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Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 1
Workshop on
Green economy for Tamil naduInclusive Growth and Sustainable Governance
Sponsored by
State Planning commissionTamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board
Chepauk – Chennai
a presentation by
Keystone foundationKotagiri – The nilgiris
Printed under the funds of
Tamil nadu State land use research BoardState Planning commissionchepauk, chennai- 600005
Workshop series : 2 / lu (2013)
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
2
Tamil nadu State Planning commission The State Planning Commission was constituted in Tamil Nadu on 25th May 1971 under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Chief Minister as an Advisory body to make recommendations to the Government on various matters pertaining to the development of the State. The Chairman of the Commission is assisted by a team of Members, Consisting of Vice Chairman, Full Time Member & Part Time Members who are experts in various fields. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and the Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department are the ex-officio members. The Member Secretary is responsible for administration in the Commission.
The commission has the following technical divisions:1. Agricultural Policy and Planning
2. Industries, Power and Transport
3. Land Use
4. Education and Employment
5. Health and Social Welfare
6. District Planning and Rural Development
7. Plan Co-ordination.
main activities of SPc:The Major Functions of the State Planning Commission are as follows:
1. Preparation of Five Year and Annual Plans based on the policies and priorities of the Government;
2. Undertake Mid Term review of the Five Year Plan, other special reviews on the Economy and advise the Government on appropriate modification and restructuring of the schemes;
3. Monitor development indicators that influence the Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, etc., at a disaggregated level and suggest correctional measures;
4. Undertake special studies as required for formulation and implementation of plan projects and programmes;
5. Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board (TNSLURB) is functioning under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission as a permanent body in the State Planning Commission. This Board is intended to promote interaction and study in the vital areas of land use. The State Planning Commission organizes seminars/workshops and undertake studies.
6. Human Development Reports (HDRs) were prepared for Dindigul, Sivagangai, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, the Nilgiris, Kanyakumari and Dharmapuri districts. The concept of Human Development has been disseminated to all districts through workshops organized in the concerned districts. Proposal for preparation of District Human Development Reports (DHDR) for the remaining districts is under process.
7. State Balanced Growth Fund (SBGF) is operated to bridge the regional imbalances among the districts.
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 3
conTenTS
Sections Page no.
Workshop Team 4
Workshop Sessions 5
Executive Summary 6
Introduction 7
Tribal Livelihoods 9
Reviving Hill Agriculture 27
Certification and Producer’s Markets 42
Summary of Discussions 59
Summary of Recommendations 60
Overall Workshop Discussion 62
Overall Workshop Recommendations 63
List of Participants 64
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
4
STaTe PlanninG commiSSion
1. Tmt. Santha Sheela nair, i.a.S. (retd.),Vice Chairperson
2. Thiru. m. Balaji, i.a.S.,Member Secretary
3. Thiru. Sugato dutt, i.f.S.,Head of Division (Land Use)
4. md. Kaleemullah,Senior Planning Officer (Land Use)
5.Thiru. P. Suresh Kumar,Senior Research Fellow,Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board.
6. Tmt. S. rajalakshmi,Technical Assistant (Land Use)
7. Thiru. m.Thirumavalavan,Technical Assistant (Land Use)
8. Tmt. r. V. meenakshi,Planning Assistant (Land Use)
Keystone foundation
9. Thiru. Pratim roy, Founder & Director
10. ms. archana Sivaramakrishnan, Programme Coordinator
11. Thiru robert leo, Deputy Director - Technical
12. ms. Snehlata nath, Director- Programmes
WorKShoP Team
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 5
WorKShoP SeSSionS
Welcome addressThiru. m. Balaji, i.a.S. Member Secretary, State Planning Commission, Chennai
Presidential addressTmt. Santha Sheela nair, i.a.S. (retd.) Vice Chairperson, State Planning Commission, Chennai
Session – i
forest based lives and economies
ms. Snehlata nath Director, Programmes, Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris.
Session – ii
hill agriculture – food Sovereignty
Thiru. robert leo Deputy Director, Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris.
Session – iii
certification and Producer’s markets
ms. archana Sivaramakrishnan Programme Coordinator and Environmental Governance & Livelihoods, Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris.
Vote of ThanksThiru. Sugato dutt, i.f.S. Head of Division (Land Use), State Planning Commission, Chennai
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
6
Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board, State Planning Commission recently conducted
a workshop on “Green Economy for Tamil Nadu” at State Planning Commission (SPC) under the
Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, SPC and in the presence of the Principal Secretary to Government,
Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Department (Planning & Development). The key
objective of this workshop is to promote the Green Economy equity without damaging the
environment. It is an economic development model based on sustainable development using the
knowledge of ecological economics and aimed for optimum returns. In the presentations, the Key
Stone Foundation - case their efforts in implementing development schemes for the local people of
the Nilgiri district, particularly tribal, using local knowledge, without damaging the environment.
The Director, Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri, The Nilgiri District gave introduction on Green
Economy, the objectives, inclusive growth, sustainable development, environmental governance,
etc. He stated that the Keystone Foundation has been working in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve
since the last 20 years and their programme areas are (a) Forests based livelihoods (b)Reviving Hill
Agriculture for Food Sovereignty and (c) Certification and Marketing. The main aim of the Keystone
Foundation is to address the issues of the indigenous people of the Nilgiri district which will lead
to sustainable development in their areas and lead to overall, wellbeing of the community. He also
spoke on the Environmental Governance on the Nilgiri district. A short film titled “Health of the hills
is the wealth of the plains” was also shown.
execuTiVe Summary
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 7
What is Green Economy? Several definitions of the term “Green Economy” are available. However, as envisaged by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a green economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.
