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Field Study
Gene
Campaign's work for Self Reliance in Food and Livelihood
Security in Jharkhand
Gene Campaign's Jharkhand project on food and livelihood
security is making good progress. The GC team attempts to work
in an inclusive way, its staff is diverse, incorporating
ethnic and religious minorities, backward communities and is
gender sensitive. Our literature is prepared in the local
regional languages and tribal dialects, enabling us to reach a
range of people.
Collaborations with research institutions are established and
field research is often being conducted jointly.
Gene Campaign appears to be emerging as a reference point for
agro biodiversity conservation and establishing Gene and Seed
Banks.
Conservation of rice in this region, important for being the
primary Center of Origin of Rice is becoming successful with
both ex situ and in situ conservation being well established
now.
Contents
Conservation and Use of
Agro biodiversity
Bringing underutilized food sources into
the food basket
Establishing Bioorganic Agriculture
Reviving Indigenous Healing Practices
Preparing Information Materials
Promoting Rights Awareness and Legal Literacy
Organising
Women in Self Help Groups
Training & Capacity Building
Conservation and Use of
Agro biodiversity
The activities included increasing the collection of
traditional varieties and ; their multiplication and in situ
conservation in Gene-Seed Banks with a community based system
for using and administering the material; characterization of
the varieties and germplasm evaluation to identify useful
genes. ‘Ultra Desiccation’ is being developed as a technique
for improved long-term storage at ambient temperature.
Underutilized and edible wild bio-resources are being revived
and promoted in the food chain for improved food and nutrition
The collection: Samples of traditional varieties of diverse
crop plants have been collected from 478 villages of 49
districts covering 9 states of the country. A total of 1990
samples of traditional varieties of rice, millets, legumes and
vegetables have been collected, characterized and processed
for storage in the Gene-Seed Banks. These consist of 1820
varieties of rice, 8 varieties of millets, 90 of legumes and
72 varieties of vegetables. Most of the legume varieties were
collected from Bihar, legume cultivation is not popular in
Jharkhand. Over 400 people have been trained in the
collection, characterization and documentation of agro
biodiversity.
Area of sample collection:
|
S. No. |
States |
Districts |
Blocks |
Villages |
-
|
Jharkhand |
16 |
124 |
314 |
-
|
Bihar |
13 |
76 |
118 |
-
|
Assam |
03 |
06 |
09 |
-
|
West Bengal |
05 |
03 |
08 |
-
|
Uttar Pradesh |
02 |
02 |
04 |
-
|
Madhya Pradesh |
02 |
01 |
02 |
-
|
Orissa |
04 |
03 |
18 |
-
|
Chhattisgarh |
03 |
02 |
04 |
-
|
Manipur |
01 |
01 |
01 |
|
Total |
49 |
218 |
478 |
Number
of traditional varieties collected:
|
State wise Collection |
Rice |
Millets |
Vegetables |
Legumes |
|
Jharkhand |
1048 |
08 |
22 |
10 |
|
Bihar |
370 |
-- |
50 |
80 |
|
Chhattisgarh |
180 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Orissa |
120 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Assam |
36 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Manipur |
07 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
30 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
West Bengal |
19 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Total |
1820 |
08 |
72 |
90 |
|
Total Collection |
1990 |
Curating the collection: The rice collections were curated by
examining the nomenclature, morphology and source of samples.
Rice varieties bearing the same or similar names are sometimes
collected from different regions. These are usually
morphologically distinct. For instance we have six varieties
called Kalamdani but they are also physically distinct. During
curating the collection, such variants are identified and
retained. When samples are collected that are clearly mixtures
of different varieties, the single lines are being separated
and maintained individually and the mixture is also
maintained. The composition of mixtures that farmers use has
risk management significance and constitutes a varietal
composite.
Identifying useful genes:
The Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) is testing 170
varieties from the GC Banks for tolerance to water stress.
Rice samples from the Gene Bank are being also being evaluated
by the Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, (IARI) Delhi, for resistance to Bacterial Leaf
Blight, a rice disease.
Starting with 17 traditional varieties that farmers
characterized as disease resistant, five varieties have been
identified as resistant to bacterial leaf blight.
MoU for using farmers’ material for Research
Materials have been shared with research stations for
germplasm evaluation following the conditions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity. An MoU has been signed by
Gene Campaign on behalf of the local communities, after taking
the consent of the representatives of communities. According
to the MoU, no patents can be taken on any material developed
from the research and evaluation and the germplasm will
continue to be the property of the local communities.
Ultra-Dltra-dcal yield loss.d tolerantwith students and civil
societyrity , Uttranchal esiccation:
A new technology called ultra-desiccation is being tested to
prolong the storage at ambient temperature. This will greatly
facilitate long term storage. This is a pilot project to test
whether the new technology of ultra desiccation works in the
field.
