The strategy encompasses three aspects viz., generating
experience, building a pool of resource persons and, policy
formulation and advocacy; each one has a step by step
processes. .
Generating Experiences:
Step 1:
The process starts with locating and documenting the
existing experiences. The strategies, processes and
instruments in built into these experiences will be
distilled and analyzed. The appropriateness, limitations and
gaps in these experiences will also be analyzed in the
context of evolving policy options.
Step 2:
A small working group consisting of experts in the area will
evolve an action framework from out of the analysis in
Step-1. This framework will be contextualized for
independent initiatives and also for integrating into the
mainstream natural resources development programs like
watershed development. The framework will lay-down the
process design, institutional systems and support mechanisms
for revitalising rainfed agriculture. The framework will be
in a replicable mode.
Step 3:
Within the integrated action-framework experience will be
generated in 10 villages and also in another 10 villages as
a part of the mainstream natural resources development
programs. This experience will be generated in partnership
with five Non-Government Organisations and 5 Community Based
Organisations. In each village about 100 acres (30 to 50
farmers) will be taken up.
In addition, based on the initial successes the program will
also promote experiences with the mainstream programs on a
wider scale. About 20 to 30 such experiences will be
generated
The experience will be in the mode of an action-research and
will be documented intensively; the response for various
instruments of support, the impacts on the farming systems
and livelihoods will be analyzed closely. There would be
mid-term corrections in the process design as per the
emerging experiences. The working group and various
government departments will be closely associated all along
with this experience.
The visibility of this field experience will also be ensured
through a) constant exposure visits for policy analysts and
senior officials and influential civil society organisations
b) documentation and dissemination of the emerging
experiences.
The field experiences that the project is to generate are in
the nature of diversified farming systems with community
based sustainable agriculture principles. The attempt is to
conceive the requirements of such a system in rainfed lands
of dry regions and provide project based support (which can
later be embedded into public support systems). The
essential departures from the present ‘Green Revolution’
centric approach are the following:
-
From component based approaches to integrated farming system
based approach
-
From ‘input centric’ towards ‘management centric’ approaches
-
From ‘extension based systems’ to ‘knowledge based systems’
-
From ‘chemicals’ based inputs to ‘labour based inputs’
Solving a problem through promotion of an external input
(seed, pesticide, fertilizer or water) has been the dominant
paradigm. This program envisages a shift towards managing
the problem, which essentially involves a sound knowledge
base on the problem. Experience also suggests that many of
the chemicals can be replaced through collective action and
labour substitution.
-
Founded on the principles of ‘regeneration’ rather than
‘exploitation’.
-
From ‘individual’ centric approaches to ‘group’ based
approaches
-
From liberal ‘irrigation’ to soil moisture and protective
irrigation
The scope of the effort is limited to small and marginal
farmers and land-less laborers. The work with large farmers
is limited to the others establishing niche areas of
knowledge/ skill based service provision to large farmers
against some payment. The experiences would encompass the
areas of soil and moisture conservation, soil fertility
management, community managed seed systems, managing pests
without pesticides, introduction of trees, shrubs and
grasses in the farming system, integrating livestock and
developing shared irrigation systems that provides for
protective irrigation for many. Enhancing the fodder base to
secure more livestock assets, institutionalizing livestock
health care, breed up-gradation, improving productivity are
some of the livestock related activities. Internalizing
external inputs to the large extent possible, promoting
community based marketing or exchange systems both for
inputs and outputs and value addition may also be attempted
in a limited way. This experience will have equity and
gender concerns at the core.
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Building a Pool
of Resource Persons:
Professional support is an important constraint in upscaling
of successful experiences. The program will initiate a
capacity building course on integrated farming systems
for rainfed agriculture. The purpose is to build about
25 persons who understand the technologies, institutions,
processes and capacity building aspects related to the
subject. Efforts will be made to evolve this course into a
certificate or polytechnic course within a mainstream
(government) academic institution.
The participants would be from the NGO sector or persons
engaged with the mainstream natural resources development
programs. A small working experience would also be in built
into the design of the course. This pool of resource persons
will also be engaged in generating the experience. This pool
can also provide support services for scaling up of
successful experiences.
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Policy Advocacy
and Formulation:
Step 1:
Constituting a Policy Working Group with people of
reputation and longstanding work in this area. This group
will anchor the Policy Advocacy initiatives.
Step 2:
Policy Analysis of various mainstream natural resources
(including agriculture) related programs. The analysis would
include technologies embedded within the rainfed agriculture
support systems. The working group will also develop an
Advocacy Strategy. The target is on the programs/ support
systems of Ministry of Agriculture, Watershed Programs,
National Food for Work and Employment Assurance programs.
Step 3:
Scrutinizing the experience being generated and the earlier
work on synthesizing the existing experiences. Evolving
policy options from such analysis. Various sub-themes
and issues will be identified for special focus and if
needed, working groups will be constituted on these
sub-themes or special issues to analyse the experience and
generate policy options.
Step 4:
Organising consultations, encouraging research studies and
wider debates on the policy options. These processes will
target reformulation of the present policies and also
advocate for new ones.
Step 4:
Efforts will be made to prepare policy briefs, getting
policy (re )formulation mandate in at least some of the
mainstream government programs. This would provide basis for
a greater advocacy agenda for the next phase.
Step 5:
Organising regional and a national workshop involving senior
policy analysts and policy makers.
Ford Foundation may also take a pro-active role in promoting
networking, sharing of knowledge and advocacy initiatives at
the national level along with WASSAN and CSA. Generation of
communication and resource material is part of the overall
strategy. This material will be used within the program and
also for wider dissemination of the outputs and processes.
Scope of the program :
The is for a longer-term partnership with the Ford
Foundation in achieving the goals. It is proposed that the
partnership be considered for a period of eight years.
Considering the complexities in the agenda and the time
scale to show clear impacts in regenerating the farming
systems such a time frame is needed. The first phase of the
program however, can be for a period of three years.
The first phase the program is
mainly focused in Andhra Pradesh except for the advocacy
efforts. It is envisaged that the program will expand its
scope to other states to promote and support similar
initiatives in collaboration with other organisations. This
expansion to other states may even be initiated during the
third year.
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