The key issues involved in promoting a green economy therefore are:
• Improvedhumanwell-being
• Socialequity,
• Significantlyreducingenvironmentalrisksandecologicalscarcities
environmental Governance
Again several definitions are available. However, broadly it includes the formal and informal institutions, rules, mechanisms and processes of collective decision-making that enable stakeholders to influence and coordinate their interdependent needs and interests and their interactions with the environment at the relevant scales. It advocates sustainability as the supreme consideration for managing all human activities - political, social and economic. Environmental governance includes government, business and civil society, and emphasizes whole system management.
The Keystone foundation
The Keystone Foundation, a Nilgiris based NGO, working in the field of sustainable development while presented their experience in this field and highlighted the key features of such a green economy in a seminar conducted at the State Planning Commission on. Three broad topics were discussed as follows:
A) Certification and Producers’ Markets
B) Reviving Hill Agriculture
C) Tribal Livelihoods
Keystone foundation Working area
• NilgiriBiosphereReserve:declaredundertheMan&BiosphereprogofUNESCO
• Amegadiversityhotspot
• CoveringpartsofTamilNadu,Kerala&Karnataka
inTroducTion
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• Indigenouspopulationofaround2,00,000
• Over20indigenousgroups
• Largepopulationofendemicspeciesinplants,animalsandbirds
Keystone foundation Programme areas
Core strengths & motivation :
• Ecology&Economy
• MountainSystems
• Biodiversity&IndigenousCommunities
• Forests,Water&Land
• Livelihoods
• Culture
• GreenEnterprise
• AppropriateTechnology
• EnvironmentalGovernance
a Green economy
Objective is :
• Improvedhumanwell-beingandsocialequity,
• Significantlyreducingenvironmentalrisksandecologicalscarcities
Where growth in income and employment is driven by
• Publicandprivateinvestmentsthatreducecarbonemissionsandpollution
• Enhanceenergyandresourceefficiency
• Preventionoflossofbiodiversityandecosystemservices.
convergence with ecological principles
local and indigenous knowledge
ecosystem services
Small value chains and local markets
What is environmental Governance –
1. Decision making in formulating and implementing policies inresponse to environment-related demands and inputs from the society
2. Can involve multi-level interactions (state, civil society, and market)
3. For the purpose of attaining environmentally - sustainable development for the entire Nilgiris district.
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 9
forest Based lives and economies– Present context
A small proportion of the population in The Nilgiris is Adivasi and practices a combination
of livelihood options. They key features of these people are that they are mostly erstwhile hunter-
gatherers, practiced slash and burn cultivation and have small populations scattered across the
fringes of forest areas. They have been settled since the 1960s and have some land holdings on steep
hill slopes, averaging at 2 acres per family. As an example, a detailed survey done in the Kotagiri /
Coonoor region in 1998 by Keystone shows that 39% families are landless, 14% have land which is
less than 1 acre and 35% between 1-2 acres. 11.8% have land which is between 2-3 acres. The areas
where land alienation has had the largest impact are for the people of Gudalur and Wyanad.
TriBal liVelihoodS
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Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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introduction
Indigenous people live a life close to nature. Their world view and lives often reflect a
bonding to forests, water and earth. Traditions and beliefs are centred on forest deities and sacred
places in the forest. Any programmes or development agend as that displace these communities
cause a socio-cultural change and are often harmful. Keeping this over arching philosophy in mind
– we need to address some aspects in the lives of indigenous people, which will lead to sustainable
development in their areas and lead to overall wellbeing of the community.
main issues
1. Agricultural practices are in small holdings, are primarily rain fed and susceptible to damage by wildlife. There is a need to work with these communities towards appropriate land use that balances the requirements of food sovereignty and marketability and one that is resilient to climate vagaries and wildlife raids. There is an opportunity in highlighting organic practices engaged in by these farmers and to link these products to wider markets to compete favourably with conventional agriculture.
model/illustration – farmers’ groups case studies
2. Non Timber Forest Product collection forms an important part of their livelihood. Tenurial rights and community based management of ancestral forests will help promote improved livelihoods. Value addition to these production will increase both income and local employment. Application of FRA coupled with sustainable harvesting and community based forest monitoring are promising solutions for a sustainable future.
model/ illustration : Production groups and the aadhimalai Producer company
3. The tribal communities are most often a minority in the Village Panchayat. This does not allow them to muster the bargaining power required to raise issues in the gram sabha. It is important to see that schemes and projects benefit these communities in terms of basic needs provision, work on community lands and enable local institutions to flourish.
There is a need to establish a democratic governance structure that will enable tribal communities’ participation in local governance.
model/illustration- fora of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
4. Addressing youth and growing urbanisation through training on specialised skills and vocational training needs to be addressed. New and modern interventions involving the youth are important eg. Eco-tourism with communities; Cell phone mechanics, etc.
5. Today the economy of forest based communities is a combination of these aspects, re-iterating the importance of them all.
model/illustration – capacity building initiatives at Keystone
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 11
communities in nBr
• Complexofindigenouscommunities(20)
• Pastoralists
• HunterGatherers
• Agriculturists
• Smallinnumber,independent&unorganized
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livelihood
• Traditional
- Agriculture
- Forest based activities
- Barter
- Subsistence
• Modern
- Wage labour
- Cash crops
- Minor agriculture
- Skill labour
forests & livelihoods
The importance of forests in the livelihoods of indigenous people is considerable as they
provide innumerable benefits to them – both subsistence and economic. Though subsistence is
important for overall wellbeing of the community, for the purposes of this paper we will concentrate
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 13
on the economic / commercial aspects. Here Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collection is a seasonal
activity, which gets importance on the basis of amount of the product available, a favourable season
and high yields and the presence of an assured buyer. Amongst the NTFPs – honey plays a significant
role as profits are high in a good season. The product is usually high in demand and finds an easy
market. According to a survey conducted during the Bees, Biodiversity and Livelihood Project of the
Darwin Initiative, NTFP collection contributes between 20 – 80% of gross income amongst adivasis,
varying across regions. On an average a contribution of 20% per annum is common. In some locations
in Coonoor and Kotagiri, NTFP collection forms a low priority livelihood option with wage labour
being easily available.