Sixty varieties of traditional seeds are being ultra
desiccated and will be tested for germination viability over a
five year period
Once the technology has been validated over five years or more
with small samples, important samples in the collection can be
subjected to ultra desiccation and the technology established
for wide use.
Community Gene-Seed Banks:

Eight Gene-Seed Banks have been set up in Kacchabari, Kulli,
Nayatoli, Ichak, Pannakhunti, Adampur, and Kerua and Birsa
Agriculture University,in Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Nalanda
districts of Jharkhand and Bihar.
In situ conservation
In 2005 over 1350 farmers have taken 600 traditional rice
varieties from the Gene-Seed Banks, in 2006, 1730 farmers have
taken 815 traditional rice varieties to cultivate in their
fields.
In-situ conservation & Seed Multiplication:
An increasing number of farmers are showing interest in
cultivating traditional rice at least in part of their land.
In 2005 over 1350 farmers have taken 600 traditional rice
varieties from
the Gene-Seed Banks, In 2006, 1730 farmers have taken 815
traditional rice varieties to cultivate in their fields. These
farmers also host seed multiplication renewal plots for Gene
Campaign to refresh and renew
the seed in the Banks. This kind of field level conservation
is greatly desired by conservation policy makers but is
difficult to achieve. Gene Campaign has begun to achieve a
breakthrough after three years of intensive fieldwork. This is
a good indicator for in-situ conservation.
Seed samples were multiplied to provide viable and healthy
seeds to a large number of farmers. The multiplication work
was carried out by farmers as well as by Gene Campaign. GC
multiplied 415 varieties in the demonstration plot of Birsa
Agricultural University with three purposes, first to increase
the seed quantity, second to conduct morpho-agronomic
characterization of the varieties and third to organize field
training programs for master trainers and other, as well as
awareness programs with students and civil society.
Multiplication
and in situ conservation of rice varieties:
|
Districts |
Ranchi |
Hazaribagh |
Nalanda |
Nawada |
|
No. of varieties |
560 |
210 |
30 |
15 |
|
Total varieties |
815 |
Legal recognition for Farmer Varieties:
Important samples from the collection have been characterized
according to the detailed format approved by FAO and IRRI.
This is an extremely time consuming and complex process which
is used by plant breeders to register a new variety. Gene
Campaign has given training to the village youths to
characterize the varieties by this method. This method was
used to characterize those special varieties, which have a
chance of being registered as Farmer Varieties by the National
Plant Variety Authority.
About 300 varieties are considered to have the potential to be
characterized according to the new format. So far 200
varieties have been characterized according to the detailed
protocol, at two stages. One, as a standing crop when
morphology, flowering, crop duration was characterized and
two, post harvest, when seed color, awning, 1000 seed weight,
grain color, length, breadth, aroma and quality were
characterized.
Important relevant information regarding the rice varieties
was documented from farmers’ long term experiences. This work
was done during the collection of seed samples. The
information provided by the farmers related to land type and
soil, requirement of water, crop duration, drought or flood
tolerance, pests or disease resistant, yield, aroma and
medicinal properties.
Successful in situ conservation:
Traditional varieties cultivated by farmers from community
Gene-Seed Banks:
|
Year |
No. of farmers |
No. of varieties |
|
2005 – 06 |
1350 |
600 |
|
2006 – 07 |
1730 |
815 |
Over 1730 farmers are cultivating 815 traditional rice
varieties taken from the Gene-Seed Bank.
Bringing underutilized food sources into the food basket
A total of 86 edible plants that are eaten as saag (leafy
greens), have been identified by village communities in the
region These have been collected and documented by GC. We are
trying to create seed sources for such leafy greens. The
problem is that since many have very small seeds the scatter
easily, making collection of seeds as planting material is
proving to be difficult.

Thirty-one tubers have been collected which the community uses
as famine foods. Many of these have medicinal properties. With
more and more people opting for cereals even in time of food
shortage, many of the tuber sources are getting lost. GC has
begun distributing these tubers in villages for multiplication
and to revive their use instead of going to the moneylender
for loans to buy rice for periods of food shortage.
Gene Campaign in collaboration with Food and Nutrition Board,
Govt. of India, has conducted training programs on value
addition, processing and preservation of leafy greens,
vegetables, fruits as well as pulses to prepare foods for
women and adolescent girls.
The difficulties we face in in situ conservation are from the
government, which pays no attention to conservation of rice
agro biodiversity even as it promotes hybrid and high yielding
rice. This lapse is particularly grave since Jharkhand is one
of the regions of maximum rice diversity and is considered a
Centre of Origin for rice. In this backdrop there is an even
greater need to continue and intensify the work on Gene and
Seed Banks in areas like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Orissa.
