FERTILIZER EDUCATION PROJECTS

Most of the fertilizer companies are carrying out agricultural extension work with emphasis on education of farmers in the scientific application of fertilizers out of their own resources. However, Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd. (KRIBHCO), Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Ltd.(IFFCO) and India Potash Ltd. (IPL) are also implementing projects with foreign assistance details of which are given below:-

RAINED FARMING PROJECT (RFP)

 KRIBHCO is implementing Rainfed Farming Projects in Western and Eastern India.These projects aim at improving the livelihood of the poor families in the target areas through farming systems, research and development, institution building and beneficiary participation for ensuring sustainablity and replicability . Both these projects are being implemented in technical and financial collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British Government. The Western India project phase-I which was launched originally for 5 years on 1.1.93, was extended up to March 1999. Out of the total project cost of Rs. 19.05 crore, DFID funded Rs. 17.52 crore and Rs. 1.53 crore was to be funded by KRIBHCO. The Project has been implemented in the districts of Panch Mahal (Gujarat), Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh) and Banswara (Rajasthan). Keeping in view the satisfactory results of WIRFP (Phase-I), DIFD contribution shall be Rs. 127.62 crore including reimbursable costs of Rs. 96.57 crore.

The Eastern India Rainfed Farming Project with its Headquarter at Ranchi is for a duration of 5 years beginning from 1.4.1995 which has been extended till March 2003. The total project cost is Rs. 38.66 crore out of which Rs. 36.41 crore would be funded by DFID and Rs. 2.25 crore by KRIBHCO. The project is being Implemented in 12 districts of West Bengal , Orissa and Bihar in a phased manner. The project duration is being extended upto March 2005.

The DFID funding of these two projects is routed through GOI.

INDIAN FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE PROJECT (IFFDC)

 The Project is being implemented by IFFCO in six districts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with the help of grants received from India Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) from April 1, 1995. The duration of the project was five years originally which was extended for two more years and the project has been completed on 31.3.2002. The main objective of this Project is to improve the productivity of degraded lands for the benefit of rural poor by the application of farm forestry systems through village level cooperative societies and also to reclaim wastelands and marginal agricultural lands. Under the Project, 90 Primary Farm Forestry Cooperative Societies were to be organised and 20,000 hectares of area brought under afforestation. The total project cost is Rs. 35 crore out of which Rs. 31.5 Crore is being contributed by ICEF and Rs. 3.5 Crore by IFFCO.

Since inception of the project. 16741 hectares of wastelands have been afforested by organising 1.8 Primary Farm Forestry Cooperatives (PFFCS) in the states of Madhya Pradesh, uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Total membership of these societies is 15143 of which women membership is 38%. As a major activity , 15.48 million seedings have been planted on different types of wastelands of which 5.13 million plants are of shisham followed by 1.29 million of babool and 0.92 million of fruit plants.Average plant survival is more than 76%.

  3.2 As a major source of income gerneration during the period, total 206 nursery groups of women raised 83.3 lakh seedling for afforestation purpose. 356 saving groups have been organised by which they saved Rs. 11.37 lakh. 564 literacy groups have been formed to educate the members. To build the capacity of staff and members. So far, training for 80 staff and 88 PFFCS members have been organised. In order to make the PFFCS sustainable IFFDC is planning to start micro enterprises with the help of revolving fund provided by ICEF.

ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENT IN RAINFED AREAS PROJECT (EIRA)

 Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has been implementing the Project since April 1996 in 30 villages each of Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh and Amravati District of Mahararashtra. EIRA Project is a comprehensive program for sustainable improvement in the environmental quality of rainfed areas and reduction in the poverty through conservation, development and management of natural resources through community involvement. The objectives of the project are to conserve, develop and manage land, energy and water resources; to develop environement-related micro enterprises for income generation; to strenghen and create community based organisations for sustainable development through peoples participation (both men & women ) and to build expertise in IPL to conceptualise, plan and implement sound rural environmental projects. Under the Project, 60 village Environment Committees(VECs) have been formed to run and manage the programmes on water,land and energy resources conservation and development practices. Environment Resource Centres (ERCs) have been established in 6 villages for dissemination of information on management of natural resources in target areas. Soil and water conservation practices such as Farm Bunding; Stone bunding; Gully Plugs; Afforestation on Community and Private Lands; Nursery Raising; Compositing; Water Harvesting Structure such as Check Dams / Stop Dams; water Reservoirs; Farm Ponds; Nala Dressing; Repair of old structures; Desiltation of existing structures; Lift/ Drip irrigation; Energy Consevation through improved Chulhas; Solar Cookers; Bio-gas etc. and Training & Capacity building of the Project Functionaries and local Communities; are some of the major acriveities being carried out under the Project.

 The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 15.00 crore of which Rs. 12.90 crore was to be funded by india Cananda Environment Facility (ICEF) and Rs. 2.10 crore by IPL.