Case3-April-2014
Deomali Kalanjiam Mahasangh (A federation of Women Self-Help Groups), established in 2006, promoted by DHAN Foundation, Madurai, India, works for the socio-economic development of the tribal women at Semiliguda Semiliguda is a Block in Koraput District, Odisha, India. DHAN Foundation initiated its Kalanjiam Community Banking program in the year 1993, facilitate and empower women to engage in sustainable livelihood activities, through floating a micro credit based women self help group federation of their own. The Deomali Kalanjiam Mahasangh, a federation of women SHG thus formed presently has a member strength of 2,421 families from seventy-seven interior tribal villages, enrolled in 193 SHGs.
The federation provide support for micro-credit, training and capacity building programme, and empowerment through generating different alternative livelihoods options, linkage building with mainstream development institutions, and developing leadership quality among the members.
The need assessment done among its members, necessitated interventions in Rainfed farming, that remained as the major livelihood occupation of the people. District Agriculture Office, Koraput, 2011 report states that 57 percent people depend on rain fed agriculture. Above 80 percent families live under below poverty line and depend on agriculture and its allied activities for their income. The Rainfed Farming Development Program (RFDP) was hence initiated by the federation in 2008, which focussed on crop productivity enhancement through effective use of resources to ensure long term sustainability.
Male and Female participation in different activities under RESMISA Project
| Activities | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| Research Activities | 115 | 120 | 174 | 175 | 262 | 266 |
| Skill Building Activities | 42 | 33 | 351 | 284 | 107 | 1372 |
| Promotional Activities | 0 | 0 | 159 | 253 | 1068 | 922 |
| Total | 157 | 153 | 684 | 712 | 1437 | 2560 |
Activities like introduction of promising varieties and crops suited to the region, seed selection, adoption of new improved package of practices and water saving techniques was done through the project.
The improved agricultural technologies were out of reach of these farmers, owing to remoteness of the area which hindered the effective extension support by the agricultural department.
Particularly no support was there for the small millet crop, traditionally grown here and which remained in the daily diet of the tribes. There was also research to improve small millet cultivation and promotion. The result, the small millet cultivation most suited to rainfed cultivation drastically declined and cash crops started occupying their space
Low yield, post harvest related constraints, intensive promotion of cash crops and changing food habits of the people, led to vanishing of many small types of millet from the food basket of the people. Small millets however offer multiple benefits including their nutritional superiority over rice and wheat, climate resilience, ability to grow in even less fertile soil with minimum inputs (water, organic fertilizers and labour)
In this context, federation members actively involved in “Revalorising small millets in rainfed regions of South Asia (RESMISA) project” to brings positive changes in conservation, cultivation and consumption of small millets. The project aimed to address the production related constraints, develops low cost farmers’ suitable interventions, and promotes consumption through introducing different small millet recipes.
To achieve the above participatory field research, capacity and skill building and promotional activities were done. Research activities involved on-farm conservation, participatory varietal selection, improved package of practices experimentation, etc. Skill building activities involved exposure and training (E & T), farmers’ preference analysis on performance of different varieties and training on preparation of recipes of small millets. Promotional activities involved recipe contest, organizing Walkathon on “Agricultural Bio-diversity and Food & Nutritional Security”, exhibition stall at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and through other organizational events.
Increased varietal diversity, enabling to farmers to have much choice over their varieties was the major achievement of the project. Seventy percent of farmers in 38 villages, who had access to only one or two varieties, now have access to at least four or five varieties. Twenty percent of the farmers are able to conserve more than five varieties of finger millet. Apart from this 40 varieties of finger millet, 26 varieties of little millets and 3 varieties of foxtail millet is conserved four farmers and who also closely monitor their performance.
Through the introduction of improved package of practices of cultivation, the small millet production has increased 20-30 percent. Transplanting of finger millets, a new technology introduced among 72 farmers has increased the yield production up to 50 percent. Besides this 157 farmers could learn the art of seed selection and preservation. Some other experimentation related to cultivation like line sowing, using proper seed rate, inter-crop with pulses, Gulli method etc also was taken up by women federation.
Farmers also now have better access to improved varieties because of the project. The improved varieties viz., Bhairabi and Chilika of finger millet were given to 83 farmers. Bhairabi variety was cultivated by 60 percent of farmers in 38 villages, and nearly 30 percent yield increase over the conventional varieties was observed.
Similarly, more than 30 percent farmers have cultivated Chilika variety which gave 20 percent higher yield than local varieties. Moreover, 157 farmers were given GPU 66 and GPU-67 finger millet varieties which performed well and the farmers were extremely satisfied since double the production was obtained than local varieties. Through proper seed selection and preservation 385 farmers are able to save more than two local varieties i.e. Dasarabodi, Bada and Chilli of finger millet and Kala and Bada of little millet.
Dehulling of Suan (little millet) is a tedious process, requiring much skill, energy and time. Women have to parboil the little millet and dry it before hand pounding to remove the husk. It has to be pounded 4-7 times to convert it to edible form (Suan chaula) for consumption. 83 percent of women face this problem in the 38 project villages (Baseline survey, 2012).
RESMISA project to reduce drudgery of women in dehulling little millet and to enable increased consumption, installed two Suan dehullers at Bileiguda and Kunduli Hatapada village. This has considerably helped them to save their time, energy and labour.
Traditionally the tribal community used to consume only two recipes made of finger millet i.e. Mandia Jau and Landa and only Suan rice (little millet rice). To enhance consumption different type of recipes of small millets and their allied crops was introduced to 15 villages through recipe training. Now women in these villages are able to prepare four to five recipes, which enhanced the dietary diversity of small millet consumption.
Through Walkathon on “Agricultural Bio-diversity and Food & Nutrition Security”, demonstration on 11 recipes of small millets was done in which school children, academics, politicians, governments and non-government organizations participated. This has increased interest among 20 percent school going children for consumption of small millets recipes.
Deomali Kalanjiam Mahasangh has successfully implemented RESMISA project for increasing income (by 25-30 percent) with the introduction of farmers preferred suitable improved varieties as well as improved package of practices for small millet cultivation. It has reached within large numbers of tribal community and increased their capacity for understanding different varietal diversification, improved cultivation practices which not only help for small millet but also for other crops cultivated locally.
This project has given space for women to involve in several research, skill building and promotional activities.