Pilot Project to Promote Organic Consumption in State of (ProOrganic)

Village Level Awareness Camps Activity Report

www.cuts-international.org/cart/proorganic

Background and Objective CUTS with financial assistance from Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Sweden is implementing a two-year project. The objective of the project is to promote organic consumption in the State of Rajasthan () covering six major agriculture potential districts by awareness generation, sensitisation, capacity-building and advocacy activities.

Increased awareness is expected to result in increased consumer demand, which will further push demand for availability and affordability of organic products contributing towards decreasing health hazards of consumers.

The project is expected to result in better informed consumers and farmers about organic consumption and farming and advocating for better policies and enforcement thereof by sensitised policy makers in the State. This will boost organic farming and consumption in the State and in the long run will provide sustainable environment and lifestyle.

Village Level Awareness Campaign has been one of the important activities in the project, which provided a platform to bring the project objectives down the line. This campaign was conducted in 102 selected villages (gram panchayats) of six target districts. In all, two villages were selected from each block of each district, thus totalling to 102. These villages are the same, where the survey was conducted in the initial stage of the project.

The objective of organising these awareness camps was to bring forward the whole movement down the line at the grassroots. In nutshell, the objective of organising these block level awareness meetings through camps was to educate and sensitise the public about the ill- fates of chemicals and pesticides being used in agriculture and the importance of locally available agriculture friendly fertilizers and manures, which can be used to decrease the financial burden and hazardous impacts on environment as well as on human.

Summary of Activities Thus, total of 102 awareness camps were organised in six districts. Since, the camps under the campaign were conducted at gram panchayats level, hence participants of each activity were mainly the local farmers and consumers. Besides, at many places, village level traders, students and elected representative also did participate with keen interest. People in agricultural activities and consumers, who are directly involved had mostly participated in each event. On and average, around 50 participants in each awareness camp did take part with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Among the key stakeholders in the project, representatives from local civil society, consumer organizations and subject experts from government authorities and farmer clubs also took part and taught the participants on the subject. In all six districts, efforts were made to ensure participation of farmers, especially women farmers representing particular block of the district.

Methodology As proposed, there was one awareness camp in each of selected gram panchayats to make consumers and farmers aware of organic products and influence their buying/farming habits. There were different modes, through which efforts were made to raise awareness, i.e. by way of organising street plays and other local means of cultural activities, fixing and displaying posters and distributing hand-outs etc., other local and traditional ways like chaupal baithaks (village government meetings) or any other cultural modes like kathputali (puppet shows) etc.

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Key Features of District Wise Events Ram Krishan Shikshan Sansthan is the district partner for Kota and responsible to plan, mobilse, coordinate and conduct all the village level meetings in the district. From the five blocks of the district, total of ten villages (two from each block) were selected, where the village meetings were conducted. The blocks and villages are:

Block Villages 1. Rangpura 1. Ladpura 2. Kishanpura Takia 3. Sultanpur 2. Sultanpur 4. Choma 5. Itawa 3. Itawa 6. Ganeshganj 7. Dhulet 4. 8. Kurad 9. Aalod 5. Khairabad 10.

The programmes were conducted in different villages on different dates starting from August 2014 to January 2015. The details of each programme are available at the end of the report.

Participation In overall, from the ten villages, where the events were conducted, 557 participants were present, which was a mixed crowd of both consumers and farmers both with around 341 male and 216 female participants.

As seen from the figures, though the total number of participants is less as compared to other places but the female ratio is not bad and is as much as around 40 percent of the total participation.

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A Path of Livelihood Opportunity for Youth: A Success Case Story Narendra Malav, a local young farmer from village Dangawas in Sultanpur block of the district emerged out as one of the successful organic farmer of the district, not only participated in most of the village events but also served as a local resource person. Malav not only motivated farmers and consumers but also showed some live demos of few of his organic methods of farming. Malav learnt from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kota and under the training of trained scientists, he got trained and started his own farming through a piece of land, which was extended later. Today, Narendra Kumar Malav is recognised as one of the key farmers, who is completely involved in organic cultivation and is now as a great example for youth in Kota, who has showed a path of organic farming taken as a livelihood opportunity.

