Thottiyapatty farmers cultivate cucumber in their watershed project, a SG/OFI and SEVAI.

Cucumber cultivation process in Thottiyapatty

Thottiyapatty farmers cultivate cucumber in their watershed project; a SG/OFI and SEVAI.Cucumbers (Cucumis Sativus) are a warm-season vegetable planted in pre-summer and harvested in summer in Tamilnadu. Cucumbers grow in any amount of space, thanks to the plant's ability to withstand the summer of Thottiyapatty watershed area. The summer crop cultivated as an irrigated crop requires enough soil moisture during its growth and development.' So irrigation is given as and when needed. No irrigation is given in rainy season crop. The cucumber cultivation is well under the open field. The crop responds well to the improved ago-techniques like manure fertilization, drip irrigation, staking etc. Fruit skin is yellowish white in colour suitable to the consumers’ preference. Gives very high yield. Fruits are straight and longer. No summer garden is without cucumbers in Thottiyapatty watershed. They are very easy to grow and are very prolific. Planted in a section of the garden that receives full sun and has an evenly moist, fertile soil, success is almost guaranteed. Like other summer crops, cucumbers are heavy feeders and demand a steady supply of water. Work plenty of organic matter into the soil before planting to help it retain moisture and to provide the nutrients the cucumber plants will need

Cucumber harvesting process

throughout the season. Cucumbers really don't need much attention once established in the garden. The cucumbers crave heat and needs steady moisture. A continuous water supply is necessary for the best quality fruits. The farmers of Thottiyapatty feed cucumbers well. Cucumbers, like other cucurbits (squash, melons, and pumpkins), are heavy feeders. If organic matter was incorporated into the soil prior to planting, fertilizer will not be needed early in the season. However, when the cucumber plants begin to blossom and set fruit, a side dressing of balanced soluble fertilizer will help keep the plants in production. Like most vegetables, cucumbers are tender and tastiest when harvested young before their seeds are fully developed. Slicing cucumber varieties are generally ready for harvest when about six to eight inches long; pickling types at three to five inches. The farmers don't allow the fruits to become overripe on the vine as this signals to the plant that the seed-development process is nearly complete and it will shut down. They keep mature fruits picked to encourage further production. The farmers of Thottiyapatty harvest the fruits early in the morning before the sun hits the cucumbers for the best flavor and texture.-Govin

SEVAI Promotes quality of life improvement and income generation activities among SHGs.

Process of Korai mat production by women SHGs

A Trichy based NGO-SEVAI SEVAI Promotes quality of life improvement and income generation activities among SHGs and it focuses on improving access to and control of the marginalised communities over natural resources, enhancing productive returns on resources and financial inclusion. SEVAI works towards creating an enabling environment, which supports the needs and aspirations of the people. SEVAI emphasizes on building capability, developing multiple assets, developing value chains and engaging with all stakeholders to promote secure and resilient livelihood opportunities to the marginalized population, especially women. SEVAI believes in helping individuals live a life of dignity. To achieve this, livelihood programmes focuses on generating sustainable livelihoods. This is done through capacity building, fostering community links and promoting small businesses. SEVAI puts special focus on entrepreneurial ventures, which are owned by women.SEVAI through its livelihood programmes promotes bank linkages, Self Help Groups, capacity building and small businesses. It also fosters linkages between SHG

Sleeping cot production process

Federations and Government/banks; SEVAI also focuses on improving the literacy, numeracy and critical thinking skills to promote sustainable livelihoods.SEVAI SHG program is designed to be a highly intensive program and focuses on intensive application of human and material resources in order to mobilize the poor into functionally effective SHG owned owned projects, promote their financial inclusion and strengthen their livelihoods. SEVAI complements these institutional platforms of the poor with services that include financial and capital services, production and productivity enhancement services, technology, knowledge, skills and inputs, market linkage, etc. The community institutions also offer a platform for convergence and partnerships with various stakeholders by building environment for the poor to access their rights and entitlements and public service. The support from SEVAI will include all round capacity building of the SHGs ensuring that the group functions effectively on all issues concerning

Banana fibre extraction by SHG

their members, financial management, linking  them with Bank support to address vulnerabilities and high cost indebtedness, formation and nurturing of SHG federations, making the federations as strong support organizations, making the livelihoods of the poor sustainable, formation and SEVAI provides continuous hand-holding support to SHGs, and their federations. SEVAI ensures that at least one member from each identified rural poor household. Emphasis on Training, Capacity building and skill building imparted by SEVAI ensures that the poor are provided with the requisite skills for: managing their Federations, linking up with markets, managing their existing livelihoods, enhancing their credit absorption capacity and credit worthiness, etc. A multi-pronged approach is envisaged for continuous capacity building of the targeted families, SHGs, their federations. SEVAI makes extensive use of training to make knowledge dissemination and capacity building more effective. The need-based training builds entrepreneurship qualities, improves self-confidence, reduces risk of failure and develops the trainees into change agents. -Govin

Advertisement:SEVAI,Trichirapalli-630101-Step in for interview project Functionaries selection for LWS(HIV/AIDS) Project .

With the financial and technical support of TANSACS and NACO,Link Workers project (HIV/AIDS) Project is being conducted.

For the year 2015-06,SEVAI Conducts open interview for the selection of Cluster Link workers(20 posts) and Zonal Supervisors (2 posts).

