Celebrating Development Foreword NABARD has been in the forefront of various activities to further agriculture and rural development. NABARD’s activities impact the lives of the rural populace either directly or indirectly. I am glad that the NABARD Karnataka Regional Office has thought it appropriate to bring out the success stories from these interventions in the form of a book. I am sure that this book will act as an inspiration to all stake holders of agriculture and rural development. I congratulate NABARD and its partners in their endeavour and wish them success. T M Vijay Bhaskar I.A.S Chief Secretary Government of Karnataka Bengaluru 11 February 2020 Foreword Promotion of ‘best practices’ is one of NABARD’s key activities. We wish such examples act as ‘Light Houses’ powering hope and prosperity. Promotion of best practices is possible only through partners, who are so integral for our existence. We Choose and cherish such partners who see the big picture and execute the projects with precision. This is a collection of 51 best practices from across Karnataka. We thank the communities and partners who gave us an opportunity to touch their lives and enrich ours. P.V.S. Suryakumar NABARD Karnataka Regional Office Bengaluru 11 February 2020 What’s Inside? Cooperatives Women Development 05,41,57,59,63,71,81,97 & 103 15,47,61,75 & 87 Farmers Collectives Climate Proofing 21,67,73,79,85,89,91& 101 17,23,35,37,45,51,53,65 & 95 Farm Sector Rural Infrastructure Development Development 11,19,31,39,55,93,99 & 105 09,33 & 69 Off Farm Sector Orchards & development Tribal Development 07,27,43 & 77 13,25,29,49 & 83 One-Stop Shop: A bubbling cooperative 05 THE INITIATIVE Transforming Primary THE CHALLENGE THE impact Agricultural Cooperative The Kula village branch of Idkidu PACS was The PACS building now houses two Societies into a Multi functioning from a small rented building with 260 MT godowns and provides pledge Service Society limited facilities. The profitability of the PACS loan facilities, storage facilities, farm was under stress. equipment hiring services, runs a Domestic purchase needs are located consumer store, Jan Aushadhi Kendra etc. 10 km. away. As a result, the trading profit of the PACS THE BENEFICIARIES which was a mere ` 6.67 lakh in the year 2014-15, rose to ` 23.03 lakh, during the 3,500 farmer members year 2018-19 (245% increase). Further, of PACS the gross profit of the PACS which was THE solUTION ` 48.33 lakh in 2014-15 has reached ` 100.86 lakh in 2018-19 The Idkidu PACS had a small piece of own (109% increase). land in Kula village and also had the THE District ‘Building Reserve Fund’. Dakshina Kannada It availed PODF loan of ` 59.03 lakh from NABARD to construct a building complex housing banking transaction hall, godowns, shops and training hall. Started new business activities in the areas of produce financing, agri inputs supply, farm implements hiring, consumer stores, areca procurement centre etc. Skilling for Livelihoods 07 THE INITIATIVE Skill Development THE CHALLENGE THE impact Programme under High school drop-outs among rural youths. Youth gained self-confidence to Gramya Vikas Nidhi Most of them are unskilled. lead a decent life in the society. They were either employed or self-employed. THE BENEFICIARIES Initial monthly earnings were around Local youth of Ilkal village ` 10,000/- of Hungund taluk THE solUTION NABARD sanctioned ` 2.83 lakh to Ashadeep Training Centre to impart skills in Computer THE District (Basic and Advanced level) and Spoken Bagalkote English. Exposure visit to Bagalkote and Belgaum to understand about the opportunities available, banking facilities, placement opportunities, marketing linkages etc. Bridges to Prosperity 09 THE INITIATIVE Rural Infrastructure THE CHALLENGE THE impact Development Fund Mantralayam in Kurnool district of Andhra The first ever steel bridge in Karnataka. (RIDF) Pradesh is an important pilgrimage destination for people in Karnataka. Commuters to Mantralayam are now travelling at ease. The old bridge across river Tungabhadra was washed away in October 2009 due Farmers and rural people are benefited for to heavy flood. THE BENEFICIARIES comfortable connectivity. People who commute The temporary makeshift arrangement was causing inconvenience to many. Besides linking Mantralayam, it provided from either side of the better connectivity between Raichur to bridge New bridge with alignment risks - 14 sections of 40m length, 12m width and Bellary, Adoni and Kurnool. 