Convergence @ Work

Very recently while working for TARA Livelihood Academy, the organization which is involved in facilitating value chain development process in partnership with ILO for Dairy sector in Jabalpur, we had an excellent experience about how convergence if facilitated well can actually work. The process began in September 2009 and is in the stage of implementation and follow ups. A team from ILO and TLA visited Jabalpur for follow ups of the ongoing activities. One such green intervention has been production of green fodder in Jabalpur. As it was evident from the VCD report that the demand for green fodder in Jabalpur is much more than it is produced within the location which ultimately affects the quality of milk and milk products.
Interactions with Agricultural University opened the door of possibilities as the dean shared the willingness of the university to provide technical support to individuals or groups taking up production of the green fodder. Next in line the team met dairy association and explored the possibility of entrepreneur’s willingness to take up this activity. The dairy association felt that the activity if taken at the village farmers level would be more effective and possibility of creating jobs will be higher. The association gave commitment to buy the produced green fodder from the village farmers. A farm visit was organized by the agricultural university where representatives of dairy association and TLA-ILO team visited and got inputs from the agricultural scientists.
An interaction with the NREGS officer in District Rural Development Authority opened the glare of opportunities. The NREGS officer informed the team that there are watershed groups in the countryside locations in Jabalpur where groups of farmers are willing to take up production of fodder. For this purpose the NREGS department agreed to link this activity under the waste land development programme of the district authorities. He raised the issue of technical support to which the team shared the commitment of the dean agricultural university.
Followed was a meeting involving NREGS officer, Agriculture University and the TLA-ILO team. It was agreed by all the stakeholders to take up this activity. A field visit was agreed upon and visit to the villages with watershed groups were made. The NREGS officer made a presentation to these farmers and a detailed process of production of green fodder was made.
Process on production included:
- Identification of willing farmer’s group
- Identification of waste land
- Identification of irrigation facility
- Costing and look out for funds
- Soil testing
- Land cleaning and plaughing
- Seed identification and production
- Market linkage and sale of fodder
The present status of this initiative is as follows:
Two farmer’s groups are taking up the production of green fodder under waste land development programme. Farmers identification, land identification and soil testing has taken place. The NREGS officer has sanctioned an amount of 10 lakhs for two locations. Agricultural scientists have completed soil testing and are to suggest the farmers about the kinds of fodder.
The TLA-ILO team further worked on the market linkage aspect and met several buyers of the fodder nearby these villages. Several options for selling the produced fodder has been made and shared with the farmers as well as the dairy owners.
The crux of this intervention is that the initiative towards bringing more than one government offices and departments has worked excellently in this situation and it has opened door for many such interventions. Simple interactive sessions with the presence of all related government departments has brought significant results and we hope to achieve many more such results in future.