Interested candidates may step into the interview to be conducted on 22^nd at 11 am at SEVAI Office, 133,Karur Road,Trichirapalli,Tamilnadu.

The qualifications required by the candidates are attached below for these positions. K.Govindaraju, Director, SEVAI. www.sevaingo.in

Amoor Village is SEVAI target area this village is brimming with betel cultivation.

Betel cultivation in Amoor by SHGs

Amoor Village is SEVAI target area this village is brimming with betel cultivation. The trade of betel leaves has been known to Amoor around 50 years. Farmers earn sizable amount of money out of betel cultivation. “I owned 1.5 acres for betel farming. I used to sell leaves almost every week and it is the golden era of betel leaves. Amoor betel is very famous for its taste and longevity,” said Alamelu a member of SEVAI Women Self Help groups as promoted by SEVAI-Elle Foundation and OFI. Alamelu further said, “Betel is a perennial crop and hence the farmers find it suitable. Betel vine requires a tropical climate with high atmospheric humidity. It can be cultivated in the uplands as well as in wetlands. In Amoor, it is mainly cultivated in Agathi gardens as an intercrop. The crop grows best on well-drained fertile soils. Proper shade and irrigation are essential for successful cultivation of this crop. The crop tolerates a minimum temperature of 18ºC and a maximum of 40ºC. Extremely low atmospheric temperature leads to leaf fall. Hot dry winds are harmful. There are two important planting seasons; May-June and August-September. Areas with good shade and irrigation facilities are preferred for this crop. The land is dug well and laid out into furrows. Such furrows are opened at a distance of 1 m apart. Well farmyard manure is thoroughly incorporated with the topsoil of the furrows. High dose of organic manure  is applied to maintain good soil structure, which is essential for the proper development of the root system. Top portions of mature vines (2-3 years old) are used for planting. Healthy cuttings of about 1 m length with three nodes are used as planting material. For planting one hectare, 20000-25000 cuttings are required. Furrows are irrigated prior to planting. Cuttings are planted in holes 20 cm apart in furrows. While planting, one node shall be buried in the soil and the second node should be at the ground level. The soil around the planted cutting must be pressed firmly to encourage quick germination. It is necessary to provide shade to the planted cuttings. To

Betel leaves ready for sales

prevent excess moisture in the soil, splashing water on the vines by hand is preferable in the early stages. In the absence of rain, light irrigation, four times daily, is given till establishment. Cuttings establish in three weeks time and the first leaf emerges in about a month. The cuttings sprout and creep in about a month. At this time, they must be trailed on the standards. Trailing is done further by tying the vines, at intervals of 15-20 cm along the standards loosely with the help of banana fibre. Trailing is done every 15-20 days depending on the growth of vines. In about 3-6 months time, vines grow to a height 150-180 cm. At this stage branching is noticed in the vines. Leaves are removed along with the petiole with the right thumb. Once harvesting is commenced, it is continued almost every day or week. The interval of harvesting varies from 15 days to about a month till the next lowering of vines. After each harvest, manuring has to be done. Betel leaves are one of the oldest cash crops cultivated in India. Very offering to God has an auspicious eleven or twenty one betel leaves, every marriage ceremony has betel leaves and exchange of betel leaves is considered as a fortunate beginning”. -Govin

Channakarai SHGs are successful in tailoring and embroidery enterprises as promoted by SGF/OFI-SEVAI.

Chennakarai SHGs involved in Tailoring and embroidery

Channakarai SHGs are successful in tailoring and embroidery enterprises as promoted by SGF/SEVAI. SEVAI-is a registered Non-Governmental Organization, working together with women self help groups and Local Communities in Trichirapalli District to improve socio economic conditions of Human Well-Being.SHG is group of rural poor who have volunteered to organize themselves into a group for eradication of poverty of the members. They agree to save regularly and convert their savings into a Common Fund known as the Group corpus. The members of the group agree to use this common fund and such other funds that they may receive as a group through a common management. Generally all members of the group belong to families below the poverty line. A person is not be a member of more than one group. The BPL families actively participate in the management and decision making. The group operates a group account preferably in their service area bank branch, so as to deposit the balance amounts left with the groups after disbursing loans to its members. In Chnnakarai village, the Women SHGs have started sewing and embroidery business is a lively industry. Not only can they do fixing jobs, but they can do personalized orders as well. They are free to do customized work and capture loyal customers who can in turn refer people to them. The women SHGs developed a sewing and embroidery business plan. The sewing business is not just merely sewing it also has all to do with running it in a balanced way to succeed. They set up your work place at village common place and Organized for business in the village space. They also prepare the Checklist of supplies and equipment listing down what their business needs to operate daily and have an inventory list of all your in home items. The women SHGs of Chennakarai hose are involved in tailoring and embroidery business Hire an extra hand when business begins to pick up, they need extra hands to help them meet orders. They also hire people who are skilled in this field and who are willing to work long hours to meet job order deadlines and the enterprise SHG finds people who can delegate tasks to with minimal supervision. Their key areas of intervention include Marketing their services and managing their embroidery business. The Women SHGs of Chennakarai strongly believes that Management activities are essential in their business, first manage your money, making sure they are ahead of their enterprise plan, and manage your orders. Then they manage their production and make sure all productions are done on schedule and properly and take up random checks on the finished work products of by their members and finally manage their deliveries. -Govin