A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices
Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices Aug 2016 Authors: MV Rama Chandrudu Beneta Mahanta Waseem Mohammad Anitha Reddy V MB Vali Saab Editors: K Suresh MV Rama Chandrudu Visuals:Cheriyal Nakashi Artists Family - Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons). Design and Layout : Ankush Copy Left : These case studies could be used for non-commercial use, with proper acknowledgement. Supported by : Indian Foundation for Humanistic Development, Bengaluru Produced by : WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) Produced for Leaders For Nature Program. This program is collectively organized by CII; Hivos; IUCN; Wild Life Trust of India. IFHD is anchoring the Leaders for Nature Program. Published by: IFHD, Bengaluru
Acknowledgements I am very happy to present "Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices". I take this opportunity to thank all organizations and individuals who contributed to the process of documenting these good practices. They were kind to frankly share with us their experiences, thoughts, challenges and achievements. They also shared relevant data to substantiate any critical point from their experiences. Some of them even prepared the first drafts of these case studies. They also revised them, based on our feedback. All the organizations/ individuals happily gave consent for publishing these case studies and using them for learning purposes under "Leaders for Nature" program of IFHD, IUCN, CII, Hivos and Wild Life Trust of India. The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is also a humbling experience for us to learn several lessons from these interactions and visits to several villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program. The Writeshop was one of the important events of this process. We got guidance and feedback on the '0' drafts from the participants of the writeshop. This was useful in refining the initial drafts. The participants of writeshop also made important suggestions on the presentation and utility of these case studies. From their busy schedules, they spared few days for refining these case studies, which is a very kind gesture. I thank everyone who participated in the writeshop. Their inputs are invaluable. I thank Ms. Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD for having faith in WASSAN and entrusting us the responsibility of compiling these case studies. She is an active team member at all critical stages of the project and guided us on choice of case studies, structure/ framework, presentation, etc. The partnership with IFHD is really cherished by all of us, at WASSAN.
I also thank the family of artists of Cheriyal - Shri D Vaikuntam, Mrs D Vanaja, Mr D Vinay and D Rakesh, who visualized these experiences in their own unique style. My team -MB Vali, Anitha Vustela, Waseem Mohammad, Benita Mahanta, Radhashree who spent considerable time on this agenda. I also thank K Suresh for providing editorial inputs and support at various stages of this process. MV Rama Chandrudu WASSAN Aug 2016
Foreword It is almost three decades back, the threats to "Our Common Future" were formally identified and deliberations started gaining more steam and support from governments too‌ (Our Common Future,Gro Harlem Brundtland, 1987). Climate Change and its implications were also slowly getting recognized during this period. The need for "producing more with less" was also part of this thinking process, as a means to address the challenges of the future. Over a period of time, the world witnessed more economic distress, unemployment, political turmoil and ecological disasters across different countries and regions of world. Those early predictions seemed to be less threatening than the current reality. The global gloom got predictable companions - unscrupulous industrial growth, irresponsible urbanization, careless global politics, dishonest governments, self-centric citizenship, which tried to glorify the current trends as achievements and inevitable solutions. In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of this trend. These experiences bring cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They were able to take a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities. These case studies give a hope and confidence that we can face the cruel world and transform the same into a comfortable place for all - including endangered species, poor and marginalized communities. While Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining more support
from governments, corporate agencies and development agencies, these experiences provide guidance and help them to think about alternatives. These experiences help the willing and discerning development agencies and investors in social change, to transcend the mundane "photo stories" of majority of current CSR interventions. They provide an array of options, strategies and ideas that proved themselves in different parts of the country. I thank all the organizations and agencies who shared their stories - highs and lows of it, with us frankly and completely. I thank them for providing leadership on the chosen theme - promoting biodiversity; conservation and governance of natural resources; promoting ecologically sensitive production processes; enhancing livelihoods by developing environmentally harmonious economic models and several others. These experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which are jointly organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other like-minded organizations. I thank WASSAN for producing this compilation of case studies and supporting us in this endeavor.