9.5m height weighing 1400 MT. THE District Raichur THE solUTION NABARD provided loan assistance of ` 31.60 crore to State Government under RIDF. The Bridge, using German technology, was built by Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. at a cost of ` 43 crore. The bridge is 600 metres in length and 12 metres width. Tenant Farmers too can prosper 11 THE INITIATIVE Formation and linkage THE CHALLENGE THE impact of Joint Liability Groups Many vegetable growers of the village do not Banks extended loans to 21 JLGs of (JLGs) have a clear land title deed. Thus, access to ` 58 lakh for vegetable cultivation institutional credit is very limited. involving 118 FPO members. Most of them are small and marginal farmers, Farmers could get quality inputs in time. having very limited financial resources for cultivation. THE BENEFICIARIES All the loans were repaid in time and 118 small and marginal all of them availed loans for the farmers of Benegal subsequent years. village THE District Udupi THE solUTION NABARD sanctioned JLG bank linkage project to Udupi Zilla Thotagarika Belegara Sangha with grant assistance of ` 2,000/- for each JLG bank linkage. Joining hands with the banks to conduct interactive sessions for sensitising them on genuine credit needs of the farmers and chalking out JLG mode of credit support to them. Blooming Orchards 13 THE INITIATIVE Integrated Tribal THE CHALLENGE THE impact Development High rate of environmental degradation, 409 Wadis with fruit crops and forestry resulting in low productivity and low income. plants by many tribal families. Broad disconnect between tribals and the 16 Women Self-Help Groups, 49 Village mainstream population. planning committees and 2 Cluster-level Urban migration due to uncertain rainfall, committees formed to support them. THE BENEFICIARIES food scarcity and lack of basic amenities. Tribals of Koppa and Carpentry, tailoring and petty shops Sringeri, Chikmagalur provide alternate sources of income. district, Karnataka Migration in project area has reduced. A stable source of income has been assured through Wadis and the quality of life in terms of health, education of THE District children, etc. has improved. Chikmagalur THE solUTION NABARD extended assistance to VIKASANA for an integrated tribal development project in 2011. Introduction to Wadi development and other income-generation activities. Support given for organic cultivation, exposure programmes and marketing of produce. Rags to Riches 15 THE INITIATIVE Self-Help Group Bank THE CHALLENGE THE impact Linkage Programme Traditional occupation of Samagara Savings concept introduced among them. Community is chappal making and repairing – Majority of them are destitute. SHG members availed loan for their children’s education and housing. Poor resource base, illiterate, landless, beneficiaries were scattered. THE BENEFICIARIES Understood the importance of group SHG Women of Samagara No access to credit, indebtedness and dynamics. Community (Chappal migration. Availed multiple bank linkage and making community), Mobilising them into groups and convincing repaid 100%. Basavakalyan taluka them about the SHG concept was challenging. Came out of abject poverty. Quality chappal making is now sustainable income generating group activity. THE District Bidar THE solUTION Under NABARD microfinance scheme, District Central Cooperative Bank, Bidar was sanctioned SHPI project to promote and credit link of SHGs with DCCB. Capacity building and training on SHG concepts. Exposure visits for cross learnings on savings and potential economic activities. Climate Proofed Villages 17 THE INITIATIVE Watershed THE CHALLENGE THE impact Development Soil erosion, poor soil fertility and alarmingly 5,000 Ha treated for soil erosion and under Watershed low groundwater level. water management. Development Fund Salinity and fluoride content. Positive impact on the lives of Low level of farming technology. 285 beneficiaries. Indebtedness and migration. Recharge of groundwater level and THE BENEFICIARIES improved soil fertility. Villages of Kurahatti & Urban migration checked. neighbouring villages of Ron Taluk 26 livelihood activities for alternate sources of income. THE solUTION THE District NABARD extended grant assistance of Gadag ` 1.45 crore on 08 January 2013 to Priyadarshini, NGO for an integrated watershed development project. Farmers were trained in new and scientific methods of farming. New livelihood options provided for identified beneficiaries. Support given for organic cultivation. Exposure programmes and marketing of produce. Farmers’ Delight 19 THE INITIATIVE Propagation of System THE CHALLENGE THE impact of Rice Intensification Flood irrigation in cultivation of paddy. Substantial increase in rice yield. 50-52 (SRI) under Umbrella Saturation in yield levels. bags per acre (an average increase of Programme for Natural about 40%). Resource Management Beliefs on more than appropriate use of fertilisers and pesticides. (UPNRM) Savings in