory processes for knowledge generation and dissemination are visualized
as the core process to ensure this.
Even now, even when we attempt 50% of first/second crop, it is not on full
aspects. Sowing of paddy and weed removal for the first crop remains as a hard nut.
Similarly the combined harvesters presently being used for second crop is leaving
no hay forcing many farmers to give up cattle.
Mechanization of paddy in special zones like – Pokkali and Orkuttadan –
coastal paddy is a big challenge. One level of scaling up is the attempt to cover all
other operations for all of the crops in the area.
The second phase of scaling up may be to cover the entire area – now being
cultivated – under the proposed level of operations. This can be achieved to a large
extend by improving efficiency and better planning.
The third phase of scaling up may be to cover the fallow paddy land. In fact
the plan is to attempt about 25 ha in the first year which will sustain the operation of
the group even in in the worst case scenario. This can be increased in incremental
steps to cover all fallow paddy lands in the Panchayat.
The next phase may be covering the nearby districts and slowly expending to
the entire state.
6. Plans aiming at drudgery reduction for women farmers.
Mechanization is included to the possible extend to reduce tiresome physical
works. Paddy transplanting and weeding is done by the labourers with a sickle
shaped bended body. Here it is done through transplanter and weeding by power
weeder. Harvesting will be done by reapers or combined harvesters. Threshing and
winnowing if done manually they have to work on hot, dust full and itching
50
environment for a long time. Here threshers and winnowers are used for this or a
combined harvester will do all these works. Skill for operating all these machines
provided here.
7. Plans for awareness generation with regard to “women farmers” rights
entitlements under different schemes related to her identity as “women
farmer”.
Enhancement of accessibility of land to women farmers will be done through
providing support for getting land on lease from land owners which are kept idle or
poorly managed. Kudumbashree was already started the effort of providing
working capital support for the women farmers groups. Proper interventions will be
there from appropriate levels for ensuring the land for women farmers.
8. Plans to intervene in value chain development
Being a food grain which have a good shelf life, storing and marketing is not
a problem at all in case of paddy. More than that Kerala is practicing a strong
procurement system with a good support price. For processing and marketing large
sized processing mills are there in private, Cooperative and Government sectors. A
number of women’s units are also working on value addition activities of paddy
and rice. A variety of rice products are prepared and sold by these units.
9. Strategies for disseminating knowledge. Including plans for skill up
gradation.
Women are the first recruit of the programme. After setting and orientation
on the project, and going through a training programme for participatory process
they are going to hit the trail. They are the cutting edge of the participatory process
visualized with paddy farmers along with the activists of Maithri. Understanding
the nuances of local ecology, history of NRM issues affecting them etc. is going to be
elicited through PRA which the women labour team members are acting as
facilitators and participants. On top of this they are getting more training on skills
and knowledge from respective training agencies, and emerging as operation of
machines and managers of paddy operations.
51
For further training the pioneers are going to be the faculty, cementing the
knowledge creation and dissemination mechanism. So the strategy of women as
farmers, facilitators, participants, trainers, managers and finally owners of the
system is visualized. A documentation team from PMU will support documenting.
The process and knowledge will be disseminated through print media and web
based systems. Regular meetings, experience sharing sessions and internal
participatory exercise will be a norm for the Labour Teams. The integral link is there
with agriculture department, KAU and KVK for supporting them even after the
project period is over. They will also have sufficient resources to mobilize more
effort for this purpose.
10. Plans for increasing access of credit to women farmers and women groups
Creation of corpus fund
An amount of Rs 25 will be collected from each member on each working day as a
corpus fund. It is expected that 200 working days will be created per person per
year. So the corpus fund that can be created per year will be at least 20000(No of
persons)*200 (No of working days)*25(corpus fund/day), (when the scheme
becomes fully operational this will come about Rs 10 crores per year)
11. The direct ‘incremental’ income (returns) to women farmers through
proposed project.
Through the project average daily wages can be increased from Rs 250 to Rs 300
and number of working days from 400 to 500. These will make a remarkable
difference in their income. Proposed insurance cover will reduce expensive health
care issues. As tedious jobs are done through machines physical strain is less so
health issues also will be less. All these will lead to make savings and improve their
life standards.
12. Plans for community contribution of any kind, be it in-kind or monetary or
regular thrift
As the members of the labour bank are poor agricultural labourers upfront cash
contribution is not possible. More over there will be turnover of persons during the
52
initial stages. This also makes the collection of initial cash contribution not possible.
These labour groups will be formed as joint liability groups and they will avail bank
loans through group mechanism against mutual guarantee. They will remit a fixed
percentage of their daily income to loan repayment. This is for meeting part of the
capital expenditure. These payments will be accounted as individual share. Benefits
like monthly salaries and other security benefits will be extended only to those
members who have attained their fixed share of contribution.
3.2 Convergence with MGNREGA and other line departments:
MGNREGS
There is a special component in MGNREGS in the state which support
cultivation in fallow paddy land. The accredited engineer of MGNREGS in the
Grama Panchayat can make an estimate for the work of preparing a fallow paddy
land for cultivation. This work may include removal of over growth, grass, leveling
of land and sowing of nitrogen fixing cover crop. Concerned JLG has to raise the
demand in the appropriate Grama Sabha for this.
Similarly MGNREGS can be utilized to maintain irrigation canals, check
dams and VCBs in the paddy field. In some areas widening of streams is required.
Ponds can be renovated and their catchments can be protected. For increasing the
availability of green leafy matter, cultivation of appropriate trees in the vicinity of
paddy land can be taken up. All these can be organized in a manner explained
earlier.
NRLM
Kudumbashree, the precursor to NRLM in Kerala is already supporting a
large number of micro enterprises on lease land cultivation of paddy and value
addition of paddy. Under the Area Production Incentive Scheme, a subsidy of
Rs.7,500 per acre is paid to the JLG, if the paddy is planted and reached a growth of
30 days.
53
The same of amount of subsidy is repeated, when the NRLM is fully rolled out in
the state. It is expected that at least 100 acre-40 hectares of paddy will be cultivated
per Grama Panchayat on an average.
Since the CDS - Community Development Society, the federated SHGs in a
Grama Panchayat is a partner of the project, and the proposed labour team
members-all women agriculture labourers or marginal farmers-are members of
Kudumbashree SHGs; no separate effort is required to mobilize the resources from
NRLM.