Establishing Bioorganic Agriculture
Ten villages have been developed as models for organic
cultivation, six from Ranchi district and four from Hazaribagh
district. There are a total 1733 households in these villages.
These will serve as models for replication and dissemination
of bioorganic practices.
Bio-fertilizers were produced using vermicompost, Blue Green
Algae Rhizobium cultures ,green manure and compost.
Vermicompost is the most easily adaptable and popular. It was
used successfully in trials of paddy, ginger and vegetables.
602 farmers have adopted vermicomposting and 369 units have
been set up. 26 farmers are trying out Blue Green Algae
cultures. Farmers report enhancement in their crop yield and
quality with the use of bioorganic nutrients.
Plant based pesticides made from extracts of Azadirachta
indica ,Pongamia pinnata , Nicotiana tabacum, Vitex negundo ,
Calotropis procera and Allium sativum were found to be
effective against common pests in field trials of vegetables
and paddy.
277 farmers have adopted plant-based pesticides. A cost
–benefit exercise done with a wide variety of farmers revealed
that they were able to make considerable savings after moving
away from chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
The total cost of paddy cultivating using agrochemicals works
out to Rs. 3300/acre,
The cost of cultivation by bioorganic methods the works out
to Rs. 1700/acre, a saving of Rs. 1600 per acre.
Adoption of
bio organic farming practices:
|
Particulars |
2005–07 |
|
Farmers trained |
1248 |
|
Master trainers trained |
83 |
|
No. of vermicompost units |
369 |
|
Farmers using vermicompost |
602 |
|
Farmers using BGA |
26 |
|
Farmers using plant based pesticides |
277 |
|
No. of organic farmers |
584 |
Effective
Plant based Biopesticides:
|
Plant |
Plant part used |
Effective against |
|
Tobacco
Nicotiana tabacum |
Leaf |
Aphids, White flies, leafhopper, thrips.
|
|
Neem
Azadirachta indica |
Leaf, Seed |
Mildew Rusts, Thrips, Leaf minor and many other insects. |
|
Sindwar
Vitex negundo |
Leaf, Stem |
Diverse pests |
|
Akwand
Calotropis procera |
Leaf |
Diverse pests |
|
Karanj
Pongamia pinnata |
Leaf, Seed |
Diverse pests |
|
Garlic
Allium sativum |
Bulb |
Boring pests |
Plant based pesticides face very stiff competition from
chemical pesticides. The Agriculture Department of the state
aggressively promotes chemical pesticides, as does Birsa
University. This makes the adoption of organic pesticides
difficult. Bioorganic pesticides acts in a preventive manner
and need attention. They must be applied before the pest
attack.
Reviving Indigenous Healing Practices
Over two hundred types of medicinal plants are being raised in
a nursery to provide planting material for herbal gardens.
Medicinal plants are being planted in public spaces, school,
college and university campuses to sensitize and educate
people about medicinal flora and indigenous healing
Awareness programs were organized to encourage rural and urban
communities to grow medicinal plants in their homesteads. Gene
Campaign has distributed over 350 medicinal and nutritionally
valuable plants at family level in various villages of Ranchi
and Hazaribagh and to educational institutions, college
campuses and campuses of government buildings.
Training rural communities to prepare herbal formulations for
simple ailments, under the guidance of Vaidyas.
The training program on preparation of herbal formulations
was started under the guidance of local
vaidyas
in the villages of Ranchi district.
Training programs on preparing herbal medicines were conducted
in 30 villages involving 168 men and 200 women. About 50
people have been identified with the potential to be trained
in preparing herbal medicines. More than 40 herbal medicines
were prepared, of which about 30 are popular.
Preparing Information Materials
A number of information and educational materials and training
manuals pertaining to the project activities relating to food,
nutrition, indigenous healing and conservation, the importance
and need for green agriculture, new and emerging national and
international policies with a bearing on bioresources and
local communities, etc. have been produced in local languages.
Special attention has been paid to creating information
materials in Nagpuri and Urdu as well so that the dominant
adivasi community and the large Muslim community is fully
involved and integrated in the project activities.
Promoting Rights Awareness and Legal Literacy
This program to create awareness about the legal rights that
communities have been granted over bioresources, seeds and
indigenous knowledge is getting stronger everyday. Even though
marginalized communities are apprehensive about exercising
rights because of years of subjugation, it is precisely they
who stand to benefit most from the new legal rights.
Irrespective of the speed of progress in absorbing the concept
of rights, rights awareness is a very important program and
one that Gene Campaign takes very seriously. The Rights
Awareness program uses diverse communication strategies and a
range of audio-visual materials.
