Solidaridad

SOLIDARIDAD REGIONAL EXPERTISE CENTRE

Issue/Volume: 12/01

In the past few months, Solidaridad has upscaled a number of its existing initiatives across commodities (leather, castor, sugarcane, to name a few) and regions in India. At the same time, it has also established a number of new research and training centres to ramp up its efforts to promote regenerative and sustainable agriculture in rural areas. In this month’s newsletter, we take a look at the most significant of these efforts.

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NEWS

Achieving Global Synergy

The annual global meeting of Solidaridad Network’s planning monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) teams was held in Bhopal, India from 16-20 October 2023. The meeting featured a combination of field visits and team meetings. The participants, which included PMEL leads from different Regional Expertise Centres (RECs) (in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Southern Africa, East and Central Africa, West Africa), learned about project implementation, and tools and methodologies used to assess impact in India. This was achieved through field visits and discussions with staff, farmers, and office-bearers of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in different intervention areas.

They visited the Nico Roozen International Centre of Excellence for Regenerative Agriculture to know more about regenerative agricultural practices being implemented across different projects, and to see demonstration plots and the making of bio-nutrients. During their visits to FPOs, they learned about the process of creating FPOs (for producing and marketing value-added soybean products) and their impacts, from women farmers.They also gained useful knowledge onSolidaridad’s interventions in vegetable oil commodities, efforts to empower Indian farmers by providing real-time data through the integration of technology (for instance, the Internet of Things) and interventions with a focus on nutrition for smallholder farmer families. The meeting concluded with some key decisions on the way forward, as far as integrating digitisation and digitalisation are concerned. In Solidaridad, PMEL plays a strategic role in supporting programmes to deliver impact at scale, facilitate learning across regions and ways to further improve our planning processes, moving forward — and this meeting was a fruitful endeavour to meet these goals.

Climate Change Impact, Branding of Small Growers’ Tea in Focus at Guwahati Conference

The National Conference of Small Tea Growers 2023 was jointly organised by Solidaridad Asia and the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Associations (CISTA) in Guwahati, Assam on 29 September. Officials from the Tea Board of India, the Government of Assam’s Directorate of Tea, representatives of small tea growers’ associations from North and South India, and various stakeholders from the tea industry participated in the event. Three different technical sessions on climate change impacts, branding of tea from smallholders, and crop diversification in tea gardens were held.

RVO Official Visits Kanpur Leather Cluster, Attends Dairy Farmers’ Field Day

On a recent India visit, Ella Lammers, Senior Advisor, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), visited multiple tanneries in the Kanpur Leather Cluster. She visited one tannery which was operating without the interventions of the leather project; the others were model tanneries with proven results on effluent reduction, water optimisation and solid waste utilisation, thus displaying the difference as a result of our interventions. She also took part in the farmers’ field day in Kanpur on 6 October 2023. Nearly 400 dairy farmers (more than 300 of them women) participated in the event, aimed at bringing together farmers, industry experts and stakeholders to share knowledge, foster a sense of unity and advance sustainable and responsible dairy practices. Additionally, seven progressive dairy farmers were recognised and appreciated for their contributions to the industry.

Furthering the goal of a nutrition-secure state

Partners and stakeholders under the Good Farming – Good Food initiative, a programme dedicated to realising the vision of a nutrition-secure state in Madhya Pradesh, gathered on 11 October 2023 to discuss strategies and ways to collectively promote and spread the practice of sustainable agriculture and healthier food systems. The meeting was attended by Ella Lammers, and Prasad Parte (Agriculture Advisor at Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). The event brought together a diverse group of government- and private-sector partners, and served as a pivotal platform for collaboration, dialogue, and synergy between key stakeholders. A panel discussion was also held, wherein participants shared their valuable insights, knowledge of best practices, success stories, feedback and the way forward for the Good Farming – Good Food programme. A ‘nutrition song’, an innovative tool to communicate key messages about the nutritional benefits of soybeans, was also launched during the event.