Keystone has initiated value addition units across the NBR to procure, process and market
NTFPs by adivasi people, especially women. Eight such units have now been federated to form the
Aadhimalai Producer Company this year. During 2012-13 the company turned over Rs. 50 lakhs,
employing about 50 women permanently for value addition, processing and packing of NTFPs and
organic agriculture produce. Approximately, 1000 farmers and harvesters across the region give
their produce at a premium price of over 8% over market rates, which get processed in these centres.
Products like honey, eecham, shikakai, gallnut and nellikai are the main NTFPs collected in these areas
and are made into an array of value added items like jams, jellies, pickles, dry bits, mouth freshners,
candy, hair wash powders, etc.
Sustainability of these products are assured through conducting regular training on
sustainable harvesting practices, regular ecological monitoring and building in quality parameters in
each product. Documentation of traditional knowledge and practices, surveys and restoration efforts
should go hand in hand with building such a forest based enterprise. This conservation aspect is very
important and must be practiced so as to assure that no over harvesting is done and populations of
species being worked in the enterprise are healthy.
Why it is of concern to us…
• Addsincometo30%ruralpeopleinIndia
• 67%gatherersarewomen
• 13%arechildren!
• Formsbetween20-30%offamilyincomeperannum
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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it forms part of the communities tradition, lifestyle and culture
• SacredGroves
• Medicine
• Food,Fibre,Fuel,Fodder,Timber
• Grazinglands
• Crafts
• Customarylaws
• AncestralDomains
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 15
forests & non Timber forest Produce
• Importanceforbio-diversityandecologicalprocesses
• Animportantlivelihoodavenueforforestcommunities,especiallyadivasis
• Feedsamulticroreayurvedicandherbalcosmeticindustry
What we can do…
• Involvecommunitiesinconservation •Indigenousknowledge/systems
• Ecosystemhealthmonitoring •Preventingforestdestruction
• Sustainableharvesting,awareness&nurseryraising
What we can do…
• IncreasetheirreturnsfromNTFPgathering
• Marketinterventions
• Qualityinterventionsandstandards
• Valueadditionlocally
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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What we can do…
• Strengthenpeoples’institutionsforsecuringtenureandforestmanagement
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 17
cel - an example of honey
• Honeyhunting
• TerrainandTerritory
• QualityandQuantityoftheproduct–market
• Ecologicalroleoftheresource
• CulturalandHistoricalaspectsofIK
interventions based on…
• Territoriesofhoneygathering–coding, vegetation variations, data base
• ProductQuality–watercontent,sealing the comb
• TheQuantityharvestedisbasedonIK
• Ecologicalrole–harvestjustbeforemigration, pollination
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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Prime interventions
• Knowingthefacesbehindtheproduct
resource monitoring
• CodingSystemforHoneyProcurement
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 19
Quality Parameters
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
20
Village Value addition units - Processing & packaging
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 21
marketing avenues
aadhimalai Producer company
• 6collectionandvalueadditioncentres
• Rs.53lakhturnover
• 50womenemployedfulltime-earningbetweenRs.3000–5000permonthlocally
• About1000farmersandharvestersgivetheirgoodstothesecentresatapremiumprice8-10% more than market price
• Governedbyadivasis
agriculture & livelihood
The poor have less land and hence are dependent on forests for a greater share of their
total income. If common property rights to forests were restricted, the rise in poverty could not be
ameliorated simply by increasing the reward in occupations in which some of the poor are engaged
(Chakravarthy and Reddy 1999).
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Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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In the NBR, land amongst adivasis is a rare asset and whatever is available is usually highly
degraded having high slopes and being rainfed. Those with marginal lands – cannot depend on it
for major returns, profits or even a full year’s stock of grain for the household. Rainfed agriculture on
steep mountain slopes cannot sustain a family, unless supplemented by wage and forest gathering.
Besides, the inputs required for initial land work is very high and no family can afford it, unless by
taking loans or accessing government schemes and subsidies. Lack of tenure rights over these lands,
make matters worse for them, not allowing access to farm credit. The location of their villages, usually
very close to forest areas, also makes the lands, victims of crop raiding by wild animals.
Risks and uncertainties related to rainfed marginal agriculture, coupled with the difficulties
mentioned above, often prevents adivasis to undertake agriculture.
Keystone undertook efforts to revitalize their traditional agriculture forming 13 farmers’
groups and promoting millets, corn, amaranthus and vegetables. This had the twin objectives of
occupying lands as well as adding to the food basket & nutrition of the family. As the farm areas
are small high value crops and organic agriculture practices were promoted. These are better given
the proximity the farms have to high biodiversity forest areas. Those farms that already had coffee
plantations were intercropped with high value spices to add incomes from the same farm. Crops from
silk cotton and pepper were taken by the value addition centres for local packing and processing.
Kitchen gardens have also been promoted across the region to help families eat better and
more nutritious food like seasonal vegetables and herbs.