IWMP
The new generation water shed programme IWMP has got an outlay of 180
crores in the next three years in the project districts. Part of these funds can be
utilized to improve the irrigation assets in the paddy fields and improve the organic
manure availability by promoting cattle rearing in the households surrounding
paddy fields through incentives for cattle sheds, biogas tanks and cattle per se. The
PRIs are the decision makers as regarding this project as well.
3.3 Training and Capacity building of communities
a. Technical training
Green army of Wadakanchery Block Panchayat and its now sanctioned
community college will take over the technical training with inputs from the
Extension department of Kerala agricultural University. The funds for this will flow
from CEO, PMU to the Green Army.
b. Participatory exercises and planning
Maithri will organize the necessary participatory exercises at appropriate
levels in consultation with Panchayat leaders, paddy collectives and Kudumbashree
mechanisms. The budgeted funds will flow from CEO, PMU to Maithri directly. The
participatory planning, preparation of agriculture calendar, mapping of the paddy
areas, strategization of the project implementation at the local level and
54
inventorization of related human and material assets will be the piloting activity of
the project. All related data will concurrently displayed in a web based platform
3.4 Training and Capacity building of Community Professionals
The trainings have to be started as early as possible for delivering the outputs
as defined in the project. Here the proposal is to start in six blocks – 2 each in three
districts – in the initial phase and after reviewing the progress the subsequent
phases can be started. The blocks suggested are Alathur and Nenmara in Palakkad,
Puzhackal and Thiruvilwamala in Thrissur, Perumbadappu and Perintalmanna in
Malappuram. These are suggested considering the high incidence of paddy
cultivation and proximity of training centers and related assets.
In each block an average of 420 persons can be trained in this phase in 6
batches of 70. The training will have two phases – one is the filed level training – of
14 day duration-for acquiring skills and another is the class room based training – of
4 day duration - to consolidate and enhance the theoretical knowledge.
The field level skill trainings is proposed at one place in each block where the
6 batches can be organized in a span of 3 months saving the cost in the
infrastructure. A paddy filed and a nearby house will be rented out to house the
machines, trainers and related staff. Food will be served to trainees during the day.
Classes related to the topic will be held from various faculties drawn from the area.
Preparation of mat nursery, operation and maintenance of transplanting machines,
weeding machines and sprayers constitute the bulk of the training. Exposure to
other machines like tillers, tractors and harvesters will also be part of the curriculum.
70 trainees will be subdivided in to 7 groups of ten. A trainer and a machine will be
assigned to each group throughout the training. In addition a coordinator will be
placed in each training venue.
The tentative cost is submitted here. The cost of uniform in not included here
considering the cost. An attempt will be made to get sponsors for this.
55
Field training Duration – 14 days
Trainees 70 numbers
No
Item Quantity Unit cost
Sub
total Units Total
1 Food 80 90 7200 14 100800
2 Trainers 7 450 3150 14 44100
3 Master trainer 1 550 550 14 7700
4 Coordinator 1 450 450 14 6300
5 Faculty 1 250 250 14 3500
6 Machine rentals 8 250 2000 14 28000
7 Transportation 8 750 6000 1 6000
8 Local office 1 10000 10000 1 10000
9 Land preparation 1 7500 7500 1 7500
10 Seeds, tray, sheet etc. 1 10000 10000 1 10000
11 Temp shed, chairs etc. 1 3500 3500 1 3500
12 Sound system 1 4000 4000 1 4000
13 Uniform 70 525 36750 0 0
14 Overheads 1
0.05
11570
Total 242970
The residential training will be organized initially at Green army’s center at
Athani, Thrissur and Maithri’s center at Muthalamada, Palakkad. Subsequently one
more center will be opened in Malappuram district also.
This training will be organized in two parts – of two days. One module will
be before the field training and the second will be after the field training. The
sessions will start in early morning and will be extended to late night to save cost
and additional days. The trainees have to report to the training center at their own
56
cost. The first part of the training is to develop a vision and minimum back ground
knowledge about the technical as well as social aspects. The second module will be
to consolidate the field level trainings and to develop an action plan so that the
work can be started immediately.
The tentative cost is proposed here.
Residential training Duration – 4 days
Trainees
70
number
s
N
o Item
Quantit
y Unit cost Sub total Units Total
1 Food 75 125 9375 4 37500
2 Accommodation 72 100 7200 4 28800
3 Class room 1 500 500 4 2000
4 Audio visual equipment 1 1000 1000 4 4000
5 Faculty 8 250 2000 4 8000
6 Course coordinator 1 700 700 4 2800
7 Training materials 70 200 14000 1 14000
8 Overheads 1 0.05 4855
Total 101955
The per capita cost of these trainings is Rs 4928 and may be rounded to Rs 5000. For
twenty thousand trainees this module is essential and the training cost will be about
ten crores rupees against a budget of seven crores. This is happening to the increase
in costs proposed in January 2011 and February 2013 and may be tackled by
identifying sponsors, reducing the cost by using existing infrastructure and
mobilizing more resources.
57
Chapter 4 Implementation Arrangements
4.1 Implementation Plan
a. Elements of Implementation Process
Selection of women
Selection of women for the labour bank will be through a transparent process
based on the criteria mentioned below
1. She should be a member of Kudumbashree NHG.
In case of scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, traditional fishermen and
challenged women there is exemption in these criteria. If they are not members of
Kudumbashree NHGs, steps will be taken to include them in Kudumbashree NHGs.
2. She should have done at least 40 days labour in MGNREGS programme for last
two years.
3. Preference will be given to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, traditional fishermen
and challenged women.
4. Each labour group will have their own service area and specific paddy collectives
for which they are providing their services. The group members have to be from this
service area.
The selection will be done by a panel consisting of Poverty Alleviation Unit
of respective Districts, representatives of PRIs, Representative of agriculture
department, Representative of facilitating NGO/PIA
Knowledge based training
Trainings will be imparted to selected women on integrated pest
management, soil testing and nutrient management and application of chemical and
bio fertilizers. They will be also trained on various aspects of water management,
SRI techniques etc. Training will be organized to build a perspective on paddy
cultivation-like rice varieties, types (Virippu, Mundakan and Puncha), and special
features of each type, different paddy ecosystems (Kole, Pokkali, and midland
58
wetlands). These training will be given using the good offices of the staff from the
Agriculture department and the respective Krishi Bhavans in the Grama Panchayat.
