ABOUT CAIM: September 2011

(In collaboration with DPMT CAIM, Marico Ltd., and SSP, Mumbai) Date: 8^th September ૨૦૧૧

Guest Faculty: Hon. Shri. Udayji Rathod, District Collector, Washim, Mr. Rajendra Deore, DPM, CAIM Washim, Mr. S. M. Patil Executive Agriculture Development, Marico Ltd., Mumbai and Mr. M. K. Attar, TAO, Washim

The Convergence of Agricultural Interventions in Maharashtra (CAIM) has organized workshop on contract farming on 8^th September 2011 to its Washim block cluster village farmers in joint collaboration with CAIM DPMT, Marico Ltd., and SSP Mumbai.

The workshop was formally inaugurated by Mr. Attar, TAO Washim and after that Mr. Rajendra Deore, District Project Manager, DPMT Washim in his introductory speech summarized the objectives of the workshop as the safflower crop is a Rabi crop and the best season for sowing i.e 15 sep to 15 Oct is very nearer and it is effort to start the activity to get benefit of the season and gave brief presentation on CAIM project and presence in Washim district

and it’s cluster approach for implementation and also shared information on project’s main components Institutional Capacity Building & Partnerships, SHG & CMRC Development and Programme Management in his introduction speech.

After the objectives of the one day contract farming workshop, the private player Marico Ltd., Mumbai representative Mr. S. M. Patil gave details on contract farming concept. He gave the ongoing work in the Washim district villages and participation of farmers, who are already involved in the contract farming with Marico Ltd.

During his presentation given focus on following topic to the participants.

What is contract farming?
Benefits of contract farming.
Terms and conditions of contract farming
Agreement details
Price assurance.
Technical support during contract farming period.

The Marico Ltd., is willing to give support on technical guidance for Safflower, who are involved in the contract farming. The company will support and guiding on whole crop profile contents like required land pattern, sowing period, distance in between two rows, selection of variety, internal cultivation practices, irrigation pattern, crop protection, pest and diseases control measures and quality production.

Hon. Shri. Udayji Rathod, District Collector gave time from his busy schedule of the day and had interaction with the contract farming workshop participants. He shared own experience and observations on the current farming practices and farmers priority for growing the crop’s in the Washim district. He introduced agriculture based enterprises like dairy production, fishery production and shared observations on that.

He also reviewed social and economical constraint of the Washim district farmers and explained to get benefits from CAIM project activities to increase their own house hold level income. He also gave suggestion to willing ownership within developed infrastructure at the village level and take responsibility for operation and maintenance for sustainability.

Mr. M. K. Attar, TAO, Washim gave details on different ongoing schemes like “Shetkari Janta Apghat Vima Yojana”, Seed Distribution etc. and crated enabling environment with the participants and tried build close relationship with government departments. He also suggested to take multi crops within available own land to avoid losses during the crop production and market rate of the produce.

He suggested avoiding mono cropping system, which is currently practiced by the farmers to maintain the soil fertility and production average. He also gave guidance on soil fertility and benefits of the crop diversification.

The formal vote of thanks were delivered to all the guests, krushi doot, participants’ farmers, women farmers, were given by Mr. Sarjerao Dhawale, M&E Officer DPMT CAIM. The whole programme was coordinated by Mr. Goverdhan Chavhan, Agri Business Expert, DPMT CAIM Washim.

The Vishakha Committee Meeting is organized on 9th September, 2011 at CAIM Programme Management Unit at Amravati.

Approval for district level committees
Reading & finalizing the do's and dont's prepared by Gender Expert
Discussion on the issues raised during the Meeting

Second Meeting of Vishakha Committee of CAIM was organized on 9^th Sept.2011 under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Vandana Raut, DPM Yavatmal.

The points discussed and agreed by all members during the meeting are as follows;

· District team will consist of max 7 members. The composition of committee will be as- CAIM Programme Vishakha committee member from DPMT, one women advocate, one IA representative, one MAVIM CMRC representative, one CBO representative will be obligatory and other two members would be representative from Special Cell for Women & Child/ representative from line dept/ representative from NGO working in this domain/DPMT Level.

· During this month, district level committee will be formed with the approval of Hon. Collector. The DPMT representative will inform the details of the district level committee members to Programme Vishakha committee coordinator after formation of the committee. The process is expected to be completed by by 30^th September, 2011. This committee will consists of member of the CAIM Programme Vishakha committee member from DPMT, MAVIM CMRC representative, advocate, representative from line dept/NGO. The representative from IA will be identified in December 2011 and representative of CBO will be identified in March 2011. Care should be taken that IA representative & CBO representative should not belong to same organization/cluster.

· The members of committee will change after every two years.

· All the members will go meticulously through the guidelines of Vishakha prepared by Gender Expert and will convey their suggestions.

· The Guidelines are in English. Hence the translation of the guidelines will be done by Adv. Vrunda Dharaskar (member of the committee).

· Before next meeting of PMU committee, district committee meeting should be organized & the Dos and Don’ts should be displayed in district offices.

Contact: Dr. Sangita S. Shete, Gender Expert (ge.caim@gmail.com)