• Nocleartitlesforland
• TraditionalAgriculturepractices
• Rain-fedlands
• Marginallandsonhillslopes
• Wildlifeissuesandcropraiding
• Subsistencefarming
• Highcropdiversity
• Somelandshavetea/coffeethrough
schemes
• Mostlandsareleasedout
• Risks/vulnerabilitiesofagriculture
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 23
our interventions in agriculture
• 14OrganicFramersGroupsacrossNBR
• Promotionoforganicmethodsandtraditionalagriculture
• Increasingdiversityincoffeeplantations–nomonoculture
• Promotinghighvaluespicesandvegetables
• KitchenGardensforself-consumption
• Premiumpricesfororganicproducts
Wage labour & livelihood
Currently, the choice of wage labour appears as the most reliable option for most adivasis. Landless families have no option but to work as estate, farm, forest or road workers. In a number of cases, across the NBR, it is a common sight to see adivasi people working on other people’s land for wages ranging from 100-150/- per day, while their own lands are barren. The number of women going for regular work is much higher than the men, due to the nature of work in the plantation industry. Most adivasis work for 3-4 days a week, earning between Rs. 400-700/-. Given the changing scenario amongst the community, where the youth are getting basic education and want to explore different options, Keystone took some efforts in:
• Financialsupportforhigher education – to enable good students amongst the community to mainstream
• Electrical, Carpentry, Plumbing training – to enable vocational options, suited for thehighly urbanized hills
• Craft Revival – painting, Toda embroidery, Kota pottery, Bamboo crafts – to enabletraditional skills and crafts to become income generating as saleable products
• Initiatingnewcrafts–Seeds&Beads;Crochet–toenablenewjobsforyouthandwomen
• PeopleledEcotourism–toenablethecommunitytomakeuseoftheirnaturalwealthandsurroundings, creating local employment and promoting culture
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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• Plantation Economy in NBR
• Assuredwagesinsomeareas
• Veryhighlabourratesintimberlogging
• Somemigrationtomillsandcities
• Fewpermanentworkers
capacity Building interventions
• Financialsupportforhighereducation
• Electrical,Carpentry,Plumbingtraining
• CraftRevival–Painting,TodaEmbroidery,Kotapottery&Bamboocrafts
• Initiatingnewcrafts–Seeds&Beads;Crochet
• PeopleledEcotourism
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 25
Government Welfare Schemes
• MGNREGA–canthisworkbedoneincommunitylands?
• PVTG–creationofaforumforplanningaccessingfunds
• Housing–canitbemadesensitivetoculture&tradition
recommendations
• Establishing governance mechanismsto facilitate the effective participation of scattered populations in local governance Eg. PESA
• Facilitatingmarket linkages – especiallyin frontier areas e.g. organic products
• Implementing FRA & strengtheninginstitutional support for communities to benefit from NTFP
• Promotingavenuesforinclusionoftribalyouth in the service industry, especially in eco-tourism sector
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 27
health of the hills is the wealth of the plains
introduction
The Nilgiri hills once used to be cultivated with food grains like finger millet, wheat, barley,
foxtail and little millet. This has changed into vegetable, coffee & tea introduced during the British
regime. For Indigenous communities like Kurumba, Irula, Paniya and Kattunaickan, their traditional
lands and mixed millet farming form an important axis around which revolve food, nutrition, fodder,
culture, inter community relationship and Identity. The introduction of plantation crops like tea and
coffee along with increased wildlife raids has dealt a serious blow to millet farming.
Currently, food and dietary requirements are met by the market which has implication on
their health conditions. Over the years, tribal women and children become anaemic and have weak
health. Most of their traditional land has become fallow and reclamation is unaffordable with their
financial conditions. In 1997-98, during PRA and surveys the community leaders expressed their wish
reViVinG hill aGriculTure
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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to restart the mixed millet cultivation as Samai, Tennai, Ragi and Varagu, Bajra, Avarai, Amaranth,
chillies, pumpkin, beans, traditional maize, niger, sunflower, mustard and other mixed crops were
promoted among indigenous communities and cultivated in 56 hamlets, covering 746 acres.
main issues : hill diversity for food Sovereignty
1. Traditional crop varieties are disappearing at a rapid pace. This is related to the reduction
in food diversity which has in turn lead to malnutrition and enhanced vulnerability of
populations with endemic conditions such as sickle cell anaemia.
model/illustration – experiences of community seed banks in Kotagiri, coonoor
and Sigur
2. Lack of tenurial security over agricultural lands, especially among the forest dwelling
tribal populations limits their access to institutional agricultural credit. This allows inter-
mediaries to exploit them through ‘lease’ arrangements.
model/illustration – experiences of small tea growers, farmers in Sigur plateau
3. Traditional agricultural systems involving mixed agriculture, traditional cattle rearing
practices including practices of fodder collection and grazing are increasingly being
identified as ‘anthropogenic pressure’ especially in the vicinity of forests. There is a need
to review this understanding in the context of sustainable agricultural systems and move
towards a ‘co-existence’ model.
model/illustration – experiences from Sathyamangalam Tiger reserve
Time line of millets in The nilgiris
In 1889, % area under millets crops• SamaiinCoonoor14.7,Ooty4.3,Gudalur2.3
• Kuruvaragu,CNR11.9.Ooty7.8,
• Ragi,CNR1.5,Ooty7.1,Gudalur1.4
• BarleyinCNR5.4.Ooty3.4
• WheatinCNR1.7,Ooty2.9
1949-50 : Samai in 4,564 ac., Ragi 4183 ac., Tenai 295 acres
• 2012-Sigurplateau,Kotagiritaluka
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 29
land development Project
• Revivaloftraditionalagriculturewithindigenouscommunities
• Foodsecurity&betternutritionleadingtoimprovedfamilyhealthprofiles
• Status of Indigenous tribal land ismostly fallow, no clear boundaries, insufficient landrecords and due to encroachments their land size is constantly reducing
• Theirwagebasedeconomyleadstoculturalerosion–threattoself-sustenance
• Longperiodsofunemployment-seasonalityinNTFPcollections
• Cashcrops
Promotion with indigenous groups
• Tenai(Italianmillet)Setariaitalica
• Samia(Littlemillet)Panicumsumatrense
• Varagu(Fingermillet)Eleusinecorocana
• Panivaragu(Panicummiliaceum)
• Guthiravali(Echinocholcolona)
• Kambu(Pearlmillet)Sorghumvulgare
• Chollam(sorghum)Sorghumbicolor
• Pulses,vegetables,tubers,greens,uncultivatedcropsaregrownalongwithmillets
• 300metrictonesofmillets
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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• Coffee(coffeaarabica,c.robusta)
• SilkcottonCeibapendentra)
• Pepper(pipernigurm)
• Jackfruit
• Citrus
mixed millet farm has ecological diversity
(as pollinators, seed dispersers, soil fertility and secure genetic diversity)
BIRDS : 15
MAMMALS : 6
INSECTS : 7
REPTILES : 4
application of chemical input is zero level
– critically important to mountain ecosystems and watersheds
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 31
mixed cropping
fym application
different seeds for
different soil depths
equal participation
State Planning Commission
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
32
millets with oilseeds
Greens and vegetable
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 33
ragi + 9 crops
Samai + 7 Tenai + 13crops
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diversity in traditional seeds, storages and technologies
Grading seeds
community seed bank
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
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• CommunityseedbanksareestablishedinKotagiri.Sigur,PillurandThimbamregions
• Locallygrownseed.
