In order to target the aim of rural development through sustainable agriculture, Sanjeevani Vikas Evam Jan Kalyan Samiti joined hands with HDFC Bank CSR Parivartan in April 2021 and initiated the Focussed Development Project (FDP). The project is being implemented in 61 villages of 5 Gram Panchayats i.e., Bungrail Chowk, Tungadhar, Dhar Jarol, Sangalwada and Dheem Kataru of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. The goal of the project is to create horticulture added value for small apple growers and vegetable farmers with integrated development approach of the selected 63 villages in the development block of Seraj, Mandi.
The project emphasis is on to enhance the selected farmers through empowerment and competitiveness of Farmers Interest Groups and formation of Farmer Producer organization by supporting access to knowledge, technology and finance in order to increase long term productivity and increased incomes in an environment marked by changing market patterns and increased climate variability for apple and vegetable cultivation. The project also supports the interventions designed to help the horticulture sector, improve productivity and to improve market access through incentives for apple and vegetable farmers to cater the market needs. Project activities focuses on resolving the binding constraints on productivity, quality, value-addition and market linkages.
The project intervention also includes to work on the whole supply chain of apples and vegetables starting from the growing, production, collection, grading, sorting, processing, packaging and marketing. It is working to collectivize farmers in one business entity i.e., Farmers Producer Organization (FPO). The established FPO, will not only give the farmers an entity of an entrepreneur but will also give them a direct access to minimize their input costs like seeds, fertilizer, irrigation facilities, crop insurance, financial assistance and many more. As the farmers are being united, they will also be able to influence the policies if require. A processing unit through the project has also been established for value- addition and grading of fresh produces like apples for marketing. The project is working for and with the farmers and growers of Seraj block and together, working to make agriculture and horticulture as a sustainable livelihood alternative.
Focused Development Project Objectives
- Community institutional buildings which include formation of 50 Farmer Interest Groups and a Farmers Producer Organization
- Creation of 2000 skilled workforce in agriculture and horticulture sustainable productivity
- Value chain creation and development in horticulture and vegetable cultivation with 2,000 farmers
- Increase in farmer income with value addition and direct market linkage
- Orchard development of 4,000 apple trees
Approach