The national legislation related to bioresources and farmers
and communities rights have been paraphrased into simple text,
and translated into Hindi and the local Nagpuri dialect. The
legislation discussed was the Protection of Plant varieties
and Farmer’s Rights Act, The Biodiversity Act, The Patent Act
and the Geographical
Indications Act. The main messages relevant to community
rights are extracted and used in different ways. This text has
also served as the basis for songs, slogans wall writings and
banner messages as well as the scripts of Street Plays.
Gene Campaign’s finds the best approach is to make the legal
matter and its presentation attractive and light. Songs
composed in the Nagpuri language, which is a prevalent tribal
dialect, convey the legal messages. The songs with musical
instruments help to draw attention to the key messages. A
Street Play has also been developed that familiarises the laws
to the village communities in an easily understandable manner.
Due to GC’s presence in the area and its cordial relations
with the local community, it has been possible to take up the
somewhat difficult work of generating awareness about legal
rights on abstract issues like Intellectual Property Rights
and Bioresources. The progress is slow but it is visible.
Organising
Women in Self Help Groups
A total of twenty SHGs work with GC on both seed banks and
bioorganic agri culture. Gene Campaign has given training to
the women groups on the processing of minor forest produce and
locally available fruits and vegetables, organic farming, agrobiodiversity conservation, herbal formulations and health
and nutrition. Some of the SHGs have taken loans from NABARD
and Gramin Banks to start economic activities. Economic
activities under consideration are vermicomposting, bee
keeping, poultry, and cows, making detergents, and bamboo
baskets, as well as snacks, pickles and organic vegetables.
Training and building capacity in the project area was
conducted at different levels. The men and women in the
project villages and surrounding areas were included in
outreach and educational programs so that they were sensitized
about the issues of agrobiodiversity conservation and its
sustainable use for long term food and livelihood security.
Simple literature is distributed at meetings.
Village youth have been trained in all project activities.
Some are trained as trainers who can do training and
demonstrations in particular activities like setting up
gene-seed bank, characterization of crop varieties,
ultra-desiccation, and about the nutritional value of
underutilized bio-resources.
Training and capacity building programs were conducted among
village youth, school and college students, Mahila Samuhs and
members of CSOs in the region, to develop self reliance in the
project, expand the outreach beyond the project area and build
sustainability beyond the life of the project. These people
are being trained to become the carriers of the project work
over time. The purpose of the training is to spread awareness,
enable people to participate in policy discourse and make
trainers competent and confident in the subject matter and to
handle program activities and public education programs.
Information materials and training manuals were prepared to be
used for awareness generation and in training workshops.
Subjects for
training programs
-
Importance of agro biodiversity for food security
-
Centers of Origin and their location in
India
-
Indigenous healing practices and their relevance to rural
health and veterinary care
-
Food safety and impact of pesticide residues
-
Why bioorganic agriculture and how
-
Homestead health and nutrition gardens
-
Processing for long term and medium term conservation of
agrobiodiversity in Gene/Seed/ Grain Bank
-
To develop a community based system for using and
administering the material in the Gene/ Seed bank
-
To characterize the agrobiodiversity and curate the
collections
-
Learn to evaluate the collection for agronomic properties,
with the help of NBPGR and ICAR
-
To organize organic/ green inputs and practice green/organic
agriculture
-
To collect, characterize and evaluate underutilized/ non
commercial sources of edible bioresources for added food and
nutrition
-
Multiply these food sources and popularize them for free
nutritional enhancement of poor diets.
-
To prepare herbal formulations for simple ailments, under the
guidance of Vaids and Hakims.
-
Vermicomposting to create organic fertilizer and nutrients
-
Preparing plant based pesticides
-
To document information, keep accounts and maintain records of
project activities
Farmer training programs
Education and Training Programs were conducted using (a) Door
to door contact for creating awareness (b) Nukad-Nataks (c)
Audio-Visual information materials (d) Practical Training (e)
Visits to organic fields in Birsa Agriculture University (f)
Field tests and demonstrations.
Teams consisting of experts from Birsa Agricultural
University, Palandu ICAR station and Gene Campaign, have
organized a number of training programs on bioorganic farming.
The training programs were conducted in three phases, in phase
one men and women farmers were made aware about the importance
and economic value of the organic agriculture. In the second
phase, theoretical details about the methods of preparation of
biofertilizers and biopesticides, method of use, precautions
and account keeping were provided. In the third phase,
practical training to develop biofertilizers like
vermicomposting, blue green algae based compost and other
compost, as well as biopesticides from the locally available
plants with pesticidal/insecticidal properties like Karanj,
Tobacco, Sindwar, Neem, Calatropis, Tulsi, Lantana etc was
imparted.
Over 1570 farmers have received training in organic
agriculture practices and appear keen to shift to organic
agriculture. Around 75 people have received training to become
master trainers to give training in green agricultural
practices.
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