• Seedexchangehappenseveryyear
• Seedselectionandcollectionisdoneatthetimeofharvest
• Traditionalseedareprotectedbyfarmers
• 375familiesareparticipating
• Millet,pulsesandcerealsseedsareexchangedwithnomoneyinvolved
• Revivaloftraditionalgranary
nutritional value of millets
nutrient
of grain
Protein
(gm-100)
fiber
(gm-100)
minerals
(mg)
iron
(mg)
calcium
(mg)
Kambu 10.6 1.3 2.3 16.9 38
Ragi 7.3 3.6 2.7 3.9 344
Thenai 12.3 8 3.3 2.8 31
Varagu 12.5 2.2 1.9 0.8 14
Kuruvaragu 8.3 9 2.8 0.5 27
Samai 7.7 7.6 1.5 9.3 17
kuthiravali 11.2 10.1 0.7 15.2 10
Rice 6.8 0.2 0.6 0.7 10
Wheat 11.6 1.2 1.5 5.3 41
(asexperiment,200kgsofRagiwassubsidisedandsuppliedbyKeystoneintribalsettlements-
demandisincreasing)
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livelihood Security
• 17mealsinamonth
• Milletisconsumedfor3to5monthsatintervals
• Grainisgivenaswagetolabouringrelatives
• Grainisofferedtodeities/annualrituals
• Socialactionduringharvestingandthrashing
• Traditionalmilletlandisanasset,retrieved;protected
• Resource:uncultivatedfood
• Aculturalrequirement
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State Planning Commission 37
millet production in Thimbam region, Sathyamangalam-Tiger reserve
Pillur area
State Planning Commission
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38
appropriate post-harvest machineries-highly required
• MilletissoldtotradersandsendtoNasikforprocess
• Locally,Valueadditionistakingplaceinsmallscale
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 39
Tea cultivation-overview
• Itissuitedwellinhigherelevation
• Cashflowisincreasedinfortnightintervals
• Optionofgrowingfoodcropsasinter-cropisnil
• Lessdiversity,limitationtofodderwhichimpactskeepinglivestock
• Sinceitisallsmallholding,itprovideslimitedincome,lessemployment,needinputsfromoutside-not viable so most of the tribal farmers use tea patch as security deposit /lease to traders
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coffee farming- adapting to climate change
• Tosecuresoilstrata
• Tosecurewaterandmoistureretention-
• Revival and refreshwater flow inmountain landscape in theWesternGhats.Allhillsarecrucial watershed regions to plains of TN
• Securebiologicaldiversity
• Fodderandforagesecurityforlivestockandhoneybees
• Suitable to cultivate 500 MSL upwards (Jack fruit, nutmeg, clove, pepper, areca, lime, pomegranate, soap berries, silk cotton and wild trees)
• 11%ofnationalproduction,Keystoneworkswith248growers, certifiedproduce is3.6tones
• Nationalconsumptionisincreasingin2012itwas94mt.ton
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areas to be Strengthenedmillet mixed farming
• Cultivationsupportisrequired
• Enhancedsupportpriceformilletisneeded-maybethroughregulatedmarket
• Postharvestingprocessingmachineriesforlargequantitytohandle
• Processing/valueadditionthroughcommunityenterprises
• TheNilgiriplateautoberevivedwithmilletandwheat
• Landtitlesformilletlandshouldbesecured
coffee farming
• Coffeefarming-CBschemesby50%
• Itisinadequateforhillfarmers-schemeneededfor100%support
• Eligibilitycriteriahastobesimple
• Alliedcropseg.silkcottonhavehighvalue
• Diversecropsstrengthensfamilies’economy
recommendations
1. Millet farming needs to be revived. Strengthened agricultural credit facilities, availability of seeds, post-harvest processing and marketing support and are among the key areas for intervention.
2. Introduction of millets in the public distribution system to address nutritional requirements.
3. Participatory planning between communities, Agriculture and Forest Departments to evolve innovative methods to pre-empt wildlife raids.
Traditional millet food : is a complete meal
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introduction
Working predominantly with the indigenous people of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, our
attempts have been towards strengthening natural resource based enterprise based on the small
agricultural and wild produce surplus that these people are able to access. The focus has been on
evolving simple systems that draw on traditional ecological knowledge for sustainability and on
collective community effort for institutional strength.
The need for certification of rural homestead produces and forest collection to bring in
sustainability, value and local markets to strengthen the local economy. On ground, most of the
times produces collected from the forest and cultivated in the adjoining areas are of high quality,
pure and free from harmful chemicals.
In order to certify them, there is a need for extensive documentation and maintenance
of records for inspection were required. This has added up the cost of certification which makes
these products unviable for selling in the local /export markets due to low quantities and logistics
constraints. These products do not reach the markets directly from the producers / harvesters and go
through a chain of intermediaries and traders.
This has resulted in exploitation of producers / harvesters by the intermediaries who pay
the minimum possible price and undervalue the quality as well as faulty quantification and irregular
payments. The indigenous communities whom we have been working with are traditionally very
trusting and rely on the traders for loans and emergency money requirements. This situation has
not allowed the producers to develop a market for their produces where the traditional markets
have ceased to exist due to rapid change in the economic environment and change in crop and
introduction of plantations.