Participatory Planning Of Paddy Collectives
Participatory planning will be done in each paddy collective. The community
resource persons, women members of the labour group, along with the agency
assigned for participatory planning will sit with the farmers in the paddy collective,
discuss with them, pool their collective knowledge, list the problems, analyze the
problem, seek the root causes, and discuss the implications. This process will
require multiple sittings. As the part of this, the paddy collective will be able to
suggest solutions to their problems.
This will be converted into projects and proposals will be developed for these.
Funds will be mobilized from various agencies and programmes based on this
proposals.
Another participatory excise is the preparation of an agriculture calendar for
each paddy collective. This will help the farmers to plan their operations as well as
help the labour bank to plan their labour days and machines to a particular paddy
collective.
The data collected by this process will be converted to a GIS platform.
Mapping of Panchayat owned assets
There are assets especially various agriculture machineries lying idle in the
three tier Panchayats. The paddy collectives also possess such machineries. These
assets will be located and their conditions will be assessed. They will be transferred
to the respective labour banks after proper maintenance. Remaining machineries
will be purchased by the labour bank.
Skill training to women
Skill training will be imparted to these women by the Green Army of
Wadakanchery Block. There will be training for mat preparation and operations of
various machines like transplanter, reaper, power weeder, thresher and winnower.
59
These trainings will be in the field itself. Help of Kerala Agriculture University and
Tamil Nadu Agriculture University will be sought based on requirements.
60
Grading and formation of team
These trained women will be graded based on their skills and capacity. The
criteria for grading will be developed. The grading will be done by customers, third
party evaluators and training agencies. Based on the grading labour groups will be
formed, which consists of five members. At the Grama Panchayat level these labour
groups will be federated to form a labour team (around 100 members). At the Block
Panchayat level the labour bank will be formed.
There will be leaders for each labour team, labour group and labour bank.
The responsibilities of the team will be discussed and fixed.
Dove tailing the plans of the PRIs
As the labour bank offers an integrated management, the agricultural
programmes of the Panchayats will be routed through the labour bank. Instead of
direct subsidies to the farmer group it will be given to the labour bank. Labour bank
will utilizes these resources in a transparent way agreeable to the farmers. They will
provide agriculture services for paddy land owners at labour rates for operations
and management, with PRI s ploughing back subsidies to the group. The groups
will undertake lease fallow paddy land cultivation utilizing the subsidies from PRIs,
DoA, MNREGS and NRLM.
Dove tailing the plans of the paddy collectives
Agricultural calendar and management plan of each collective will be
developed in a participative manner. Based on this calendar, the labour bank will
schedule their works.
Linkages with Agricultural department and agencies
The department has officials at District, Block and Grama Panchayat level
and now they are under the control of respective Panchayat. In the agriculture and
allied sectors, agricultural extension programmes including farmer oriented support
for increasing production and productivity, watershed management and minor
irrigation, are all now routed through to local governments. Local Governments also
61
route their funds through these institutions. As there is such a linkage already, the
programmes can be implemented through the labour bank.
Institutionalization
There will be regular feedback mechanism for institutionalizing the learning.
Short falls as well as best practices will be reviewed, documented and shared
between the labour bank members.
Periodic grading of the members will be done. Responsibilities will be
assigned based on this. Salary and other benefits will be also linked to this. This
grading will also help to pick the lacunae in the individual skills and will help to
plan further skill up gradation.
Measures to ensure transparency will be adopted at all levels in financial as
well as non-financial matters. Process will be laid down for each activity like
selection of members, decision making etc.
There will be a web based MIS at each labour bank and all its details can be
obtained from web. There will be system for accounts. All the income and
expenditure details and documents will be presented before the team members and
other bodies at periodic intervals.
The labour bank also require norms for the day to day operations like travel,
food, working hours, output and many other things. This is very essential for
efficient management. These norms will be developed in a participative way, step
by step. New norms will be added as per the need.
Other trainings
A number of new institutions are created simultaneously. The members are
coming from different socioeconomic and cultural back grounds. Coordinating the
group members and managing the conflicts is an uphill task. The selected team
leaders will be given training on team building and managing the team members.
There will be a separate accountant for each labour bank. Three women members
from each Grama Panchayat will be trained on management aspects.
62
As participatory planning is a major component in the programme, training in
participatory process will be given to these women members.
b. Project Implementation Plan & Flow
i. Internal structure for implementation
The PIA consists of PAU s of three project districts supported by Green Army
– labour bank of Wadakanchery Block Panchayat and Maithri. The following
structures are suggested for overseeing the implementation of the project.
a. State level Coordination Committee
1. Executive Director, Kudumbashree – Chairman
2. Commissioner for Rural development – Co Chairman
3. Project Directors, PAU of Project Districts – Members
4. District Mission Coordinators of Kudumbashree – Members
5. Executive Director, Maithri – Member
6. Director, Training, Green army – Member.
7. Director, Extension, KAU – Member
7. CEO, PMU - Convener.
b. Project Level
1. Implementation.
a. Project management unit
The proposed Project Management Unit will implement the project. The
nodal officer during the project submission period, C. Chandrababu, currently
holding the charge of JPC, MGNREGS, Thrissur is the chief executive officer of the
project for the last one year.
The PMU will receive funds from the ED, Kudumbashree and channelize it
through the Block Panchayats for the purchase for machinery, documentation,
knowledge based training and administration.
63
The purchase of machinery will be against the handing over of existing
machinery of PRI s to the Labour bank, through the government accredited
institutions in the cooperative sector like RAIDCO or KAMCO and through a
transparent web based process.
2. Coordination
A committee consisting of Presidents of the three District Panchayat
Presidents, who will take turns to chair the body, Development Standing committee
chairpersons of the involved District Panchayats, representatives of Block Presidents
and Gram Panchayat Presidents from the project districts, District level officers of
agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, diary, irrigation, minor irrigation and
CADA, JPC of MGNREGS and representatives of KAU and KVK will be the
members of this committee. This committee will act as a problem solving,
converging platform for the entire project.
PMU will have a functional set up for co-ordination, supported by
coordinators (one for 15 GPS) on contract basis, training supported by agriculture
department officers and PRI working group members. This training department will
look after the knowledge based trainings.
Other functions of PMU are organizing proper documentation, monitoring
and dissemination works. Specialists for all these will be hired on contract basis or
appointed on deputation.
All skill trainings will be coordinated and organized by the Green Army and
its community college in consultation with KAU and KVKs.
The participatory processes, project/proposal making and labour bank will
be looked after by Maithri. Maithri will also maintain a GIS based database of the
entire project. Maithri will also impart training on participating processes,
transparent accounting and team building to the labour banks.