It was followed by the launch of the Agri Nutrition Resource Centre in Bhopal on 14 October 2023. The centre, a Solidaridad initiative with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, is designed to bridge the gap between nutrition and agriculture, fostering a healthier and more sustainable society. The collaborative platform will bring together various stakeholders, including government institutions, research organisations, policymakers, nutritionists, businesses, farming community, and consumers, with the aim of improving nutrition outcomes and promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

Celebrating 10 Years of a Partnership & Shared Vision for Sustainable & Prosperous Sugar Supply Chain

A commemorative event was held in Uttar Pradesh to observe the 10-year partnership between Solidaridad and DCM Shriram Ltd. (Sugar Unit). It was attended by Padma Shree awardee, Dr Bakhshi Ram, an industry luminary renowned for his expertise in sugarcane breeding. The decade-long collaboration has led to remarkable progress in the adoption of good agricultural practices (GAPs), and farmer empowerment – enhancing the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers and promoting responsible environmental practices. The event symbolised a commitment to a continued partnership, with a shared vision for a more sustainable and prosperous cane sugar supply chain.

Gram Samruddhi 2.0 Implementation Team Interacts with Castor Farmers in Gujarat

The implementation team of the Gram Samruddhi 2.0 Programme (a CSR project of Nayara Energy Ltd.) collaborated with Solidaridad’s castor team for an exposure visit to the districts of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka in Gujarat. The recent visit focused on knowledge-sharing between both teams on programmatic aspects (such as farmer outreach and registration), organising capacity-building training sessions, setting up demo plots as learning platforms, and ICS (Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability) formation process for audit and certification. The teams also interacted with castor farmers to understand their association with Solidaridad, and the ways in which they have shifted from traditional farming to sustainable cultivation practices in castor as well as other crops.

At International Soy Conclave, Solidaridad Showcases Climate-smart Model of Production

The Sixth International Soy Conclave organised by the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) took place on 7-8 October 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Solidaridad participated in the Conclave as a Sustainability Partner and co-organiser. Ghufranul Hassan, Senior Programme Manager, Solidaridad, made a detailed presentation on some of the key steps taken towards sustainable production of soybean by incorporating climate-smart practices. A detailed outline of the work Solidaridad is doing to ensure efficient production, benefits of the inclusion of soy in diet, weather-based advisories, regenerative practices and farmers’ collectives (such as FPOs) were the other topics of discussion. Solidaridad is also working with stakeholders to develop a viable, sustainable model of growing soy and other crops, ensuring industry linkages.

Inauguration of medicinal and aromatic crop-processing unit

A medicinal and aromatic crop-processing unit has been established in Pali village, Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh. The processing unit has been set up with the support of Solidaridad, and it will be run by Krishak Jagriti Manch, an FPO. This processing unit is equipped to process 17 types of herbs and medicinal crops. This initiative is aimed at empowering medicinal plant growers to add value to their farm produce and facilitate the sale of secondary products.

Solidaridad’s Innovations Grab Attention at UP Council of Sugarcane Research’s Kisan Mela

Solidaridad recently participated in the Uttar Pradesh Council Sugarcane Research (UPCSR) organised Kisan Mela ‘Mithas’ in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Among those who visited the Solidaridad stall included IAS Veena Kumari Meena (Principal Secretary, Sugarcane), Assistant Commissioner B.K. Shukla (Director, UPCSR), and district sugarcane officers from Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, and Hardoi, and other key stakeholders of the sugarcane industry. The highlight of the Solidaridad exhibit was the mobile van theatre showcasing automatic weather station (AWS), weekly advisory system, soil moisture indicator, and the mobile soil-testing device ‘SoliProbe’. This innovative presentation garnered significant attention and engagement, particularly from the principal secretary who showed keen interest in learning more about these initiatives.

Solidaridad Showcases Circular Economy-based Models at EU-SWITCH Asia Annual Meet in Jakarta

SOLIDARIDAD PARTICIPATES IN THE SIMAC TANNING TECH 2023 FAIR IN MILAN

Solidaridad took part in the 5th European Union-SWITCH Asia Annual Conference and Programme Steering Committee Meeting organised by the Policy Support Component on 9-10 October 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event served as an international platform for showcasing two key sustainability projects — ‘Promoting Circularity in the Tamil Nadu Leather Clusters for Solid Waste Management’ and ‘Effective Waste Management and Sustainable Development of the MSME Tanning Companies in Bantala Leather Cluster’ — with the purpose of highlighting their outcomes on circular market-based models for processed solid leather waste. The conference brought together 140 representatives (both offline and online) from ongoing grant-funded projects in Asia, Central Asia, Mongolia and China, government officials from the 42 eligible countries, and a few select regional organisations, partners, and experts specialising in sustainable consumption and production (SCP) across sectors. An exhibition showing value-added sustainable products from leather waste was well appreciated.