Aruna Rangachar Pohl IFHD, Bengaluru Aug 2016
15 Mixed Vegetable
“
Paddy was our main crop till few years back…. We used to get good uniform rains and the production was good. Past few years, we are experiencing torrential rains for few days followed by dry spells. The temperatures are so high because of which the demand for water has goneup. I did not have my own pumping set and I had to beg others for it. Many times, I was unable to irrigate my crops in time because of which I suffered losses. On the other hand, because of water logging problems, my paddy fields were submerged in water for long duration and my entire crop would get destroyed. My land is fragmented and government’s irrigation facilities like tubewells / canals are very limited. Borewells cannot be dug on every fragment of land...” Malti resident of Kartarhari village of Jungle Kaudia block in Gorakhpur. “…..Since childhood, I am familiar with paddy crop…. after marriage also, I was cultivating paddy crop on our 3 acres of land. For so many years, we were cultivating only paddy, as a mono crop. Floods and waterlogging were regular phenomenon in my village. In spite of these problems, we used to make good sense of paddy crop earlier… but not anymore… Irregular rainfall and increase in temperatures during summer months have Mixed Vegetable
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affected our farming practices and livelihoods. Of late, due to unpredictable and unseasonal floods, water-logging and dry spells, I am incurring huge losses in the paddy crop… these changes in the weather and temperature are causing huge loss to farmers like me…” Laxmi Devi, resident of village Badhani in Jungle Kaudia block of district Gorakhpur. Floods and water logging affect agriculture which is the main source of livelihood of people in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. It disrupts life and devastates property on a large scale. The small and marginal farmers who mainly undertake subsistence farming are the worst affected as their food security is hit. Growing paddy as a dominant and mono-crop was the usual practice followed in Jungle Kaudia block of district Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.The paddy crop used to get damaged either by floods and water logging or by long dry spells. Water table being very low (at a depth of 250-400 ft), it is difficult for the farmers to irrigate their crops during dry spells. Owing to all these reasons, growing paddy crop became unviable for farmers like Laxmi Devi, Malti and Vidyawati Devi. During the Rabi and Jayad season they are growing vegetables and other cash crops as a substantial source of their income. They are using the low cost, locally available inputs to minimise the total cost of production. For small farmers like Laxmi Devi, Malti and Vidyawati Devi, the challenges are many. Securing livelihoods, incomes and food are some of the critical concerns. How to survive floods and dry spells? How to make the ends meet? What can they get from a small plot of less than half an acre? Is agriculture viable at all? Should they continue agriculture or give up? What are the options they have? With the support of Gorakhpur Environment Action Group (GEAG), Gorakhpur, these farmers made a decisive shift towards diversity. They could make the agriculture by small farmer viable, against all odds. 168
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Vidyawati Devi, a small marginal farmer is resident of village Rakhukhor of Jungle Kauria Block of Gorakhpur District. With 9 family members Vidyawati has only 22 decimal agricultural land which is her mainstay for livelihood. She leased 3 acres of land. She was cultivating wheat, rice and sugarcane with a little share of vegetables. She got in touch with GEAG and got trained at farmer field schools established by GEAG . The objective of farmers field schools is to educate them about new farm technology and various practices related to sustainable agriculture, bio-manure, bio-pesticides, climatic change and seed production.The agricultural resources and magazines related to agriculture (eg: Hindi edition of LEISA)are available at the village resource centre. The resource centres established by GEAG are equipped with some farm equipment which are provided to the farmers on a very small rent. She visited the village resource centre regularly and improved her knowledge and skill related to integrated farming systems. She was motivated to adopt the new technology and to use the resources available at the village resource centre She produced and used the bio-manure and pesticides made with local available cattle dung, mustard oil cake, domestic and agricultural waste, weeds, leaves of trees etc. She treated seed by applying Trichoderma, cow urine, dung compost and Neem cake and other methods. She followed various systems of agriculture such as mixed farming, inter cropping, vegetable farming and multi layered farming. On part of the land, she cultivated cash crops like sugarcane, groundnuts and pea and on the other side she made all possible efforts for growing vegetables. To make the farming climate resilient, she grew roof top nursery, vegetable’s nursery on bamboo mat and replanted them in their fields. She maximized the benefits of time and space. The diversity of crops in her field is shown in the following table: 170
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Type of soil and Area (In Acre)
Kharif
Rabi
Sandy Soil (1.25)
Paddy, Dhaincha, Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Green Chilly, Groundnut, Til, Merua, Sanwa, Tangun, Bajra
Cauliflower, Cabbage, Green chilly, Potato, Pea, Radish, Carrot, Coriander, Bakala, Garlic, Brinjal, Methi, Banana, Turmeric,
Loam (0.45)
Paddy, Pehua, Dhaincha
Wheat, Mustard, radish, pea
Loam (0.52)
Paddy, Dhaincha Wheat, Mustard, pea
Sandy Loam (3, sharing)
Ground nut, Til, Bajra, Merua, Sanwa, Arhar (Pulses)
Mixed Vegetable
Potato, Bakala, Wheat, pea, Mustard, Sugarcane, Arhar (Pulses) 171
Zaid Kunuroo, Ginger Banda, Sponge gourd, Lady’s finger, Chaulai, Coriander, Cucumber, Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd, water melon, green chilly, maize, radish, Chari.