64
The chief executive of the PMU will ensure smooth co-ordination between
Maithri, Green Army and the PAUs on hand holding the labour bank and ensuring
the convergence.
ii. Role of CRP - including knowledge dissemination, monitoring and scaling up
In this project a major role of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) is
visualized in integrated pest management, water and nutrient management. For this
necessary training will be given to these CRPs. All the members of the labour bank
are drawn from community and trained to manage not only machines but the
knowledge based integrated pest, weed, nutrient and water management services.
The accounting and auditing of these groups will be also done by community
resource persons, from the Kudumbashree accounting services.
iii. Geography and Yearly Distribution
The project will be launched in all the 44 blocks simultaneously after the
approval. But the internal phasing in each Grama Panchayat may be different.
This is being done to identify the stake holders in each Grama Panchayats
and map the paddy area, map the available assets and other resources so that plans
can be finalized in the first few months itself for all the three districts.
This is essential for preparing appropriate projects to converge funds from
various sources. The availability of such funds and resources may become a factor in
rolling out the project in different areas.
The rolling out itself may be different in each Grama Panchayat, depending
upon the – river basin, agro climatic conditions, the specific type of paddy, current
status of paddy land, farmers, labourers, irrigation facilities etc.
The role out may vary from training, participatory processes and plan
making. Based on these factors a role out plan will be finalized in the first six
months of the project.
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Chapter 5 Implementation schedule
No Activity
Duration
in days
Start
date
Completion
date
1 Awareness programmes for PRI members 60 Jun-12 Aug-12
2 Mapping of Grama Panchayat level assets 90 Jun-12 Sep-12
3 Selection of women beneficiaries 60 Sep-12 Nov-12
4 Mapping of Paddy collectives 90 Sep-12 Dec-12
5 Earmarking appropriate share by PRIs 90 Sep-12 Dec-12
6 Finalization of training modules 30 Dec-12 Jan-13
7 Preparation of DPR 60 Dec-12 Feb-13
8 Issue of necessary GOs 270 Jun-12 Mar-13
9 Constitution of PMU 30 Mar-13 Apr-13
10 Participatory mapping & log frame of paddy collectives 120 Feb-13 Jun-13
11 Handing over of available machines 60 May-13 Jul-13
12
Finalisation of agricultural calendar of paddy collectives
and PRIs 60 May-13 Jul-13
13 Training - Skills 180 Feb-13 Aug-13
14 Preparation of convergence proposals at appropriate levels 90 May-13 Aug-13
15 Training - CRPs 90 Jun-13 Sep-13
16 Valuation, repair etc. of handed over machines to PMU 90 Jun-13 Sep-13
17 Training - Knowledge 90 Jul-13 Oct-13
18 Constitution of labour groups and teams 60 Aug-13 Oct-13
19
Equipping the labour teams and converging with paddy
collectives 60 Aug-13 Oct-13
20 Initiating INM,IPM,IWM measures at paddy collectives 90 Aug-13 Nov-13
21 Constitution of labour banks 60 Nov-13 Jan-14
22 Constitution of maintenance set up at block levels 60 Dec-13 Feb-14
23 Leveraging with other departments for mobilizing funds 60 Dec-13 Feb-14
24
Drawing up long term contracts between LB and Paddy
collectives 90 Dec-13 Mar-14
25 Consolidation of social security mechanism at LB 90 Dec-13 Mar-14
66
Chapter 6- Results Framework
67
Chapter 7 -Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
7.1 Web based MIS and real time input-output monitoring at various levels:
The DPR is prepared by mapping the entire paddy cultivating fields in the project
districts. All of the available data about paddy collectives and machinery is placed
in a GIS format. Now any quantifiable progress in the field can be easily
communicated to PMU and marked in the GIS frame work.
The plan is to link this frame work to a web based system so that real time data
about cultivation and the related activities can be viewed by the participants, other
stake holders and the public
7.2 Review Mechanism
Advisory committees at Panchayat and Block levels.
There will be an advisory/monitoring committee at Gram Panchayat level
and Block Panchayat level consisting of Panchayat Chairpersons, officials of the
related line departments – agriculture, diary, animal husbandry, extension and
irrigation, Kudumbashree CDS Chairpersons and charge officers, representatives of
the PMU and lead bank representatives.
68
Chapter 8 -Budget
a. Project Investments and Support Requested under MKSP
Total Budget
No Component Total Cost Grama
Panchayat BP RKVY/BRGF ATMA DP MKSP
1 Mechanization 40,57,50,000 85207500 52747500 81150000 12172500 17,44,72,500
2 Training 10,01,50,000 10015000 10015000 20030000 6,00,90,000
3 Participatory
planning 25200000 2,52,00,000
4 Documentation 14000000 1,40,00,000
5 Coordination 20520000 2052000 1,84,68,000
6 PMU 11718000 1171800 1,05,46,200
7 Unforeseen 28866900 9526077 9526077 9814746 0
Total 60,62,04,900 10,47,48,577 7,43,40,577 8,11,50,000 2,00,30,000 2,31,59,046 30,27,76,700
Components in percentage
No Component Total Cost Total Cost %
1 Capacity building
a Training 10,01,50,000
b Participatory planning 25200000 12,53,50,000 20.7
2 Administrative costs
a Documentation 14000000
b Coordination 20520000
c PMU 11718000
d Unforeseen 28866900 75104900 12.4
3 Capital/Equipment cost
a Mechanization 40,57,50,000 40,57,50,000 66.9
Total 60,62,04,900 60,62,04,900 100
69
Sources in percentage
No Agency/Programme Cost sharing %
1 Grama Panchayats 104748577 17.3
2 Block Panchayats 74340577 12.3
3 District Panchayats 23159046 3.8
4 RKVY/BRGF 81150000 13.4
5 ATMA 20030000 3.3
6 MKSP 302776700 49.9
Total Cost 606204900 100
1. Mechanization
Funding Requirement for Mechanization
No Description Unit cost unit No. of unit Amount
1 Tractor 575000 No 360 20,70,00,000
2 Transplanter 155000 No 720 11,16,00,000
3 Reaper 60000 No 425 2,55,00,000
4 Thresher & winnower 130000 No 425 5,52,50,000
5 Cono Weeder 2000 No 3200 64,00,000
Total 40,57,50,000
70
2. Training – three categories
Funding Requirement for Training
No Activity
Unit cost(per
person/day)
No. of
days
No of
Persons Amount
Skill training 26500 4,00,75,000
1 Preparation of mat 250 3 15000 1,12,50,000
2 Machine Operations
Tractor 400 15 1000 60,00,000
Transplanter 300 15 3500 1,57,50,000
Cono Weeder 250 1 3500 8,75,000
