Implementing Organization: Institute of Himalayan Environmental Research & Education, Almora.

Kumaon Women Show the Way

At the end of third year of the project, the availability of fodder in the project area has increased up to 40 per cent. Reduction in areas affected by forest fire is 70 per cent. Agriculture yield has increased by 40 to 50 per cent. Per capita water availability, on an average, has increased by 12 liters.

Natural resources of the Central Himalayan belt are under great human stress. The degradation of vegetation cover around villages has been leading to high rate of soil erosion and scarcity of water. The degraded forests in Van Panchayat, village common land, and individual lands are dominated by chir pine that is prone to forest fires every year, which also leads to depletion of natural biodiversity of the area.

The impact of the environmental degradation is apparent in the worsening condition of the soil, low productivity and vulnerability to crop failure, out-migration of male members in search of petty jobs, growth in women-headed households and in the added burden on women.

The project is located in the hill State of Uttaranchal and is spread over 48 sq km area, covering 5 micro watersheds where 32 villages of Chaukhutia, Bhikiasain and Syaldeh blocks of Almora district are located.

The project is addressing the linkage between natural resources degradation, poverty and drudgery, focusing on the problems relating to land, water, forest and people. The aim of the project is to improve living conditions and livelihood security through integrated natural resource management.


Progress this year

During the year the project focused on the implementation of planned physical activities that included plantation of broadleaved trees of mixed indigenous species in Van Panchayat and village common land, soil and water conservation measures, development of livelihood opportunities and measures for augmentation of drinking water. The activities were carried out with the active involvement of the resident communities.

Twenty-four community nurseries continued to raise a variety of indigenous species for the summer monsoon plantation. Cumulative area brought under plantation was 978 hectares, including 7 lakh saplings planted during the year. Apart from plant aftercare by the beneficiaries, a variety of measures were taken to protect the plants from forest fires, animal grazing and open cutting of grasses and trees. These measures included thawla making with stone mulching, trimming of pine trees, development of fire lines, pirool composting, community awareness and motivation meetings, regulation of open grazing and cutting, and enforcement of self-imposed fines.

Soil conservation and land improvement activities undertaken in the year included 23,283 staggered contour trenches, 65 hectares of silvipasture development, construction of 960 check bunds and 35 LDPE tanks. Bioengineering measures were taken in 143 hectares of land. Farmers did levelling and bunding in the agricultural land in 6 hectares of land with motivation provided by the project.

Structures for water conservation and augmentation of potable water for the community, implemented during the year, included 123 water percolation tanks, 180 ferro cement roof rainwater tanks, 4 hand pumps, and improvement of 6 naulas (spring sources). An innovative ferro-cement low cost latrine was designed and developed, and 65 units promoted to improve village hygiene and prevent water pollution. Water testing and chlorination was undertaken in village common water sources and in all the 236 household level rainwater-harvesting tanks made under the project.

The project focused on promoting diversified livelihood opportunities, primarily agriculture and allied activities. Emphasis was laid on consolidating the path-breaking gains made in certification and promotion of diversified organic practices for agriculture, horticulture and medicinal plants for value addition and bio diversity conservation.

Thirty-two training sessions were organized on organic agriculture practices relating to manure, pest control, good quality seeds and implements, harvesting and post-harvesting practices, and
grading of agro produce. Biodynamic and vermi compost units numbering 221 were promoted, 3.19 quintal of good quality vegetable, food grain and spices seeds were made available to the farmers. Improved agriculture implements numbering 1,490 were also provided to them.

Seven polyhouses were installed in villages for promoting off-season vegetable farming and preparation of vegetable plant seedlings. Beekeeping with apis cerana bees was initiated with 15 colonies being established. Innovations in traditional beekeeping practices like wall hives, reduction in unit costs, and organic certification of honey and formation of organic beekeeping cluster will give a boost for making bee keeping a major livelihood option next year. Horticulture plantation in 245 hectares, promotion of seasonal vegetables, courtyard poultry and household mushroom units were completed.

Organic Certification for Village Products

The diversity of the mountain agriculture system, marginal and small landholdings of the farmers, subsistence farming with small surpluses, the absence of local market as well as poor transport and infrastructure, pose a great challenge. The project decided to convert the largely organic agriculture into certified organic produce, and thus its conversion into higher value produce for niche markets. The value addition could be as simple as cleaning, sorting and grading of the agricultural produce, or processing it into jams, pickles and fruit concentrates. Initially, it was decided to get a group certification for farmers of 10 villages. An internal control system was set up for this purpose, and Skal International, Netherlands, was selected as the certification agency. Skal International is accredited under National Standard for Organic Product, Government of India, and is a member of the Control Union World Group. Simultaneously, efforts were made to increase the productivity of the farmers by active learning and use of various organic methods. A number of training programmes were organized on organic farming, vermicomposting, biodynamic composting, biodynamic heap preparation, organic seed treatment and other related package of practices. In 2004 the project was able to obtain organic certification for 67 products from 13 villages. These farmers constitute about 30 per cent of the total 1,542 households in the project area, covering about 283 acres of land. Another 356 farmers of 10 villages have been readied for organic certification for their produce. Marketing of organically grown food grains, pulses and spices was initiated after undertaking grading and cleaning. These measures yielded a 21 per cent increase in price realization.

During the year FPO certification was obtained to enable processing and additional essential equipment installed and production of jams, pickles and sauces commenced.

The participation and cooperation of the local community and the Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the project has been very heartening. The community organizations involved in the project area are 31 Village Environment Restoration Committees (VERCs), 57 women Self-Help Groups, 22 Youth Groups, 8 Kishori Samuhs, 3 Watershed Committees and 3 Women Federations. During the year 854 meetings were organized with these groups and consultations held on a wide range of issues.

Working towards gender balance and women empowerment, 72 capacity building and skill development workshops and trainings were organized with the women SHGs, who have led a successful campaign for enforcing (for the first time in the area) villagelevel fines for causing forest fires.

At the end of the third year of the project, the availability of fodder has increased up to 40 per cent. Reduction in areas affected by fores fire is 70 per cent. Agriculture yield has increased by 40 to 50 per cent. Per capita water availability, on an average, has increased by 12 liters.

A fruit-processing unit was set up and registered under FPO in 2004. It commenced value addition by producing pickles, jam, marmalade and fruit concentrate. The products (brand name Himalayan Fresh) were first exhibited and sold at the organic Uttaranchal fair held at the Delhi Haat. Efforts are on to diversify marketing outlets. The project’s organic journey is the only instance in the country where entire villages have been organically certified, formal internal control systems set up, and group certification of small and marginal farmers undertaken. 97 agricultural/horticultural/medicinal plant produce is certified as per EU Regulations 2092/91 (single largest number by any organization).

Series of small structures required for intensive treatment.