The role of certification
The need for certification and producers’ markets were felt due to the nature of the
unorganized and trader controlled markets for forest produces and high quality organic (uncertified)
homestead farm produces whose key features are low procurement prices which are related to local
wages and no value for the produce itself, lack of market information and demand, under weighment
of the produces and comingling of these pure, natural and organic produces with the conventionally
marketed produces.
cerTificaTion and ProducerS’ marKeTS
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The producers of these unique produces are usually the indigenous community members
who are proud of their traditional skills and indigenous knowledge whose ambitions for economic
development have never been addressed. With their lifestyles aligned to nature and its seasonal
variations these producers often have limited capacities in terms of quantities to address the
markets. But, their practices of harvesting and cultivation are deeply rooted in their culture which
is often ignored by the markets. With poor socio economic status and limited ambitions in terms of
employable skills they are at a disadvantage in trading or marketing their produces.
Bringing in a producer based enterprise comes with its drawbacks as they can only sell when
there is a surplus, developing a consumer base to sell directly becomes difficult due to their remote
localities often forcing them to sell the intermediaries at low prices considering the effort needed
to take the produce to the market and the inability to have a ongoing strong relationship with the
consumers due to communication gaps and lack of understanding of market forces.
main issues
While engaging with distant markets, we have found that certification can be a useful tool for
communication between the producer and the consumer – and an ideal system for collective market
negotiation by the small producer. Local systems need to be built however to avoid bureaucratic
procedures and costs. This has to be done in a manner that will not compromise the ecological
sustainability of the produce – incorporating ecological monitoring systems within the community
framework to truly promote a “green economy“.
In recent times the recession in western markets is compelling small producers to look
inwards and hence this market may be more fully explored.
model/illustration : a) Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for certifying organic
agricultural & wild produce and the Fair Trade Certification on just and transparent practices.
The PGS, now gaining currency with many groups across India has also been recognized
by the Government of India. The PGS is an ideal system for the small producer that helps groups of
producers negotiate collectively with the market.
b) The fair Trade movement, though evolving in India has already seen close to 30 retail
stores being branded Fair Trade. There is an attempt to label products in the near future.
Though, both the fair trade and organic practices have been embedded in many institutions
in our country, they have been primarily tools to access the European and US markets. Recession and
the potential of the Indian Market has pushed many Indian producers to now start looking inwards.
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The impact of our work is visible in fairer prices to the producer, shorter value chains,
transparent production processes.
• Lowprocurementprices
• Marketpricesnotknown
• Irregularpayments
• Faultymeasurement
• Noseparate`organic’market
Keystone’s initiatives for Stronger Producers’ markets
Keystone Foundation has been working with these indigenous communities for the past
two decades have made some prime interventions in the areas of marketing and trade by setting
up quality parameters for all the harvested and cultivated produces. The salient features of these
interventions are increased procurement price, assured purchase of all the quality produces, support
for purchase of raw materials for value addditon, training in processing, value addition and packing
and support the marketing efforts of these natural and pure produces through a chain of Green
Shops and a distribution network.
This effort has resulted in a strong local market in which 60
to 70% of the products are sold resulting in better returns to
the producers. This has also brought about an appreciation
of the quality of the produces and has provided a niche
segment in the market which recognizes that the produce
are pure, natural and unique to the hills. The local clientele is
established and is paving the way for consumer loyalty and
education about sustainable value chains.
Green Shops have played a vital role in bringing this change and have adhered to their
mandate of providing market support to indigenous farmers and gatherers, value added organic
produces, practices that improve biodiversity and food security, support for traditional arts and crafts,
promote sustainable harvest and farming methods which provide additional local employment and
local markets which are reinforced with fair trade and organic principles.
Certification of small quantities of organic / natural produces is challenging but very
much required. As the certifications help in de-commodification, enable direct interaction by the
consumers with the producers, appreciation of quality and better price realization thus ensuring the
Green Economy for Tamil Nadu
State Planning Commission 45
produces from adulteration and minimum wastage. The process also establishes traceability through
the transparent value chain which establishes a chain of custody and ensures quality.
Certification processes are both organic and fair trade, since organic certification is mostly
limited to food produces and does not address the social issues of equity, justice and quality of life
which are addressed by Fair Trade certification. Fair trade certification also encompasses art, craft, fair
wages and returns, safe and hygienic working conditions, prevention of child labour and promotion
of education and skill development. These two certification processes complement each other and
work well at micro economic levels.
Participatory Guarantee Systems
Keystone Foundation has been actively promoting Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)
which is administered and controlled by the farmer groups which gives them the opportunity to
assess each other and learn from each other. Since 2006, nine NGOs across India have evolved the
modalities and application of this certification process and have been successfully implementing it.
PGS Organic Council is the apex body which is responsible for the application of this certification
process whose success has led to the recognition of this method by the Government of India.
Key elements of Participatory Guarantee Systems are
• Farmersownthecertificationsystem
• Theydefinecollectivelytheorganicstandardsthattheywanttofollow
• Peerreviews&set-uptheirowncertificationprocedure,electingownrepresentativestotake the certification decisions. Often involve the local consumers or local NGOs
• Controlled by the farmers and is flexible enough to adapt to changes & integrateimprovements
PGS documentation procedures are transparent and facilitative. The following are the key
components of the system.• BasicStandardsofOrganicFarming
• ComprehensiveFarmer’sPledge
• PGSGuidelinesDocumentinEnglish,Hindi,Telugu,Marathi,Kannada,TamilandMalayalampublished. Oriya, Punjabi and Nepali versions ready for printing.