Reaper 250 5 1000 12,50,000
Thresher & Winnower 250 3 1000 7,50,000
3 Maintenance of Machines 400 7 1500 42,00,000
Knowledge based training 48000 5,28,75,000
4 Soil testing 450 3 1000 13,50,000
5 Integrated pest management 450 3 2500 33,75,000
6 Irrigation management 450 4 5500 99,00,000
7 Bio Fertilizer applications 450 3 7000 94,50,000
8 Chemical Fertilizer applications 450 2 12000 1,08,00,000
9 Drying ,weighing & packing 450 2 10000 90,00,000
10 Paddy cultivation-perspective 450 2 10000 90,00,000
Management training 5000 72,00,000
11 Finance & accounts 400 2 1000 8,00,000
12 Team building & managing the
people 400 4 3000 48,00,000
13 Participatory techniques 400 4 1000 16,00,000
Total 79,500 10,01,50,000
71
3. Participatory planning
Funding Requirement for Participatory planning and handholding
No Activity
Cost Per
Grama
Panchayat
1 Mapping of each plot of Padasekharam & irrigation assets 15000
2 Collection of data of each plot in Padasekharam 10000
3 Creation of data base in GIS platform 8000
4 LFA with farmer groups at Panchayat level 4000
5 Livelihood capital analysis of women workers 10000
6 Participatory calendar making with each Padasekharam 15000
7 Matching of labour & works and preparation of plan of labour bank 10000
8 Preparation of projects for each Padasekharam for convergence 10000
9 Unforeseen 8000
Total cost/Grama Panchayat for 3 years 90000
Total Cost for 3 districts for 3 years 25200000
4. Documentation
No Item Amount
1 Web based MIS at Panchayat level 25000
2 SMS server system at Panchayat level 25000
3 Total cost for I Grama Panchayat 50000
Total cost for 3 districts 14000000
72
Administrative costs
5. Coordinators
Funding Requirement for Handholding Coordinators
No of Grama Panchayats visited by
Coordinator per month 15
No of coordinators required 19
No Item
Per month/1
coordinator
For 1 month/19
coordinators
For 36 months/19
coordinators
1 Salary 20000 380000 13680000
2 Travelling expense 5000 95000 3420000
3 Telephone & internet charges 2500 47500 1710000
4 Miscellaneous 2500 47500 1710000
Total 30000 570000 20520000
6. Setting up and running of PMU
Cost of PMU 11718000
No Calculation period in months 36
PMU Unit cost/month Total 9768000
A Salaries
1 Programme officer 50000 1800000
2 Assistant programme officer 25000 900000
3 Finance officer 30000 1080000
4 Accountant 12000 432000
5 Data manager 12000 432000
6 Office assistant 6000 216000 4860000
B Travelling
1 Programme officer 10000 360000
2 Assistant programme officer 6000 216000
3 Others 4000 144000 720000
C Refreshment
73
1 Programme officer 3000 108000
2 Assistant programme officer 4000 144000
3 Others 4000 144000 396000
D Telephone charges
1 Programme officer 5000 180000
2 Assistant programme officer 2000 72000
3 Others 5000 180000 432000
E Other expenses
1 Internet charges 20000 720000
2 Printing& stationary 20000 720000
3 Computer & AV equipment maintenance 20000 720000
4 Office maintenance 10000 360000
5 Unforeseen 20000 720000 3240000
6 Web updating charges 20000
7 Auditing charges 50000
8 New software 50000 120000
F Setting up of PMU
1 Furniture 300000
2 Computers & accessories 420000
3 Photostat machine 150000
4 Interior decoration 250000
5 Soft wares 300000
6 SMS server 100000
7 Audio visual equipment 300000
8 Web designing charges 50000
9 Miscellaneous 80000
Total 1950000
b. Rationale for the various line items related to Proposed Action
74
Explained in other sections.
c. All main cost components along with sub components
Provided in other sections
d. Plan for leverage other sources of fund in the proposed project
RKVY
Purchase of farm machinery is the biggest component of the proposal. In
Kerala the local agriculture office is transferred to the local self-government
institution. There is an agriculture office headed by a graduate in agriculture in each
Grama Panchayat. Similarly Assistant Directors of agriculture department are
working in tandem with the Block Panchayat. The Agriculture department makes
the annual plan for RKVY in consultation with the PRIs. If an action plan is available
for the mechanization of paddy in the Grama Panchayat, Block and District
Panchayats, these can be integrated in to the RKVY plan seamlessly.
BRGF
Out of the project district, one -Palakkad - is a BRGF district. The five year
plans are in the process of being formulated in consultation with PRI s and line
departments. As in the case of RKVY and appropriate plan can be made which will
ensure sufficient machinery.
NABARD
The activity group of labour groups is proposed to be organized as JLGs as
per NABARD norms. This is specifically done to avail the benefits of subsidies from
NABARD, when the JLGs have to make up for beneficiary contribution to purchase
new machines.
One of the project districts, Palakkad has a NABARD sponsored watershed
programme. Proposal can be dove tailed to increase and maintain the lift irrigation
assets in the paddy field.
ATMA.
75
Similar to RKVY in planning, the agriculture department and PRIs can work
together on this project.
Exposure visits, cross visits and knowledge based trainings on IPM, INM can
be organized using ATMA funds.
SDA
Sustainable development of agriculture is a running programme of
department of agriculture in Kerala. Under this programme, seeds and fertilizes are
given to the farmer.
If converged properly, this is a key programme to ensure that all farmers in a
paddy collective is using a single and appropriate seed, which will greatly reduce
cost by simplifying irrigation and pest management. The project and outlays are
fixed by the respective AOs and ADs in consultation with PRIs and paddy
collectives.
PRIs
PRIs are the major contributors and owners of the current proposal. They are
striving hard to maintain the paddy cultivation for obvious reasons and searching
for better ways. The PRIs can contribute office space and furniture for labour teams,
and labour banks at appropriate places. They can also foot the utility bills of this set
up. All the PRIs are equipped with meeting halls, chairs and audio visual
equipment to organize trainings. The AOs and ADs can act as training faculty at no
extra cost.
The PRI s during the last 12 years had bought several farm machines and
implements and handed it over to paddy collections and in some cases kept at the
agriculture offices. A sample survey and other interactions indicate the worth of
such machinery is around 3 lakhs per Grama Panchayat.