Udaipur District Prayatna Samiti is shouldering the responsibility of being a district partner, who has managed and organised as many as 22 village meetings in 11 blocks of the district. Dangi’s ability to ensure and mobilse participation in programmes, where the villages are scattered as according to geography of the district has been worth appreciable. The details of the villages as against blocks, where these programmes are conducted are: Block Villages 1. Malpur 1. Salumber 2. Morila 3. Jawad 2. Sarada 4. Adwas 5. Bhirothi Bhilan 3. Kherwara 6. Bhawal wada 7. Medi 4. Kotra 8. Mamer 9. Gorana 5. Jadol 10. Dewas 11. Patiya 6. Gogunda 12. Bangunda 13. Dodawali 7. Badgaon 14. Dhar 15. Sangwa 8. 16. Rakhyawal 17. Sulawas 9. Girwa 18. Bori 19. Sawana 10. 20. Sinhad 21. Khajoori 11. Lasadiya 22. Aanjni

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Participation In district, out of the total 1134 participants comprising of both farmers and consumers in all the 22 villages, who participated in all the events, around 759 were male and 375 women. Women participation is nearly 50 per cent of the total participation and comparing with Kota, the figures are not encouraging but looking to the geographical conditions and local traditions, these can be considered as satisfactory.

Efforts Always Yield Results: A Success Case Story Bhaga ji of village Hathida is a very hard working farmer, who had switched over to organic farming only few years ago. He has stressed on vermi wash method of organic farming, which has really yielded results for him over the years.

Using vermi-wash method, in the year 2013-14, Bhaga had grown wheat crop using IMO (Improvement of Agricultural Methods and Productivity to reduce the need to cut down additional forest land). He had sown 25 kg of wheat seeds of 4083 variety in 1 hectare land. It was the first time, he has used this variety in his field. He watered his crop three times, and sprayed it with vermi-wash every 40-45 days. Bhaga had ensured that he will not use urea or any other type of chemical pesticides or fertilizers in any manner. In the past, when he used to do farming with urea, he could cultivate a production of only 2 quintal of wheat. Now, from the 4083 variety and using only vermi-wash, he can produce up to 6 quintal of wheat. Not only has the quantity of production increased greatly, but he was also been able to use lesser quantity of water throughout the production, which is a very key factor during the times of prolonged drought. Thus, through efforts, Bhagha ji has proved that continuous efforts always pay.

Dausa District Hanuman Gram Vikas Samiti is leading the project activities in district. Among all other district partners, Om Prakash is the most actively involved in organic farming in his district. He has conducted the village meetings in Dausa very effectively. The project activities in Dausa are being done in 12 villages from the total six blocks of the district. The details are:

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Block Villages 1. Chudiyawas 1. Naagal 2. Ladli Ka Vas 3. Dugrawata 2. Lawan 4. Lawan 5. Bidarkha 3. Pachwara 6. Bicha 7. 4. Lalsoth 8. Khatwa 9. Kalota 5. Dausa 10. Khuri kala 11. Guda Kotla 6. Baswa 12. Mui

Participation From the twelve village meetings, around 906 male and female participants took part, in which 317 were female. Thus as many as 35 percent females took part out of whole participation, but again local customs, traditions, culture and geography for lesser number.

Organic Culture Movement Now Strengthening its Base in Dausa: A Success Case Story Rubi Pareek, who was only a housewife in village Khatwa of , did not know even abcd of agriculture before marriage but later she acquainted herself to the level of being among the top most successful farmers of the district in the area of organic farming.

Rubi’s husband was the main motivator behind this success as he used to teach her in an organic field, where he himself was working. Later in 2008, NABARD established a 200 metric tonne vermi compost hatchery unit, where Rubi played a crucial role and was considered as an agriculture innovation in the district.

From there, Rubi picked up organic farming and further recognised herself as a trainer for other women farmers in the district. Owing to her dedication and work, she was given the charge of chairman of Kisan Club of Dausa district.

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Rubi along with few other women farmers has the credit of developing ‘Ajola Fern’, local manure, which is said to be free from all chemicals and pesticides and was also declared as another innovation. Rubi has the credit of developing the most successful organic ginger farming in her area. Through the efforts, one can say that organic movement is now strengthening its base in Dausa district and that too through the efforts by women farmers.

Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh Districts CUTS Centre for Human Development (CHD), Senthi, was assigned with the task of implementing project activities in Chittorgarh and the adjoining district Pratapgarh. Like in Udaipur, Chittorgarh also has 11 blocks and the village level activities were conducted in 22 villages.