Promoting the benefits of regenerative practices

In a significant effort towards promoting regenerative farming practices, Solidaridad conducted a demonstration of jeevamrut at Pilkapar village in Kalmeshwar block, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, on 18 October 2023. Jeevamrut is a mixture of organic ingredients like cow dung, cow urine, jaggery (among others). It is known for its ability to enhance soil health and fertility, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers, and increasing resistance to pests and diseases. During the demonstration, Solidaridad staff guided farmers on the benefits of jeevamrut. “Good agricultural practices like use of jeevamrut can reduce the cost of production, enhance soil health and increase yield. Farmers should adopt these practices,” said a farmer present at the demonstration.

Resource and Training Centre Inaugurated in Nagpur

A State Resource and Training Centre was unveiled by Solidaridad at Kalmeshwar block in Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The centre aims to improve agricultural practices and empower the farming community in the state. The centre offers a wide range of services, including training, guidance and demonstrations of different low-cost biological inputs. The establishment of the State Resource Centre has generated positive feedback from the local farmers, who see it as an opportunity to improve their livelihoods and ensure a more sustainable future. The centre has demo plots for vermicomposting, mulching, drip irrigation, intercropping and various other GAPs designed to inspire and educate local farmers. These plots will support farmers in adopting practices that improve productivity, increase income, and contribute to sustainable farming.

IMPACT STORIES

Path to Prosperity

Ganesh Kisanrao Bhosale, a farmer from Shrikalas village in Parbhani district, Maharashtra, was troubled by infertile soil, the high cost of chemical fertilisers, and the low market price for his produce. All of this led to financial hardships for his family. Under these circumstances, Ganesh joined the Smart Agri Project (run jointly by Solidaridad, Vodafone-Idea Foundation and Indus Towers) last year. An AWS was installed in the neighbouring farm, while on-field workers provided training to Ganesh at the farmer field school nearby. Ganesh also received advisory services with accurate weather forecasts, information on eliminating pests and diseases, and online and offline training from agricultural experts.

He started using compost manure, dashparni extract, and installed yellow and blue sticky traps, which helped in pest management and cost reduction. He was able to ensure crop diversification — along with cotton and pigeon pea, he also planted 200 orange saplings and used soybean as an intercrop, along with turmeric and tomato. Today, Ganesh’s monthly yield from cotton has risen to 7–8 quintals (against a low cost of production). He is also making a significant income from his pigeon pea and fruits-and-vegetables harvest.

Sustainable is the Way for This Maharashtra Farmer

Uday Patil, a resident of Waghave village in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, is an office clerk and a farmer who has transformed his small farmland into a benchmark for sustainable agriculture through intercropping. Uday is guided in his efforts by his father’s wisdom and his wife’s unwavering support. He blends crops strategically to maximise yield and income. One of the primary intercrops in his sugarcane fields is okra; others include green gram, chilli and beetroot. By adopting good agricultural practices, he is able to ensure good soil health and the well-being of his crops.

By making use of the knowledge of latest farming techniques, sustainable practices, and valuable insights from Solidaridad experts, Uday has been able to optimise land use and diversify his income streams. For instance, he was able to earn ₹90,000 from the 2,500 kg of chilli he harvested on 0.22 ha (0.54 acres) of land. Similarly, the 1,950 kg of okra he harvested on 0.40 ha (0.99 acres) of land helped him earn ₹70,000. Uday hopes to pass on all his knowledge and wisdom to his 12-year-old son who has a passion for agriculture. He also intends to wholeheartedly support his 6-year-old daughter’s dreams of joining the medical profession. At the same time, he is also empowering his fellow villagers by training them in sustainable, regenerative agriculture.

EMPLOYEE CORNER

WELCOMING NEW COLLEAGUES

Poulami Datta, joined us on 03 October 2023 as a Senior Manager-Programme Innovations and Development, in Delhi. She comes with more than fifteen years of experience. She is an agriculture science graduate from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and alumni of Institute of Rural Management, Anand. Previously, she was working with Centum Foundation.

Purnima Patel, joined us on 16 October 2023 as a Field Coordinator in our Textile project based at Panipat, Haryana. She was previously working with Mineral Oil Corporation as a Quality Analyst. She has done B.Tech from AKTU Lucknow and MSW from UPRTOU, Allahabad.

G Shajahan, joined us on 16 October 2023 as a Program Officer in our EU project based at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He has more than twenty years of work experience as a Leather Technician. He holds a Diploma in Leather Technology from Tamil Nadu University.