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Adopting the income oriented diversity of agriculture, she started producing seeds of paddy, wheat and vegetables. By selling these seeds, she is able to earn higher income. She started rearing cattle, which provided inputs into fields in the form of manures and bio-pesticides, apart from generating incomes from sale of milk. She also planted fruit bearing trees and other trees on the bunds which are providing along with fruits, fuel wood and the timber for household purposes. This process helped to meet maximum needs of her family and cattle. Now, because of the practices followed by Vidyawati, her field became a learning ground for the farmers. Mixed Vegetable
Climate Advisory Services – Agro-Met Advisories: The farmers of eastern Uttar Pradesh are constantly striving to adapt to the changing climate. They have now understood the rainfall patterns and are accordingly changing their cropping decisions. In the process, their innovativeness, traditional knowledge and skills are also getting nurtured which is enabling them to keep adapting in an uncertain future. There is a need to further develop their adaptive capacity with improved planning and better management decisions. GEAG is providing climate and weather information to 785 farmers of Jangal Kauria block of Gorakhpur and Kabrai block of Mahoba districts directly through weather advisory services (through Short Message Services - SMS). This support service sends SMS to farmers regularly on weather forecasts and related advices. Broad Spectrum of Agro-Met Advisories 1. Sowing/ transplanting of kharif crops based on onset of monsoon. 2. Sowing of rabi crops using residual soil moisture. 3. Fertilizer application based on wind condition. 4. Delay in fertilizer application based on intensity of rain Contd.... 173
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Vegetable farming ...contd has shown a ray of hope in 5. Prediction of occurrence of pest and disease based on weather. agriculture to the small and marginal and women 6. Weeding/ Thinning at regular interval for farmers of Jungle Kaudia better growth and development for crop. block of Gorakhpur. With 7. Irrigation at critical stage of the crop. the changing climate 8. Quantum and timing of irrigation using patterns, erratic rainfall meteorological threshold. leading to water logging and floods, paddy farmers 9. Advisories for timely harvest of crops. were really frustrated. 10. Weather advisory developed in GEAG with the help of models and conventional Paddy is still grown by the forecasting systems and association with farmers but mainly for domestic consumption. IMD and Agricultural University. Farmers have started vegetable farming on a large scale which is more profitable and ensures food and nutritional security. The gradual shift from a paddy-based farming system to vegetable based farming system is clearly an adaptation mechanism to withstand the effects of climate change in this area. Like Vidyawati, large number of farmers like Laxmi Devi, Malti are able to reinvent themselves and discover the mantra of integrated farming systems. With the association of GEAG, about 4700 farmers in 30 villages learnt about integrated farming systems and crop diversity, mixed cropping system, preparation of home-made organic manure, etc. Farmers have started growing more than 70 varieties of food and vegetable crops on their fields. A crop diversification of this type is an excellent mechanism to deal with the effects of climate change. Organically grown fresh vegetables are a good source of nutrition for the family, especially, women and children. If one or two crops fail also, the others will flourish thereby giving food, nutritional and income security to the small and marginal farmers. Mixed Vegetable
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Animal husbandry is another component of the farm integration. Selling milk and other by-products from cattle is a source of continuous income. These cattle are also the source of bio-manure and pesticides which are made by their dung and urine. For many farmers, their animals have been their saviour in times of floods. Along with farming and animal husbandry, another dimension of integration which the farmers have adopted is the inclusion of fisheries and poultry in their farm ecosystem. A small pond is dug on the farm in which fish are reared. On the top of the pond, a bamboo platform is made like a machan and there is a cage inside which poultry birds are reared. The droppings from the hens and cocks fall into the pond water which eventually becomes food for the fishes. Fisheries and poultry rearing have also helped the farmers to a great extent in the wake of the climate change. Not only has it worked as an additional income for the family, it has also added to the nutritional security of women and children, in particular. Integrated Farming System model has reduced the dependencies of farmers on the external market. The entire farm ecosystem is managed in such a way that the output from one element becomes the input for another element and the cycle continues. Diversity of crops is the protective shield from vagaries of climate change. MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN Based on Field visit to GEAG Field visits; Interactions with GEAG team at Gorakhpur – KK Singh and others; Literature from GEAG on these villages.
Mixed Vegetable
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About Cheriyal Paintings Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons) are keeping the tradition of Cheriyal Paintings of Telangana state, for generations. All members of the family are engaged in protecting and conserving this rare art form, that is not likely to survive for long. This is the only family in the country that is still engaged in this traditional art form. The Cheriyal Art has a unique character - red color background; vivid presentation of figures (men, women, animals, flowers, plants and others) with unique strokes and style. This art form belongs to "nakashi" form of paintings in India. But Cheriyal paintings contextualized this nakashi format to local Telangana and improvised it, with their unique styles. Apart from paintings and scrolls, Cheriyal Masks are also very attractive and unique with their bright colors and large eyes. D Vaikuntam received several awards from Central/ State governments, for his unique contribution to Cheriyal Art. D Vaikuntam and his family members agreed to present the key messages of these case studies. They spent time with us to understand the essence of each case study and presented it in their own style. These pictures further enriched the experiences, which are already exemplary in several ways. WASSAN thanks the family of artists of Cheriyal for their support in visualising these case studies. Pictures of some of the paintings/ scrolls and masks could be seen on this blog: http://vaikuntamnakash.blogspot.in/
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"…..In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of the trend. These experiences brought cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They took a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities…"Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD, Bangaluru. "……these experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which is organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other likeminded organizations.The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is a humbling experience for us to learn lessons from the interactions and visits to their villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program" - MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN