Agriculture and Allied Sector
ITDP – Chirang, Dibrugarah, Goalpara and West Kameng
Agriculture Development Programme – Goalpara, Garo Hills and Umrangso
A Model Rubber Plantation
Marketing Outlet at Kothakuti, Rongjuli block of Goalpara district
Conservation, Storage & Promotion of Local Brinjal Variety “Balijana” in Goalpara
Beekeeping under Honey Mission of KVIC
Livelihood Activities for Farmers and Migrants Labourers
Improved Method of Pig Farming under MEDP
ITDP – Chirang, Dibrugarah, Goalpara and West Kameng
The Integrated Tribal Development Programmeis implemented five blocks (Kusdhowa,Barbaruah, Khowang, Sidli and Thrizino), four districts (Goalpara, Dibrugarh andChirangin Assam and West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh).The objective of the project is to spread the message of ‘Wadi’ (small orchard) model of tribal development. The ‘Wadi’approach aims at optimum utilization of own resources and asset creation for the tribal families.
BRO had completed implementing five ITDPs- BRISOH in Ri-Bhoi District of Meghalaya, BITEGRIM in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, PERSOH in West Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, THESERE APAIBARI in KarbiAnglong District of Assam, and BOLGRIM in Goalpara District of Assamand was benefitted by more than 2400 wadi beneficiaries. They have improved their living standard through cultivation in one acre of land each with crops that are favourable growth in the particular regions. Intercropping and kitchen gardening are being practiced with the main crops. Women empowerment is one of the key units of the project component.
Agriculture Development Programme – Goalpara, Garo Hills and Umrangso
Agriculture Development Programme aims to improve the socio-economic status of tribal rural farmers by improving the production and productivity through systematic broad based Agricultural Development Programmes in North East India.Two of the Agriculture Development Programme, at North Garo Hill district of Meghalaya and Gaolpara district of Assam, was successfully implemented. The project was readily welcomed by the farmers as they had access to good extension services as per their needs. The farmers took part the entire programme very enthusiastically and adopt knowledge gain at theprogramme. Quality input support and skill training on agriculture and livestock under theproject were well appreciated by the beneficiaries.219 famers cultivated 10,950 Karimunda variety saplings of black pepper, 274 farmers cultivated 91,500Kew variety of pineapple plant, 64 farmers cultivated quality vegetable seeds, 38 farmers a planted 1,520 seedlings of Assam lemons, 420 Farmers reared 870 Gangguru breed of female piglets and 45 farmers built vermi compost tank for producing vermi compost at low cost.The Agriculture Development Programme is being replicated in Dima Hasaodistrict of Assam.
A Model Rubber Plantation
Bosco Reach Out implemented the rubber plantation project in Agricultural Training Centre, Joropara, North Garo Hill District of Meghalaya under Salesians of Don Bosco, Guwahati province with an aimed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere for self-sustainability of the Centre, reduce and stabilize the concentration of Green House Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere at levels that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system, and production of rubber sheet. 15000 plants in 30 hectares had been completed its plantation successfully, maintained and surviving. Tapping tools and equipment for rubber processing for rubber are purchased in collaboration with Rubber Board of India. At present, the processing unit is producing rubber sheet from the latex harvested.
Marketing Outlet at Kothakuti, Rongjuli block of Goalpara district
Nabajyoti Rural Mart, a marketing outlet established in December 2021 in Goalpara district of Assam, is the impact of the six years TDF-BOLGRIM Project implemented in this area involving 400 farmers. Later, these farmers formed two FPOs, namely NabajyotiAnchalikKrishakSamabaySamiti and Twelve Villages Farmer Producer Organization Cooperative Society Limited. The FPO members have earned better income by selling their products in the Rural Mart. It has reduced the involvement of the middleman and enhanced their bargaining power in the market. It is a new success story for farmers. FPO members provide market linkages for local farm products produced by the rural community and small and marginal farmers.
Nabajyoti Rural Mart was awarded, by NABARD, third position for the Best Rural Mart 2021-2022 on the special occasion of the 41st NABARD Foundation Day in recognition of the service in furthering the cause of sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development through participative financial and marketing interventions, micro-credit innovation and ushering financial inclusion for securing rural prosperity.
Conservation, Storage and Promotion of Local Brinjal Variety “Balijana” in Goalpara
The project ‘Conservation, Storage and Promotion of Local Brinjal Variety of Balijana’ aims to conserve and promote ‘Balijanabrinjal’, a local variety well known for its exotic flavour, taste, size and less seed-bearing characteristics. Brinjal of this local variety has high market demand as few farmers of Balijana block grow this variety. Farmers follow only traditional practices, without chemical fertilizer and pesticides, yielding less than improved practices. Considering acute energy shortage and inadequate cold storage facilities in rural areas, low-cost “Zero Energy Cooling Chamber” for short-term on-farm storage of perishable farm products for the farmers before carrying them to the nearest market.
Beekeeping under Honey Mission of KVIC
Beekeeping has been promoted as an alternative method to increase the income of the Wadi farmers of the NABARD-funded Integrated Tribal Development Fund Project, which has completed six years of its rubber plantation. After the awareness camp on beekeeping, a five-day ‘training programme on beekeeping for beginners’ was conducted to impart education about modern beekeeping, build human resources in the beekeeping sector, diversify apiculture to increase the farmer’s income, and develop entrepreneurial skills in beekeeping. The 25 trainees received a total of 250 boxes along with tool kits and bees.
Livelihood Activities for Farmers and Migrants Labourers
The project ‘Livelihood activities for farmers and migrant labourers of Tezpur Region, Assam State, India’ was implemented with target groups, approximately 1250 family members of 250 households from 10 villages of Tezpur region of Assam, who during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown experienced difficulties in their agricultural activities due to financial problems. The project enabled them to continue their livelihood activities like paddy cultivation, vegetable cultivation and poultry farming.
Improved Method of Pig Farming under MEDP
A programme on an improved method of pig farming under the Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDP) in farm sector activities was organised to promote scientific and improved methods of pig farming, increased production of meat, promote bank credit for pig farming and development of micro-enterprise, and bridge the gap between the pig farmer and the global market. The Barbaruah block of the Dibrugarh district as well as the Rongjuli and Kusdhowa blocks of the Goalpara district of Assam, benefitted the programme. It provided skill training on an improved method of pig farming with practical and theoretical classes, linkage with the bank for opening a savings bank account and credit linkage with banks to set up micro-enterprise units. 180 Trainees attended the MEDP. 95 Trainees started micro-enterprises on pig rearing. Of these, 11 trainees got a loan assistance of Rs.7,90,000.00 from the State Bank of India and 84 trainees used their resources to start their enterprises.