Concerned PRI s can hand over this idle machinery after due repair to the
labour banks based on the directives the LSGD.
In addition to this, PRIs can earmark at least Rs 1.5 lakh per annum from
their budget of Rs.20 lakhs for the labour banks, mainly to finance the purchase of
76
new farm machinery for the next three years. PRI s currently subsidizing agriculture
operation like ploughing, inputs like, fertilizers, lime etc. to the farmers. They can
easily channelize this through the labour bank for better efficiency and transparency.
PRIs can also finance the paddy collections through zero interest revolving
funds. Such funds can be routed through the labour banks for mechanized
transplanting and weed control using power weeders increasing the efficiency of
operations in all aspects.
Primary co-operative banks.
They are lending loans to paddy farmers at interests as low as 1%. They are
also procuring the paddy from the farmers at the support prices declared by the
Government. In fact the loan amount is paid back through a book adjustment at the
time of paying the farmers.
If planned and coordinated properly, this is an effective tool in ensuring
proper fund availability to all farmers in the paddy collectives which in turn will
ensure work for the labour bank.
e. Explanation of Cost Elements including description of capital expenditure items/
with break-up and unit cost for all items/ components.
17 % of total budget and 20% of MKSP share goes for capacity building. In fact the
entire capacity building component targets women agricultural labourers and
women marginal farmers only.
77
f. Analysis and Benchmarks of proposed costs.
1. Area in hectares under paddy cultivation in the districts of FY 2009-10. Targets indicate
the percentage of mechanization proposed in area wise for selected operations
Districts/Crops Palakkad Malappuram Thrissur Total Targets
Total 96190 11013 27928 135131 76815
Virippu 45659 1744 4768 52171 50%
Mundakan 42388 7748 14326 64462 50%
Puncha 8143 1521 8834 18498 100%
2. Basic data from the Grama Panchayats which compiled to provide the previous table
No Details 1 2
1 Grama Panchayat Kannadi Kottayi
2 River basin Bharathapuzha Bharathapuzha
3 Agro climatic zone Palakkad plains Palakkad plains
4 Area in sq. km 19.80 19.96
5 Major type of paddy Wetland Wetland
6 Total paddy area 5870.23 4841.34
7 Paddy collectives 24.00 7.00
Area under cultivation
8 Virippu 2940.05 2421.13
9 Mundakan 2930.18 2420.21
10 Puncha 0.00 0.00
11 Fallow 279.99 1.32
12 Converted - recoverable 62.98 4.30
13 Converted - non recoverable 49.42 6.15
78
3. A typical agricultural calendar from the largest agro ecological zone for fixing the
windows of operations for a typical crop to work out the human resource requirement
Virippu Duration Buffer 01-Apr 187
1 First Ploughing 7 01-Apr 08-Apr
2 Organic Manure: Fly Ash 10 25 26-Apr 06-May
3 Organic Manure : FYM , Green Leaves 10 25 26-Apr 06-May
4 Second Ploughing 7 30 01-May 08-May
5
Third ploughing and Sowing
5 40 11-May 16-May
6 Trico cards applying- 1 3 65 05-Jun 08-Jun
7 Preparing an Azolla nursery 10 65 05-Jun 15-Jun
8 Factamphos + Potash
7 65 05-Jun 12-Jun
9 First Weeding 30 65 05-Jun 05-Jul
10 Bio fertilizers pseudomonas etc.
5 70 10-Jun 15-Jun
11 Trico cards applying- 2 3 77 17-Jun 20-Jun
12 Urea 7 80 20-Jun 27-Jun
13 Trico cards applying- 3 3 89 29-Jun 02-Jul
14
Second Weeding
16 90 30-Jun 16-Jul
15 Apply Azolla in main field 7 90 30-Jun 07-Jul
16 Urea + Potash 7 95 05-Jul 12-Jul
17 Control of Gundhi bug ( Chaazhi) 5 135 14-Aug 19-Aug
18 Rat control 5 135 14-Aug 19-Aug
19 Harvesting, Threshing & Winnowing 20 165 13-Sep 03-Oct
20 Drying and Gunny bag packing 20 167 15-Sep 05-Oct
79
4. Operations planned by the labour bank and manpower required on a per hectare basis.
Primary data generated from consultation with farmers, agriculture department and
observing the Green army at work.
A Integrated fertilizer application Persons/ha
1 Soil testing - 2 times 2.0
2 Bio fertilizer application 8.5
3 Chemical fertilizer application 15.0
B Integrated pest management
1 Trico cards applying 1.5
2 Control of Munja and rats 0.5
3 Control of Chaazhi (Gundhi bug) 1.5
C Drying, Weighing, Packing 12.5
Specific for first crop (Virippu)
1 Ploughing (1/2 of total area)- 3 times 2.0
2 Transplanting(1/4 of total area) 5.0
3 Weeding(1/4 of total area) - 3 times 10.0
4 Harvesting (1/2 of total area) 3.0
5 Threshing & winnowing (1/2 of total area) 6.0
6 Irrigation Management 2.0
Specific for second crop (Mundakan)
1 Ploughing (1/2 of total area) - 2 times 2.0
2 Transplanting(1/2 of total area) 5.0
3 Weeding(1/2 of total area)- 3 times 10.0
4 Irrigation Management 15.0
Specific for third crop (Puncha)
1 Ploughing (total area) - 3 times 2.0
2 Transplanting( total area) 5.0
3 Weeding( total area) - 3 times 10.0
4 Irrigation Management 15.0
80
5. Machine hours required for the selected operations – primary data derived in a similar
manner
Machine capacities
Specific for first crop (Virippu)
1 Ploughing 3.5 h/day
2 Transplanting 1.0 h/day
3 Harvesting 2.0 h/day
4 Threshing & winnowing 2.0 h/day
Specific for second crop (Mundakan)
1 Ploughing 3.0 h/day
2 Transplanting 1.0 h/day
Specific for third crop (Puncha)
1 Ploughing 3.5 h/day
2 Transplanting 1.0 h/day
6. Machines required to execute the planned operations in the proposed crops, area as per
agriculture with the above primary data
Specific for 1st crop (Virippu) Of area Number Machines
1 Ploughing 70% 348 Tractors
2 Transplanting 40% 696 Transplanters
3 Harvesting 50% 435 Reapers
4 Threshing &Winnowing 50% 435 Thresher & winnower
Specific for second crop (Mundakan)
1 Ploughing 50% 358 Tractors
2 Transplanting 50% 716 Transplanters
Specific for third crop (Puncha)
1 Ploughing 100% 41 Tractors
2 Transplanting 100% 617 Transplanters
From this the budget for machines are derived as per market rates.
