Agro based enterprises sustains rural economy- SG/OFI/SEVAI project

Vegetable projection and marketing

SG/OFI/SEVAI, Project in Trichy works for Sustainable Livelihoods, enhancing women’s well-being through knowledge, innovation and transformation actions. Most people living in the rural areas draw their livelihood from agriculture and allied sectors. Accordingly, the strategy of the SG/OFI/SEVAI, Project has been to improve the economic and social conditions of the underprivileged sections of the rural population with emphasis on agricultural production to promote productive employment opportunities, by integrating traditional production infrastructure, skills and locally available raw material. Recognizing that

Flower vendor SHG member

long-term development of village economy depends critically on the effective exploitation of the productive potential of the rural sector and development of rural enterprises, the SG/OFI/SEVAI, Project with the objectives of facilitating coordinated and effective implementation of programmes, projects, schemes, etc., for improving supply chain management, enhancing skills, upgrading technology, expanding markets and capacity building of the entrepreneurs and their groups/collectives. Agriculture is dealt with as an Enterprise for small holders farmers. Agriculture constitutes 70 to 90 percent of the livelihoods portfolio of the average poor rural household SEVAI Target villages. Declining productivity, incomes and overall viability of agriculture, for small-holder farming systems particularly, is a big barrier towards achieving poverty reduction, food security, and economic empowerment of women. SEVAI is

Greens retails marketing by SHGs

revitalizing Agriculture Extension System, especially in Target village areas where reach of agriculture services and extension is extremely poor. SEVAI's services were found necessary to develop a viable method for improving status of production, productivity and input efficiency in most backward community areas, which will greatly enhance food security and incomes of the marginalized group of farmers in these areas. The farmers are looking for time bound tailor made agriculture information and linkage services. This innovation model will address these causes by establishing a progressive farmer led agriculture extension system which is modularized and linked with the Agriculture Enterprise Facilitation Centre (run by SHG  groups and SEVAI).The SEVAI project aims to provide sustainable livelihoods for most backward  families through agriculture based integrated farming systems development, promote sustainable participatory livelihood programmes which aim at economic upliftment through sustainable agriculture, social empowerment, improvement in quality of life including health and women development, in De-notified

Retail vegetable marketing by women SHGs

tribal predominant area. Promotional efforts such as capacity building, exposure visits, training, developing literature, sensitization programmes etc for the benefit of communities is undergoing. The program also aims to support activities related to development of market, processing and marketing of products manufactured by / communities. The main plants identified with participatory approaches are mango, lemon and guava with improved agriculture through vegetable cultivation and improve technology transfer in agriculture with help of entitlements realizations. The main component of program is to promote horticulture development, improved agriculture, water resource developments, soil and water conservation, empowerment of de-notified tribal women. Women Self Help Groups has emerged as a major tool to reduce poverty as it helped in the creation and expansion of micro enterprises by vulnerable communities. -Govin

Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed project supported by SG/OFI/SEVAI promotes water and soil conservation technology.

Contour bunding construction process

Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed project supported by SG/OFI/SEVAI promotes water and soil conservation technology and access to resources, not to mention know-how, empowers and enables these villages achieve self-sufficiency, is what the SG/OFI/SEVAI demonstrating through its projects in Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area now. Watershed management is the centerpiece of the leitmotif of sustainable development that SG/OFI/SEVAI has chosen to take to the rural parts, where its model farms and fields projects aim at persuading through example. A

Gully plugging - Rain Water Harvesting process

population of 3,176 in 13 villages was touched by the project.   SG/OFI/SEVAI conducts what it calls yield tests to help determine the safe yield from a borewell or open well, which in turn helps in opting for the most suitable pump, the depth at which it can be installed, and how much water can be drawn.

Terrace Ploughing in Dasilnaicknaoor watershed

It also has considerable experience in construction of check dams, deepening tanks, and has even demonstrated how slit can be turned into nutrient-rich manure for the fields, and the innovative sloping agricultural land technology that optimizes land use to grow food crops, horticultural produces and afforestation.The Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed implanted by SG/OFI/SEVAI is simply the geographic area through which water flows across the land and drains into a common body of water. The Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed boundary more or less follow the highest ridgeline around the stream channels and meet at the bottom or lowest point of the land where

water flows out of the watershed, the mouth of the waterway. Much of the water comes from rainfall runoff. Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed is important because the surface water features within a watershed ultimately drain to other bodies of water.  Everything upstream ends up downstream. We need to remember that we all live downstream and that our everyday activities can affect downstream waters. Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed Management of the environment has been primarily focused on specific issues such as land, and

Check dam construction

water.  To establish a method to tackle problems managements must come together to better understand the interactions between the environmental components and the actions that can be taken by all towards the goal of ecosystem integrity. While it may be easy to dismiss the importance of dirt, it's a fact that soil is vital to humankind. Over 99 percent of human foods come from the earth. Soil loss can have catastrophic consequences. Development and Sustainability, reported that several locations are losing soil 10 times faster than it can be replaced through natural processes. The loss of soil translates into serious economic losses. The task in finding ways to stop soil erosion becomes one of finding ways to conserve soil. There are several methods of soil conservation that is achieved through agricultural practices being implemented by Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed, a project of