Similarly, Pratapgarh has five blocks with 10 targeted villages. The centre head of CHD led the team for organising all project related activities.

The details of both the districts are:

Chittorgarh-Block Villages 1. Odundh 1. Chittorgarh 2. Devri 3. Bhichore 2. Bengu 4. Nandwai 5. 3. Bhensrodgarh 6. Dhangdmau 7. Bagreda mamadev 4. 8. Marjivi 9. Alod 5. Dungla 10. Semliya 11. Boheda 6. Badi 12. Badval 13. Nahargarh 7. Bhadesar 14. Dhirji ka khera 15. Data 8. 16. Damakhera 17. Bavrana 9. Bhopal Sagar 18. Jashma 19. Baru 10. Rashmi 20. Rudh 21. Borda 11. Gangrar 22. Kanti

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Pratapgarh-Block Villages 1. Mokhampuriya 1. Pratapgarh 2. Gadola 3. Suhagpura 2. Pipalkhoont 4. Kesarpura 5. Jajli 3. Arnod 6. Dhnop 7. Chittodiya 4. 8. Bhadla 9. Chandoli 5. 10. Semarthali

Participation From the 22 village meetings held in , there has been an extraordinary attendance especially from the women’s side. In all, in 22 programmes, total 2330 participants including both consumers and farmers enthusiastically took part. Out of which 1620 women participants were there, which is for the first time far above the male participants. From the figures, female participants are nearly 70 percent of total participants. This shows the spirit among women in this district, which has set up a very good example for other districts as well.

Similarly, in Pratapgarh, the total number of participants is exactly 1000 with 617 males and 383 female participants. The ratio of female participants here is 38 percent of the total 1000. The reason of this unsatisfactory turn out is similar to other districts.

Symbol of Progress: A Success Case Story Nandlal Dhakar, a farmer of Jaisinghpura under Palka has emerged as one of the progressive farmer of the district. He is one of the few farmers, who is literate with graduate degree and has been a sarpanch of his village. Being a sarpanch, he could acquaint with several government supported schemes, which he translated them to benefit his village people. Having a big farm, he preferred for organic farming as he had attended many meeting conducted by agriculture department.

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Dhakar has developed a big organic farm by the name Nirmal Farms and is a known farmer in the whole district. He has established green house, poly house, cow dung gas plant, solar plant, mini sprinkler etc at his farm land.

Owing to his commitment and dedication, state government has awarded him with a state level award and he was also sent to Malaysia for a trip to study modern organic farming methods. Dhakar was also awarded with Jagjivan Ram Abhinav Award by the Govt. of India. Today, he is known as a motivator of organic farming for other farmers and he could manage to get many farmers switch over to organic farming from the chemical farming. That is the reason, he is known as a symbol of progress.

Moving Forward with New Thinking: A Success Story Radhey Shyam Sahu is a local farmer based in village Chandoli in Pratapgarh district. He along with his brother Gopal Lal Sahu has developed their own organic far. Radhey Shyam was in government service and after retirement, he opted for farming.

He was also involved in village politics, so having been in touch with government, he could know all government related policies/benefits and supports for farmers and agriculture lands. From the government support, he developed a big organic farming land with facilities like solar pump, green house, poly house, vermi compost pit and sprinkler etc. Radhey Shyam also supported hi villagers and other fellow farmers in getting to know the technical knowhow and other monetary supports from government.

Radhe Shyam’s dedication and his willingness to learn more and more technical aspects have proved that moving forward with new thinking yields results.

Jaipur District CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research and Training had managed the part of the project activities. There are 13 blocks in with 26 villages selected for project activities. These are:

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Block Villages 1. Chapradi 1. Amber 2. Bagwada 3. Thali 2. 4. Kadera 5. Surshingpura 3. Dudu 6. Rojadi 7. Anntpura, 4. Govindgarh 8. Phtehpura 9. Pachar 5. 10. Kalawad 11. Sankotra 6. Jamwaramgarh 12. Phutolav 13. Kalyanpura, 7. Kotputali 14. Jodhpura 15. Gohandi 8. 16. Ladana 17. Ajayrajpura 9. 18. Bahapura 19. Markee 10. Shahpura 20. Dhanot 21. Kazipura 11. Sambhar 22. Tyod 23. Chitoli 12. Viratnagar 24. Jaisinghpura 25. Karangarh 13. Bassi 26. Dhanu Kala

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In Jaipur, as the district has maximum number of blocks among all six targeted district in the project and thus maximum number of villages to conduct activities, CUTS deployed a team of dedicated workers in each block, who were given the responsibility of conducting all village level activities. These workers are CUTS networkers and have been involved in many CUTS projects doing various kinds of activities. They have strength to mobilise people in their area.

