To disseminate knowledge, experience and information among participants about schemes of various Government departments and process for registration through the representatives of the Lines Department, Scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Corporates, a Knowledge Sharing Workshop was organized on December 31, 2021 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh under the Climate Smart Village Programme supported by Mahindra & Mahindra and Implemented by BISLD Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Guest, Dr. S.K. Pyasi, Dean, Government Agriculture College, Rewa, highlighted Climate Resilient Crops and emphasised on suitable seed selection for climate change adaptation. The Special Guest, Shri. Sunil Dhikle, District Development Manager, NABARD, Rewa, focussed on the need to accept climate change and to change farm practices for better production and for minimising farming cost. Dr. A.K. Pandey, Head Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rewa, provided inputs to farmers on Package of Practices for Black Gram. The proceedings were chaired by the Principal Scientist & Head of KVK. Shri. Yogesh Pathak, Deputy Director, Horticulture, Rewa. Shri. Lalji Singh, Assistant Director, Fisheries, also provided valuable information.

The technical sessions focussed on scientific methods and process and farming and how farmers can promote climate resilient crops in their farms and were conducted by Dr. A.K. Pandey, Dr. R.K. Joshi, Principal Scientist from Agriculture College, Dr. C.G. Singh, Dr. A.K. Patel, Dr. A.K. Tiwari, Dr. Sanjay Singh, Dr. K.S. Bhaghel and Shri. Sandeep Sharma. The workshop was attended by more than 100 farmers of which 57 were women farmers, from Khaira, Magurihai, Padiya, Belaha, Khokham, Deora, Mahidal, Agdal, Umri and Naroura blocks of Rewa district.

Kisan Diwas – National Farmers’ Day is observed every year on December 23 – the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh – former Prime Minister of India and hailed as a champion of farmers. This day which is a day of celebration of the farming community, is also observed by BAIF and its Associate Organisations across 12 states to recognise the valuable contribution of small and marginal farmers in the sustainable development programme.

On December 23, 2021, 30 champion women farmers of the Prerna Project from 6 villages of Hunsur, Mysuru, Karnataka, were taken on an exposure visit to the Agriculture Extension Education unit of the Organic Farming Research Station at Naganahalli in Mysuru district to create awareness on sustainable agricultural practices for improved crop productivity. The women were oriented on climatic uncertainties, water management for better productivity, Systematic Rice Intensification and Integrated farming system for doubling their farm income and also learnt of the successful experience of a progressive farmer in adoption of improved farming practices.

With this field visit and enhanced knowledge, these champion women farmers can surely become custodians of sustainable agricultural practices and sensitise a large number of women farmers on efficient farming practices.

The Prerna Project is being jointly implemented by Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and BAIF in Mysuru and Tumkur, Karnataka, Nashik and Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Vidisha and Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, Jamnagar and Tapi, Gujarat and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to empower women farmers as change makers in agriculture.

BAIF Institute for Sustainable Livelihoods and Development, Maharashtra, launched the Holistic Rural Development Programme supported by HDFC Bank Ltd., at Taktoda village, Sengaon in Hingoli district of Maharashtra on December 21, 2021.

The programme covering 11 villages of Hingoli district, included inauguration of a utensil store and a flour mill to ensure additional income generation for women-headed families under the project. Mr. Jitendra Papalkar, District Collector, Mr. Sanjay Daine, CEO, Zilla Parishad, Mr. Shivaraj Ghorpade District Superintendent Agriculture Officer, Hingoli, Dr. P.P. Shelke, Head and Senior Scientist, Prof. Rajesh Bhalerao Subject Specialist, KVK Tondapur, Mr. Anil Olambe, Mr. Ajaykumar Sugave, Dr. Kailas Gite, Mrs. Sridevi Patil, Asst. Police Inspector, Goregaon, Mr. S.R. Bele, Block Development Officer, Sengaon, Mr. Pramod Sawke, Sarpanch and VDC members from the villages graced the occasion.

