TCSRD Round Up

Sustainable livelihood

Under the farm based initiative, to demonstrate improved ways of agriculture production that would lower input cost and give higher output, 65 farmers were trained on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and cultivation of sunflower at Haldia. Good quality seeds and fertilizers for paddy and sunflower cultivation were provided to further improve the agriculture produce.

At Babrala, this year a new variety of Banana (G9) was introduced. Following the four days training program on banana cultivation by Indian Institute of Horticulture Technology, NOIDA for TCSRD staff and three farmers, around 1000 plants were purchased and planted. 80% survival rate was observed as they were tissue culture based plants.

Another initiative to promote horticulture especially vegetable farming among the SHG members was started at Babrala. In the first phase of this program, TCSRD provided 25,000 vegetable plants sapling at 20 paisa to the members which were grown in a controlled environment at the demonstration site of the TCSRD. Low tunnel poly house technique was adopted to grow these saplings.

At Mithapur, under the agriculture development program, KRL seeds were provided to 25 wheat producing farmers instead of GW496 type, as it gives high yield by using less water.

Exposure visit for 11 farmers was orgainsed to Khambhaliya, Jamnagar and Hapa oil mill & market yard. As a result of this visit, these farmers have started selling ground nut oil directly at the market yard of Khambhaliya on the rate decided by govt. They are very happy with this direct market linkage as they got more for their produce compared to what they use to get by selling it to the middleman.

Trellis demonstration was done in three villages Goriyali, Mevasa and Vasai. By using this technique where the creeper vegetables are grown with the support provided by bamboo from all the four sides.

3 polly houses of 200sq.mtr were constructed at Vacchu and in Varvala. This has helped in providing good quality vegetables to 3 farmers.

Different activities like advisory services, animal health check up at the door step by para vets (pashupalak mitra) and vaccination, breed improvement and provision of balance nutrition for animal growth were provided under this program with the aim to increase milk production. Artificial Insemination centre has been a big success as, till date 7719 animals have been treated at Babrala.

At Haldia, TCSRD has started animal husbandry program for families which are dependent on cattle for their livelihood. Two animal husbandry camps were orgainsed in two villages, where vaccination and health treatment was provided to 250 cattle. TCSRD is also generating awareness for artificial insemination of cattle for improving progeny of cattle in the area. The program is being done with support from the Sutahata Block Animal Husbandry Department.

Under the nonfarm livelihood program, skill development training in four trades viz mobile repairing, electrical repair and fittings, computer hardware and repair of AC/ Refrigerator was initiated at Haldia in collaboration with Jan ShikshanSansthan.

At Mithapur, 28 youth were sent to Dalit Shakti Kendra, Ahmedabad for three months certified course on stitching, beauty parlour, videography, photography. At Mini ITI Rajkot & Rishi Weld tech, Baroda 13 youth were sent for 45 days technical training course in electrical, welder, fitter, mobile, refrigerator & vehicle repairing etc. TCL quality team assessed 62 youth trained by Navjeevan Trust, Bhimrana. It was found that 80% of the youth from the group have got employment after finishing their course.

At Mithapur, under REDP training program, 3 general trainings on entrepreneurship were conducted covering 90 youth.

The eight clusters (Bandhani, Block print, Jute, Rexene & Leather, Clay work, Bead work and Paper bag) operating at Mithapur continued its production and sales through local market, exhibition and Okhai store.

Seeing the demand and need, a mobile charger production/repairing along with mobile repairing training program started this year at Babrala. During the feasibility study, it was found that there is a huge scope for mobile charger production in the surrounding area of Babrala as around 10000 mobile chargers were required every month as lot of them got spoilt due to voltage fluctuation in the area.

Entrepreneurship Awareness Camp (EAC) camp was organised at Babrala in partnership with Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). 56 students who participated in the camp got an insight about the various facets of entrepreneurship as an alternative career option.

After a rigorous process of selection, 150 youth were selected for the seven days marketing and retail management training program. 85 students from the group got employment at Shiv Shakti Bio Technologies Ltd., Roorkee District, Haridwar and Eureka Forbes Limited, New Delhi immediately after the completion of the course. This training course was done in collaboration with Labournet organisation.

At both Babrala and Mithapur, Uday- rural BPO has provided employment to 245 youth (35 at Babrala and 210 at Mithapur).

At Mithapur, UDAY Foundation continues to deliver wide range of low-end to high-end services. These include customer support to Tata Teleservices, Tata Sky, Tata Chemicals (chem. connect), and MEA (Passport helpline).

35 youth employed at Babrala are getting business through a new partner "Rural Shores". Here, they provides support to MEA (DIN number) and attend to NSDC calls.