Participation In Jaipur, a total of 1447 participants were present in all the village level activities comprising of consumers and farmers. This includes 814 male and 573 female participants. Female participation is 70.39 percent of total participation, which is amazing.

Efforts Do Matter: A Success Case Story Nand Kishore Meena, a farmer of village Jodhpura of Kotputali block of Jaipur district is a progressive organic farmer. Meena has used Vermi-Wash method very effectively for the Cultivation of Wheat Crop. In the year 2013-2014, during the rabi season, he has cultivated the wheat variety of 4083 on 1/2 hectare of land sowing 20 kg of wheat seeds. Meena had to water the crop four times because of high quality land otherwise had this been a normal land and then he would have watered it at least five times. He did not use Urea or DAP at all because with the Vermi- Wash they never felt it was necessary to spray anything else. On 1/2 hectare land, they produced six quintal wheat. In the past, when they used Urea and DAP, they used to get only 5-6 bags of wheat.

Due to his continuous efforts and dedications, Nand Kishore is said to be one of the successful farmers of Jaipur district doing complete organic farming and his efforts have started paying for him now.

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Impact as the Major Outcome from the Campaign The village activities gave the platform to generate awareness among consumers about organic products (benefits, availability etc.) and it helped in educating the cultivators to use organic fertilizers to grow foods and not to resort to adulteration, so that the people of the country would get good and pure food and live a healthy life. Through this short campaign, it was also felt that such efforts would not suffice until and unless, these are taken up in a continuous mode. Local media gave full coverage to all the village meetings and local people also took it with zeal and enthusiasm.

Recommendation  Similar kind of awareness programmes with the farming community should be encouraged.  Government should promote training programmes and financial support for organic farming.  Should have more and more new schemes for benefit of organic farmers.  Organic products should be closely monitored as far as price fixation is concerned.  More and more consumers should be engaged in organic production and consumption.  Government should enact some major policy changes which would make organic food easily available, accessible and affordable.

District wise Details with Participation S. District Program Block Village Date Participants Participants N. Organised Male Female 1. Jaipur 26 Sanganer Ajairajpura 16.12.2014 22 21 Sanganer Bahapura 20.12.2014 39 06 Bassi Karangarh 20.11.2014 33 27 Bassi Dhanaukalan 18.11.2014 24 19 Jamva Sankotra 15.11.2014 44 09 Ramgarh Jamva Phutalav 07.10.2014 35 31 Ramgarh Sambhar Kajipura 20.10.2014 34 17 Sambhar Tyod 06.10.2014 43 36 Shahpura Marki 05.11.2014 37 32 Shahpura Dhanot 20.11.2014 34 32 Jhotwara Paachar 05.12.2014 42 16 Jhotwara Kalwad 20.12.2014 37 18 Dudu Sursinghpura 26.09.2014 45 17 Dudu Rajodi 15.10.2014 37 20 Govind Aantpura 18.09.2014 34 23 Garh Govind Fatehpura 10.10.2014 43 32 Garh Chaksu Thali 15.11.2014 22 18 Chaksu Kadera 06.12.2014 20 17 Phagi Gohindi 07.10.2014 40 20 Phagi Ladana 20.10.2014 37 13