• FrequentlyAskedQuestionsinbrochureform
• ReportingformatsforLocalGroups
• WebsitePlatformwww.pgsorganic.in
• NewsletterinEnglish“OrganicNews”
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The following table provides the spread of PGS among the farmers in the Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve.
region crop no. of farmers extent of land (ac.)
Kotagiri Coffee, Pepper, Silk cotton 71 109
Kotagiri Pepper
Coonoor Coffee, Pepper 7 9
Sathya Mangalam Millets 181 275
The successful launch of the first PGS certified produce by Keystone foundation :
The first PGS certified organic produce was launched on the 14th of
November 2008 at Bee Museum, Ooty. This was a defining moment
for the producers who were struggling to establish an identity for
the coffee produced in the North Eastern Slopes of the Nilgiris. The
coffee is undergoing several transformations presently from being a
pure 100% Arabica to a range of blends and mixes to suit the tastes
of the consumers. The coffee is marketed under the brand name
“Coffea”.
fair Trade certification for marginal producers
Fair Trade provides a window to the local producer groups who are
involved in a range of activities including art and craft by providing
market access, support in skill development, and design and style inputs among others.
Keystone Foundation in active collaboration with Fair Trade Forum India (FTF) ensures
alternative marketing channels to ensure sustainable livelihoods to less privileged producers by
helping them comply with the Fair Trade Standards thus ensuring long term relationships.
The following are the Fair Trade Standards which are to be adhered by the producers.
• FairTradeStandards
• Creatingopportunitiesforeconomicallydisadvantagedproducers
• TransparencyandAccountability
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• CapacityBuilding
• PromotingFairTrade
• Genderequity
• Idealworkingconditions
• PaymentofFairwages
• ProtectionofEnvironment
• Protectionofchild’srights
• Tradingrelations
Some of the accruing benefits of certification and producers’ markets are, they provide a
guarantee and assurance to the consumer, ensure consistency in quality, provide information on
the origin and employment of sustainable methods, bring in transparency in value chain, maintain
the uniqueness of the produces and help the producer group meet the legal standards for trade and
marketing.
Keystone Foundation would like to recommend the following aspects to the Government for
furthering the interests of the indigenous communities and bring in a revolutionary change in the
Green Economy of the State at the basic grass root level
• Develop and support certification systems specifically for tribal produces
• Promote labels and marketing strategies through linkages with established certification
systems
• Assess in-country and traditional/evolving local markets for produces which address the
goals of Green Economy
• Keystone Foundation would like to thank all the participants for providing this opportunity
to present the views on certification and producers’ markets
Producer
• Personality
• Capacity
• Culture
• Socio-economicsituation
• Ambitionsandneeds
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dilemmas in setting up a producer based enterprise
• Doyouwanttosellonlywhenyouhaveasurplus?
• Doyouwanttoselldirectlytotheconsumer?
• Doyouwanttosellproductswithlittletime and effort but at a lower price?
• Doyouwanttohavealongtermrelationship with customers?
Prime interventions
• QualityParametersbasedonproductfeatures
• Increasedprocurementprice
• Assuredbuybackarrangementwithproducers
• Purchasesupport
• Processing&packaging
• Greenshopsanddistributionnetworkinselecttowns&cities
experiences with local market
• 60-70%ofturnoverrealizedfromthelocalmarket
• Appreciationofquality
• Niche-`pure,natural,hillproduct’
• Consumerawarenessbuildingpossible
• Buildsstrong`localclientele’
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does certification help?
• Beginsaprocessof‘de-commodification’
• Enabledirectcommunicationbetweenproducerandconsumer
• Ensurebetterpricesandqualityfortheproducer
• Ensurelowwastageandadulteration
• Ensureinformationon`ChainofCustody’
certification
organic fair Trade
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Participatory Guarantee Systems
• Locallyfocusedqualityassurancesystems
- Certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders
- Built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange. (Definition adopted by the PGSTF in Modena, June 2008)
• InIndia,KeystoneFoundation&IIRDhadalternativewithindigenouscommunitiesforOAand forest produce
• Consultationsheld in2006tobuildupaunifiedparticipatoryprocessbynetworking9NGOs across India
• PGSOrganicCouncilformedasaninformalgrouptocarrytheprocessforwardtogether;Now, registered last year, as an independent society
• GovernmentofIndiaintroducesaPGSIndiaprogramme
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PGS components
• Thefarmersownthecertificationsystem
• Theydefinecollectivelytheorganicstandardsthattheywanttofollow
• Peerreviews&set-uptheirowncertificationprocedure,electingownrepresentativestotake the certification decisions. Often involve the local consumers or local NGOs
• Controlled by the farmers and is flexible enough to adapt to changes & integrateimprovements
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PGS documentation
• BasicStandardsofOrganicFarming
• ComprehensiveFarmer’sPledge
• PGSGuidelinesDocumentinEnglish,Hindi,Telugu,Marathi,Kannada,TamilandMalayalampublished. Oriya, Punjabi and Nepali versions ready for printing.
• FrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQ)inbrochureform
• ReportingformatsforLocalGroups
• WebsitePlatformwww.pgsorganic.in
• NewsletterinEnglish“OrganicNews”
fair Trade forum – india
• Alternative
• Sustainablelivelihood
• Lessprivilegedproducers
• Complianceoffairtradestandards
• Longtermrelationships
local markets – no long hauls
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last thoughts..
• Guaranteetocustomer
• Consistentquality
• Informationonoriginandsustainablemethods
• Transparencyinvaluechain
• Emphasisonqualityanduniqueness
• Legalformalities
recommendations
• Government needs to develop and support certification systems specifically for tribalproducts
• Labels andmarketing strategiesmay be promoted through linkages with establishedcertification systems
• Assessmentsofin-countrymarketmaybemade
more Than The money….