The village community took an oath to keep their villages and surrounding environment clean in line with Swachh Bharat Mission of the Government of India. The event was facilitated by the BISLD Maharashtra Project team headed by Mr. Shailesh Bhagat, Additional Chief Programme Executive, Nagpur, who shared an overview of the Holistic Programme and the plan to establish a farmer producer organisation in future.  Mr. Shelke highlighted the joint effort of BAIF and KVK in promoting short duration turmeric and BSMR 736 pigeon pea varieties in the project area. Others who spoke on the occasion included the CEO, Zilla Parishad and the District Collector, Hingoli who also highlighted various schemes being implemented by the State Government through the Gram Panchayats. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Dalit Manwar, BISLD. The programme was enriched with good wishes conveyed by Mr. Retish Sinha, Head CSR, HDFC Bank Ltd., Mr. Pavan Dongre CSR Manager, HDFC Bank Ltd., Mr. V.B. Dyasa, Regional Director – Western Region, BAIF and Mr. S.M. Wagle, Chief Programme Executive, BISLD, Maharashtra.

BAIF has taken up various initiatives across India to ensure participatory management and eco restoration of commons / community pasture lands. These efforts have also resulted in rejuvenation of habitats and setting in important ecological processes in these identified landscapes. Development of pastures on village common land with improved varieties of forage species, has demonstrated conservation of pastures and sustainable development of the community.

Van Panchayat lands in the North Western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, have been developed into community silvipastures through a participatory approach. A nursery of 50,000 fodder plants has also been established by two silvipasture groups of women in Champawat.

A short film titled “Van Panchayat – The Forest Commons of Himalayas” developed by Seema Ravandale and Kuldeep Saratkar, is among the list of finalists in the World Commons Week 2021 video contest. The film highlights forest management measures adopted by the local communities of this hilly region through the traditional system of Van Panchayats with special focus on the restoration efforts of a group of women at Mannar, Champawat, under the climate change adaptation project implemented by BAIF and BISLD Uttarakhand, with the support of NABARD and Adaptation Fund Board (AFB).

The 4th Annual Worlds Common Week organized by The International Association for the Study of the Commons, Ostrom Workshop, School of Public Policy, School of Earth and Sustainability and University of Massachusetts Amherst, aims at creating a greater understanding of the commons-related knowledge across the globe, foster mutual exchange of ideas and celebrate and expand the research and practice of commons.

The video can be watched here: https://lnkd.in/eqkAA7iX

The video film which was shortlisted among the list of five finalists, was awarded the First Prize

Padma Shri Rahibai Popere and National Genome Saviour Farmer Award recipient Mamta Bhangare from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, were felicitated by BAIF Development Research Foundation on December 7, 2021 at its Head Office in Pune. It was the BAIF Agrobiodiversity team, who had discovered and nurtured their passion for conservation of indigenous seeds and wild vegetables.

Rahibai from Kombhalne tribal village, popularly known as “Seed Mother”, is a Godmother to more than 3500 women farmers. Featuring among BBC’s 100 influential women trailblazers from more than 60 countries and in an award winning documentary at the Cannes Film Festival, recipient of Nari Shakti Puraskar, National Social Innovation Award and Vasantrao Naik Puraskar, this familiar face on national and regional television networks, has pioneered a movement to preserve traditional seeds while giving a boost to agriculture within the tribal community. This seed and plant conservationist is also an active member of the 2021 National Plant Genome Savior Community Award recipient Kalsubai Parisar Biyane Sanvardhan Samajik Sanstha, a community seed bank and seed saver group.

Mamta Bhangare from Devgaon village, who considers herself as a woman farmer, is modesty personified. This unassuming kitchen garden guide, has conserved 69 landraces of paddy, beans and local vegetables and has won acclaim for her conservation and cultivation techniques of wild vegetables while relying on organic farming and innovative vermi briquettes.

Bharat Kakade, President and Managing Trustee, Girish Sohani, Principal Adviser and Trustee, Rajashree Joshi, Programme Director and Sanjay Patil, Senior Thematic Programme Executive, BAIF, lauded Rahibai and Mamta’s knowledge awakening efforts and for linking science and technology to achieve the leap from Grassroot to Global and Research for Use.