81
7. Income from non-mechanical operations as per the proposal in an year
Income from non-mechanical
operations
Per day labour cost 275
Persons/Ha/crop Total Human days Labour cost
7974579 2193009349
A Fertilizer Applications 3015494 829260864
1 Soil testing 2.0 157473 43305185
2 Bio fertilizer application 8.5 1033752 284281841
3 Chemical fertilizer application 15.0 1824269 501673838
B Integrated pest management 425663 117057229
1 Trico cards applying 1.5 182427 50167384
2 Control of Munja & rats 0.5 60809 16722461
3 Control of Chaazhi 1.5 182427 50167384
C Drying, Weighing, Packing 12.5 1520224 418061531
Specific for first crop(Virippu) 0.0 730394 200858350
1 Weeding 10.0 626052 172164300
2 Irrigation Management 2.0 104342 28694050
Specific for 2nd crop(Mundakan) 0.0 1450395 398858625
1 Weeding 10.0 966930 265905750
2 Irrigation Management 15.0 483465 132952875
Specific for third crop(Puncha) 0.0 832410 228912750
1 Weeding 10.0 554940 152608500
2 Irrigation Management 15.0 277470 76304250
82
8. Income from mechanized paddy operations along with total income
Income from mechanical operations
Machines Hectares Charge/Hectare Income
Ha/day 494352600
Specific for first crop (Virippu)
1 Ploughing 3.5 109559 1000 109559100
2 Transplanting 1.0 20868 2500 52171000
3 Harvesting 2.0 26086 2000 52171000
4 Threshing &Winnowing 2.0 26086 2000 52171000
Specific for 2nd crop (Mundakan)
1 Ploughing 3.0 64462 1000 64462000
2 Transplanting 1.0 32231 2500 80577500
Specific for third crop (Puncha)
1 Ploughing 3.0 36996 1000 36996000
2 Transplanting 1.0 18498 2500 46245000
Total Income
2687361949
9. Possible expenditure and surplus derived from the primary data of Green Army
Total persons 29966
No Item Amount/person/month Total amount
1 Monthly remuneration 5500 1977756000
2 Provident fund 500 179796000
Total monthly payment to worker 6000 2157552000
4 Administrative overheads 250 89898000
5 Consumables & maintenance 1200 431510400
Total 7450 2678960400
Net Surplus/year 8401549
83
1 2 3 4
Sl. No.
Parameter Description of the indicator Information to be filled up by PIA against each parameter / indicator mentioned in column no. 2 & 3.
I. PIA’s
Capacities
I (a) Number of SHGs / Federations formed
1. Kudumbashree had formed more than a lakh SHG s and federations in about 978 Grama Panchayats and 60 municipalities and 5 Corporations.
2. PAU (formerly DRDA) had comparable experience in forming SHG s under various schemes.
3. Gram Panchayats have own agricultural offices and have several farmer CBO s for paddy, coconut, vegetables etc.
I (b) No. of farmers worked with
The entire farmer populations of the project districts are covered by all of the former three entities.
I (c) Experience in working with farmers (no. of years to be mentioned)
All three agencies since inception. With the advent of decentralization in 1996 this is more intensive. For the last 15 years.
I (d) Human resource created (No. of technical professionals created per 1000 farmers under MKSP)
1. 30000 persons are trained to form the core of the labour bank.
2. There will be 100 CRP s per 1000 farmers.
II.
Community
Institution
Architecture-
Strength and
sustainability
II(a) Role of the community in the management of the project and strategy to make it self-sustainable (Various committees and sub-committees of the community should be mentioned clearly)
1. Labourers selected from Kudumbashree NHG s adjoining each paddy collective to form a labour team.
2. The leaders of paddy collective, Kudumbashree mechanism, PRI s and agriculture department is involved in setting this up and developing annual agricultural calendar through participatory planning. This is a permanent mechanism at grass root level.
3. The Labour Group at Gram Panchayat level and Labour bank at the block level are the federated structures of the Labour teams.
4. Permanent advisory committees are proposed at Gram Panchayat and Block Panchayat levels involving elected members, officials and CBO s.
MKSP Score Card
Name of the Project: Reviving the paddy through Women Labour Bank
84
II. (b) No. of Community
Resource Persons
/paraprofessionals Created What is the ratio of community professionals per 100 farmers What is the ratio of community resource persons (CRPs) per 100 households (Please provide information separately)
3. 30000 persons are trained to form the core of the labour bank.
4. This will come about 100 persons per Gram Panchayat.
5. There will be 10 CRP s per 100 farmers.
6. There will be 2 CRPs per 100 households
II. (c) Knowledge creation
for scaling up
(Use of Videos, Posters,
Modules for knowledge
dissemination etc. should be
clearly mentioned)
1. Short duration videos will be developed in partnership with local news channels and aired regularly.
2. The PMU will coordinate with Malayalam channels on similar lines.
3. State agencies like C DIT will be roped in to make short documentaries. This will with sub titles and narrative in different Indian languages.
4. Knowledge modules in integrated pest, weed, nutrient and water management will be prepared using posters, booklets, power points and short videos.
5. A newsletter will be brought on a quarterly basis in Malayalam and English.
6. The training modules being used in Green army will be developed in to texts and appropriate videos and power points and will be made available through the web sites.
III A. Costing
Capacity Building (Please give the absolute amounts as well as the % figure in total cost)
Rs 12,53,50,000 is about 20.7%, involves training and participatory planning.
Administrative costs (Please give the absolute amounts as well as the % figure in total cost)
Rs 7,51,04,900 is about 12.4 % including documentation, coordination, Project Management Unit and unforeseen
Capital/equipment Costs (Please give the absolute amounts as well as the % figure in total cost)
Rs 40,57,50,000 is about 66.9 % out of which 57 % is met from the PRI s and other schemes.