Rain Water desilted catchment area

SG/OFI/SEVAI.The soil conservation measures undertaken are in this project ;With no till farming, crops are allowed to remain rather than being plowed under at the end of the season. This practice keeps soils anchored in place rather than having bare ground exposed to wind and water. Use of terrace farming in Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed of farming uses the topography of the land to slow water flow through a series of terraces. This manipulation of the water flow prevents it from gathering speed and washing soil away from farmlands. Practice contour farming undertaken in Thottiyapatty/Dasilnaickanoor area watershed. Contour farming replicates the effects of terrace farming, but on a smaller scale. Rather than planting crops in straight vertical rows, crops are planted following the contour

Gradiant ploughing in Thotiyapatty watershed

of the landscape. Crops planted up and down hillsides create pathways for water to flow. Crops planted parallel to the land slow the flow of water that prevents soil erosion. Impervious surfaces like driveways and patios allow precipitation to flow freely over them. -Govin

Tapioca is grown now in the watershed area of Thottiyapatty

Harvested Tapioca in Thottyapatty Watershed area

Tapioca is grown now in the watershed area of Thottiyapatty, a project implemented by SG/OFI/SEVAI.Drip irrigation is used for cultivating Tapioca.  Tapioca belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae.Tapioca grows and produces best under warm humid tropical conditions. Its outstanding characteristic in terms of moisture requirements is the ability to withstand fairly prolonged periods of drought. However, at the time of planting there was sufficient moisture in Thottiyapatty region for the plant to establish itself. Tapioca is propagated from cuttings of selected mature healthy stems free from diseases. Stems were cut into setts of 15-20 cm length using a sharp knife. About 2000 stems are required for planting one hectare. Harvested stems are to be stored vertically in shaded and well-aerated places. Tapioca is planted at a spacing of 90 x 90 cm and it takes about 3-3.5 months time to have enough canopy to cover the land. So it is possible to have an inter crop of groundnut during the early stages of tapioca crop. In sandy areas inter-cropping tapioca with cowpea / groundnut / black gram / green gram is recommended giving a spacing of 20 cm on both sides of the ridges. The non-trailing grain cow pea variety V-26 is recommended as a companion crop along with tapioca. For a pure crop of tapioca or for a cropping system involving tapioca as the main crop and the pulse crop, the field may be irrigated once in 36 days to a depth of 5 cm. Tapioca flour, also known as tapioca starch is starchy white flour that has a slight sweet flavor to it. Tapioca flour is an alternative to traditional wheat flours and has a variety of uses in baking. The flour is made from the starch extracted. When the roots have fully developed, they are harvested and processed to remove toxins. The starch is then extracted from the root by a repeated process of washing and pulping the mixture, then separating off the liquid. Tapioca flour helps bind

Harvested Tapioca is transported to market by Lorry trucks in Thottiyapatty

gluten free recipes and improves the texture of baked goods. Tapioca helps add crispness to crusts and chew to baked goods. Tapioca flour is extremely smooth flour, which makes for a great thickener in sauces, pies and soups since it never discolors and contains no discernible taste or smell. It can also be used to replace corn starch. Tapioca contains calcium, iron and vitamin K in abundance, which plays a very important role in maintaining bone health and improving flexibility. It also helps get rid of fatigue keeping you energized throughout the day. Another great health benefit of tapioca is that it helps maintenance of blood pressure. The potassium content in tapioca improves blood circulation, which in turn, reduces the strain on our cardiovascular system. Some of us often feel like we don’t have enough energy to keep ourselves going throughout the day. A great way to keep our batteries charged would be adding tapioca to our diet. Since tapioca is full of carbohydrates, it is a quick and healthy way to give our flailing energy reserves a boost. Tapioca contains folic acid and vitamin B complex which help in the proper formation of a foetus, protecting it against common birth defects. Tapioca can give our digestive system a boost too. Known to help resolve common digestive disorders like constipation, indigestion, bloating and flatulence, tapioca also helps keep a check on our cholesterol levels, helping you stay healthy.-Govin

World Books Day-2015 observed by South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE)

World Book Day- a book on Environment  presented to Manojmukul

World Books Day-2015 observed by South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE) was observed on 23^rd April 2015 at Trichirapalli. Dr.K.Govindaraju, President of South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE) presided over the function. V.Jawahar Arumugam,the president of Trichirapalli district writers Association delivered the key note address.V.Jawahar Arumugam spoke, “As global symbols of social progress, books – learning and reading -- have become targets for those who denigrate culture and education, who reject dialogue and tolerance. Amid the frenetic changes of life in the 21st century, literature remains a vital component of a fulfilling life We must redouble efforts to promote the book, the pen, the computer, along with all forms of reading and writing, in order to fight illiteracy and poverty, to build sustainable societies, to strengthen the foundations of peace. Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here. We need to commit to harnessing information and communication technologies, to support literacy and to reach the unreached with quality learning. Books are invaluable platforms for freedom of expression and the free flow of information, these are essential for all societies today. The future of the book as a cultural object is inseparable from the role of culture in promoting more inclusive and sustainable pathways to development. World Book Day is the celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in all over the world. This is the 18th year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 5th March 2015 children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading. The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. It’s all about getting kids closer to the books and authors they already love, and letting them discover more books and authors they’ll love every bit as much in the future. World Book Day is a great opportunity to recognise the fantastic teachers, outreach staff and family liaison workers who share their love of reading with children and families in their community every day. We are also delighted by the commitment shown by some of the young people to inspiring the next generation of readers. Families, too, are giving their children the best start in life by supporting their children’s literacy. Young people’s librarians, working hard address the needs of their communities in a very challenging climate. It is to encourage quest for knowledge, it is to satisfy our ambition to be successful in life; it is to shape our values and visions of a new society; indeed it is to celebrate and immortalize the written word’. - Govin