Project Proposal

Building agriculture resilience through proposed Government funded technology-based Non-Profit Organization for the betterment of livelihoods of agrarians.

Background

Wayanad is famous for the green heaven, situated among the mountains of Western Ghats. Wayanad has a unique deep history, culture, and traditions in various aspects. Wayanad is filled with full of plantations, cultivation lands, forest, and wildlife.

Wayanad has a very distinctive geographic positioning. It has perfect soil composition for the cultivation of perennial crops and spices. Paddy, coffee, tea, pepper, cardamom, banana, jack fruit, areca nut, coconut, bamboo, rubber plantations are the main crops and cultivations in Wayanad. The coffee-based farming system is most common in all the Panchayats, it may be seen in large plantation or in small clusters.[1] Kerala produces 90% of natural rubber in the country.[4]

According to 2011 census data, 96.13% live in rural areas of Wayanad with agriculture as the primary occupation. Paddy cultivation has a deep history from pre-independence.[2] From 8.82 lakh hectare in 1974–75, the paddy area has come down to 1.96 lakh hectare in 2015–16.[3]
Recent floods of August 2018 destroyed standing crops more than 56,439.19 hectares worth Rs. 1,345 crores including more than 25,934 hectares of Paddy.[5]

The loss not only restricted to crops, but the top layer of fertilized soil also vanished with the flood. After effect of the soil erosion is drought. The landslide is very much impacted on agriculture land and livelihood of the agrarians. The underground water level has reduced naturally. The flood is also impacted on grasslands this is directly affected to livestock. Farmers sold their cattle due to insufficient fodder. The milk production reduced by 19.23% [5]

The flood is also affected and destroyed fertilizers and pesticides stored in the warehouse; seeds and saplings; organic fertilizers; agriculture equipment and machinery etc. Many of the roads are broken and blocked, this is affecting transportation and logistics.

Only 2% of the crops are covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the entire state of Kerala.[6] So, the economic state of the farmer is getting worse day by day after this major flood. Government is assured to support farmers by providing compensation and moratorium on all agriculture loans. But reaching farmers and channelizing the plans have become a difficulty.

Affected Banana and Vegetable Crops by the Floods

Objective

This project aims at building agriculture resilience through establishing a new organization where the organization acts as the mentor (experienced and trusted adviser) and support system for the farmers. Farmers have to be quickly empowered with the right knowledge and support system for agriculture resilience. The need for mentorship and support is very much needed to come back to their normal livelihoods from the current state.

Approach

• The organization follows a design thinking process system to deliver the best solutions and help the farmer to cultivate crops.
• Roadmap design to target immediate recovery, reconstruction, and long-term recovery.
• Science, technology and innovation-driven approach to building agriculture resilience.
• Platform connecting farmer, mentor, and organization.
• Looking at various communication methods for correspondence between various stakeholders including the farmer.
• Onboarding agriculture, also other relevant students and experts.
• Agriculture cultivation kit development
• Onboarding various marketplace and mandis

References

1. Keralatourism.org. (n.d.). Agriculture, Spice Cultivation, Wayanad, District, Kerala, India |
   Kerala Tourism. [online] Available at: http://www.keralatourism.org/wayanad/agriculture-spice-cultivation.php [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].
2. Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. (n.d.). Status of tribal and small farmers of Wayanad district. [online] Available at: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/28487/11/11_chapter3.pdf [Accessed 17 Oct. 2018].
3. Spb.kerala.gov.in. (n.d.). Economic Review 2016, State Planning Board. [online] Available
   at: http://spb.kerala.gov.in/EconomicReview2016/web/chapter02_03.php [Accessed 17 Oct. 2018].
4. Ccsniam.gov.in. (2012). INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND MARKET
   RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SYSTEM IN THE ABSENCE OF APMC ACT — A CASE STUDY OF KERALA. [online] Available at: https://ccsniam.gov.in/images/pdfs/KERALA _RESEARCH_REPORT.pdf [Accessed 17 Oct. 2018].
5. The Indian Express. (2018). Kerala floods: Standing crops destroyed, state’s food
   production to take a hit. [online] Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-floods-standing-crops-destroyed-states-food-production-to-take-a-hit-5321983/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2018].
6. The Financial Express. (2018). Kerala lessons for crop insurance. [online] Available at:
   https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/kerala-lessons-for-crop-insurance/1296697/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].