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S. District Program Block Village Date Participants Participants N. Organised Male Female Amer Chapradi 21.09.2014 38 28 Amer Bagwara 12.10.2014 37 23 Kotputali Kalyanpura 22 12 Kotputali Jodhpura 17 28 Viratnagar Chitoli 20.01.2015 29 39 Viratnagar Jaisingh 19.01.2015 29 19 Pura 2. Dausa 12 Naagal Chudiawas 28.11.2014 33 34 Naagal Lahdi ka Vas 29.11.2014 35 3 Lawaan Dugrawata 28.10.2014 56 31 Lawaan Lawaan 29.11.2014 45 27 Pachwara Bidarkha 28.09.2014 51 18 Pachwara Bicha 29.09.2014 41 24 Lalsoth Didwana 28.08.2014 47 33 Lalsoth Khatwa 29.08.2014 42 31 Dausa Kalota 28.11.2014 54 18 Dausa Khuri kalan 15.11.2014 96 40 Baswa Guda Kotla 30.11.2014 46 27 Baswa Mui 31.11.2014 43 31 3. Udaipur 22 Salumber Maalpur 16.09.2014 26 24 Salumber Morila 17.09.2014 34 26 Sarada Jawad 12.10.2014 33 31 Sarada Adwas 18.10.2014 43 09 Bhirothi Kherwara 17.11.2014 31 29 bhilan Bhawal Kherwara 19.11.2014 34 24 wada Kotra Medi 15.12.2014 30 20 Kotra Mamer 16.12.2014 41 16 Jadol Gorana 20.01.2015 39 22 Jadol Dewas 18.01.2015 37 27 Gogunda Patiya 11.12.2014 35 32 Gogunda Bangnda 17.12.2014 47 21 Badgaon Dodawali 06.12.2014 32 33 Badgaon Dhar 10.11.2014 33 33 Mavli Sangwa 17.01.2015 26 26 Mavli Rakhyawal 18.01.2015 27 10 Girwa Bori 02.01.2015 21 12 Girwa Rawatpura 17.10.2014 31 21 Bhinder Sawana 18.09.2014 47 11 Mallo ka Bhinder 19.10.2014 36 33 Guda Lasadiya Khajoori 20.09.2014 37 28 Lasadiya Aanjni 21.09.2014 39 33 4. Pratap 10 12.01.2015 115 60 Pratapgarh Gotarshi garh Pratapgarh Gadola 13.01.2015 65 25

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S. District Program Block Village Date Participants Participants N. Organised Male Female

Pipal Suhagpura 20.11.2014 50 35 Khoont Pipal Kesarpura 20.11.2014 28 35 Khoont Arnod Jajli 18.11.2014 30 26 Arnod Dalot 19.11.2014 44 12 Dhariawad Chittodiya 21.08.2014 39 21 Dhariawad Bhadla 21.08.2014 85 46 Choti Sadri Chandoli 20.08.2014 41 22 Choti Sadri Semsthali 20.08.2014 81 68 5. Chittor 22 11.12.2014 45 15 Chittorgarh Odundh garh Chittorgarh Devri 10.12.2014 113 90 Bengun Bhichore 17.10.2014 64 36 Bengun Nandwai 16.10.2014 107 08 Bhensrod Gopalpura 15.12.2014 110 60 Garh Bhensrod Dhangard 16.12.2014 30 25 Garh maukala Bagreda Nimbahera 17.12.2014 78 30 mamadev Nimbaheda Marjivi 18.12.2014 40 20 Dungla Alod 06.11.2014 100 48 Dungla Semliya 07.11.2014 107 53 Boheda 10.11.2014 110 30 Bari Sadri Badval 11.11.2014 85 40 Bhadesar Nahargarh 07.08.2014 43 26 Dheerji ka Bhadesar 08.08.2014 37 44 khera Kapasan Karukada 09.09.2014 45 10 Kapasan Damakhera 10.09.2014 35 15 Bhupal Bavrana 19.12.2014 80 18 Sagar Bhupal Jashma 20.12.2014 45 20 Sagar Raashmi Baru 15.01.2015 87 55 Raashmi Rudh 14.01.2015 42 09 Gangrar Borda 15.10.2014 118 32 Gangrar Kanti 14.10.2014 99 26 6. Kota 10 Ladpura Rangpura 11.09.2014 32 24 Kishanpura Ladpura 22.08.2014 22 15 Takia Sultanpur Sultanpur 28.01.2015 30 27 Chara Sultanpur 23.12.2014 40 31 Choma Itawa Gumanpura 20.01.2015 39 17 Itawa Ganeshganj 20.01.2015 38 26 Sangod Devli Manjhi 18.12.2014 33 23

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S. District Program Block Village Date Participants Participants N. Organised Male Female Sangod Kurad 17.12.2014 43 21 Khairabad Aalod 17.09.2014 23 25 Khairabad Chechat 18.09.2014 41 07 Total 102 4761 2687

Media Coverage

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