85
Incentive/subsidy (Please give the absolute amounts as well as the % figure in total cost)
Not from the project but leveraged from other projects
Input cost (seed, fertilizer, etc.) Unit cost per participant (Please give the absolute amounts as well as the % figure in total cost)
Not from the project but leveraged from other projects
III.B Funds
Leveraged
SGSY/NRLM/State
programmes
NREGA/Watershed/NABAR
D
Other Ministry’s (Agri
ministry, NRHM)
Panchayats
(Please give the absolute
amounts as well as the %
figure in total cost)
Given as separate table in the annexure
III. C Credit
Mobilization
Strategy for mobilizing credit
to target group should be
clearly given
1. There is no need to mobilize credit for the labour bank at this stage.
2. Depending upon the local situations, labour teams in each Gram Panchayat may take paddy land under lease for cultivation. In such instances the labour bank will take initiative to get subsidy benefits from the agriculture department, PRIs and NRLM along with 1% interest loans from local banks and revolving funds of paddy collectives.
IV Technology
IV (a) Resilience to climate change (Specific intervention/strategy to be mentioned)
1. The mechanized transplanting operation is possible in a much smaller window and gives farmers time to transplant again in case of rain related damages.
2. Similarly the mechanized harvesting can be done in a smaller window reducing the risk of adverse weather.
3. The integrated pest, weed, nutrient and water management services offered by the labour bank greatly reduces the risk to climate change by reducing the water needs and quickly responding to pest attacks related to adverse weather.
86
IV (b) Scalability of the local technology / intervention mentioned in the project
1. The present role model of Green army in Wadakanchery Block which comprises about 20% of Thrissur district was developed through a three phase operation lasting three years.
2. The present proposal is to cover the Thrissur district and two adjacent districts in full.
3. At the next phase the whole state can be brought in under the programme.
IV (c) Innovations (Innovative element in the project which could potentially provide significant benefit to the target groups)
1. The benefit if mechanization is made in to a win-win situation for farmers and farm labourers.
2. The labour bank is leading the revival of paddy by their enhanced skill, knowledge and ownership of assets.
3. The prestige of farm labourer is increased by leaps and bounds and her financial and social security will reach a level that of regular government employees.
4. The usual drudgery associated with paddy cultivation will be reduced to the minimum.
5. A situation is being created in which unnecessary fallowing of paddy land is becoming almost impossible with great spin offs to environment.
V Benefits
V(a) Additional income / family (Incremental monthly income may be given)
1. Rs 4125 are the additional monthly income.
2. Now the women manual labourers
are getting an amount of Rs
150/day. The average number of
working days per year is 150
including MGNREGS. So the
current annual income is Rs
22500. In this project, assured
payment is Rs 6000 per month
that is Rs 72000 per year. So the
increase in income is 320%
V (b) Cost benefit ratio (Benefit per beneficiary to cost per beneficiary)
1. 2.45 is the cost benefit ratio. 2. Benefit per beneficiary is Rs 49500
per year and cost per beneficiary is Rs 20230.
87
3. Amount spent for a beneficiary is recovered in the first year itself.
V (c )Food and Nutrition Security (The direct intervention under the project to meet the food and nutrition security of the people at household and community level)
1. The area under paddy cultivation is reaching the maximum ensuring the food security in general.
2. The productivity of paddy land is also being doubled to ensure the availability of sufficient grain in the local markets.
3. The workers do have an option to collect grains as a part of their salaries for ensuring the food security of the involved families.
V (d) Drudgery reduction (The intervention to reduce drudgery should be clearly stated. If some equipment is proposed to be used, it should be mentioned specifically)
1. The drudgery reduction is taking place in the case of transplanting, de weeding, harvesting and post-harvest operations.
2. Tractors, transplanters, mechanized weeders, cono weeders, combined harvesters, threshers and winnowers are the major machines going to be used to reduce the drudgery.
V (e) Evenness of the income flow to the targeted family (How even is the income flow to the targeted families? What is the strategy to address the problem of seasonality in the income flow)
1. All of the members are paid according their grades given by the trainers initially and this will be re-evaluated on a yearly basis by the training agency.
2. The income from the lowest to the highest grade will differ by a ratio of 1:4.
3. The seasonality issue is addressed by providing package services on paddy – comprehensive pest, weed, nutrient and irrigation management for three crops of paddy along with post-harvest support in addition to mechanization of transplanting, harvesting and ploughing. This will ensure at least 300 days of labour per year.
V (f) Focus on vulnerable sections (SC/ST/landless/women headed household) What is the percentage of these groups in the total target group
1. Absolute preference is given to women from SC, ST, traditional fishermen and families of challenged women.
2. They will constitute about 50 % of the target group.
Widows, unwed mothers, abandoned
women, unmarried women above 40 years
88
and women from houses without earning
male members and physically /mentally
challenged persons etc. will come under the
category of challenged women
1 2 3 4
Sl.
No.
Parameter Description of the indicator Information to be filled up by PIA against
each parameter / indicator mentioned in
column no. 2 & 3.
Centrality of
Community
Institutions
(i) What is the centrality of
Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) in the
project proposal? How
dominant is the role of CBOS
in the implementation of
Project in the beginning? If
the project is initially driven
by NGO, what role has been
envisaged for CBOs at the end
of the project?
The paddy collectives and
Kudumbashree SHG s and their
federated structure at Gram Panchayat
level - CBO s- are the formative and
handholding social institutions of the
project at the grass root level. The
resource NGOs – Maithri is
spearheading the participatory
exercises and planning and Green Army
is handholding the technical trainings –
will exit from the project after the first
three years. The above mentioned
entities through a process is forming
the proposed new CBOs – labour teams
at Paddy collective level, and their
federated structures at Gram Panchayat
level and Block Panchayat level; labour
groups and labour bank respectively.
(ii) How much control CBOs and
NGOs exercise over receipt
and expenditure (in
percentage terms)
respectively at the start of
the project and what control
is visualized at the end of the
project?
The entire inflow of funds from the field
activities and subsequent expenditure
will be handled by the Labour banks
from the first day of the project
onwards. The Kudumbashree CDS will
be handholding the process and its
sister concern, Kudumbashree
Accounting Services will be providing
the support for book keeping and
financial management. The resource
NGO s will be handling funds for
participatory exercises and planning
and funds for technical training during
the project period. All other expenses
will be handled by the Project
Management Unit, which will be set up
by Government of Kerala in
89
consultation with NRLM/SGSY set up at
the state level.
(iii) What is the mechanism
available to enforce
accountability of the NGOs to
the communities?
(What is the information
sharing mechanism between
NGO and communities with
regard to utilization of
receipt and expenditure
under the project)
All data collected by the resource NGOs,
their activities and related expenditure
will be published on a concurrent basis
through the web. The same will be
published through monthly publications
at the community level in printed
formats. The entities concerned will be
subject to social auditing by community
appointed auditors on a yearly basis.