Positive benefits of harvesting activities
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invest in Winning Products
Value addition
• Findaniche
• Forlocalmarkets
• Localrecipes
• Uselocalgroups
• Attimes,innovativeideas
ThinKinG ouT of Box
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Packaging
• Sealing–appropriatematerial
• Labels–sticking,attractivecolours&straight
• Weight
• Expiryofmaterial
• Breakdownprocessintosmalleritems
• Streamlineprocess
market logistics
• Strategicobjectivestodeterminedistributionchannel– short chains
• Spatialaspects–selllocally,regionally….
• Availabilityaspects–foronechannel?…ormore
information
• Productcharacteristics:functional,added
• Branding&labeling
• Legalrequirements
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Together everyone achieves more
Branding
• Natural,Organic&Sustainablyharvested
• Fairlytradedandtransparent
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retail
• Green Shops – Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri & Mysore
• Retailers in Coimbatore, Nilgiris,Salem, Auroville, Puducherry, Delhi, Kolkatta, etc.
• Over 40 suppliers from around thecountry
categories of Products
• Honey
• BeesWax–balms,lipbalms,candles,soaps
• Coffee&Tea
• Pottery
• Incense
• Books&DVDs
• Garments:handloom,vegdye
• Woollens:shawls,stoles
• Food:rice,wheat,dal,chillies
• Stationery:traditionalpaintings,handmade paper
• Spices
• Children’sgames&books
how can wild products be certified?
• Createavillageinstitutionofharvesters
• Maintainecologicalrecords
• Maintaincollectionrecords
• Maintainstorage,processingrecords
• Create market information/access(can we govern price)
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Summary of diScuSSionS
Tribal livelihoods
The major issues focused in the presentation are (a) Need to work with the indigenous communities towards appropriate land use that balances the requirements of food security and marketability and one that is resilient to climate vagaries and wildlife raids: (b) Tenurial rights and community based management of ancestral forests will help and promote improved livelihoods of the indigenous communities; (c) Implementation of schemes / projects to benefit the indigenous communities for provision of basic needs work on community lands so as to enable local institutions to flourish (d) in the context of growing urbanization, addressing the youth through training on specialized skills / vocational training. The presentation recommended (a) Establishing governance mechanisms to facilitate the effective participation of scattered populations in local governance; (b) Facilitating market linkages – especially in frontier areas e.g. organic products; (c) Implementing FRA & strengthening institutional support for communities to benefit from Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) and(d) Promoting avenues for inclusion of tribal youth in the service industry, especially in eco-tourism sector.
reviving hill agriculture
The major issues focused in the presentation are (a) Enhanced support price for millet is needed-may be through regulated market; (b) Post harvesting processing machineries for large quantity to handle; (c) Processing/ value addition through community enterprises: (d) The Nilgiri plateau to be revived with millet and wheat; (e) Land titles for millet land should be secured; (f ) Eligibility criteria for Coffee farming has to be simple and (g) Diverse crops strengthens families’ economy.
certification and Producer’s markets
The major issues focused in the presentation are : (a) Government needs to develop and support certification systems specifically for tribal products; (b) Labels and marketing strategies may be promoted through linkages with established certification systems; and (c) Assessments of in-country market may be made.
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Summary of recommendaTionS
forest based lives and economies
• ThetechnologyandfinancialsupportforForestandNonTimberForestProduceshouldbe pushed up, which will help the indigenous communities to increase their income.
• It was suggested that the PudhuvazhvuThittam can identify suitable programmes,catering to the needs of indigenous communities
• It was suggested that value addition could be made to Nellikai, Kadukkai and theprocessing techniques be promoted among the Tribals.
• It was suggested that necessary awareness can be created so that all the existingGovernment Programmes can reach the people, particular the tribal.
• Itwas observed that Forest fire originatesdue tohoney collectors.Hencenecessaryawareness should be created among the honey collectors and they should be educated suitably. It was also observed that no sustainable livelihood can be made by the honey collectors.
reviving hill agriculture – food sovereignty
• It was observed that there is a sharp drop in millet cultivating area. It was suggested that if subsidized seeds and traditional seeds are supplied the cultivating area can be increased.
• It was observed there is a need for research & modeling of machinery for the processing of different millets. It was suggested to use solar powered machinery for millet processing. It was also suggested that the Key Stone Foundation shall associate with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) for such activities.
• It was suggested that Millet Cultivation Awareness Programme shall be conducted. For the promotion of consumption of millets, the services of Medical Forums could be utilized.
• It was suggested that millet shall be promoted as complementary food, and not as a supplementary food. For the improvement of marketing of millets, there is a need for publicity of millets like oats among the urban communities. This will ensure premium price for the farmers.
• It was suggested that the Department of Agriculture shall provide subsidized seeds, assistance to organic farming, seed collection, seed production and chemical pesticides.
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certification and Producer’s markets
• It was observed that there should be quality and consistent supply of products for obtaining certification and producer’s markets. Hence efforts shall be made for the consistent supply of products without comprising quality.
• It was observed that some products are seasonal like ‘Kurunji honey’ and the tribal should be ensured through buy back arrangement for motivating them to produce more.
• It was also observed that no standard mechanism is available to quantify how much honey was collected/ extracted etc.
• Green investments has to substantially increase which will lead to increase in the GDP. Hence more green investment shall be made to increase the economy of the tribal as well GDP in the district.
• Investment in eco-tourism has to be increased. Substantial literature is also available for green accounting. Efforts to be made to prepare stock account of forest for a particular time period. Environmental accounting can also be attempted.
• Land Use changes in forest-lands affects the economy of the areas especially in hill areas. Hence efforts shall be made to restrict the land use change to the barest minimum.
• The concept of Green Economy covers not only forest areas, but all sectors of economy like water, transport, buildings, etc., Economic evaluation of all these at micro level will help for the estimation of total economic value and it can be linked with GDP.
• It was observed that the tribal suffer from poor quality of life. Programmes can be introduced to improve the quality of their life, particularly, in health, education etc.
• It was suggested to recognize and fix fair price for the tribal products. This will help to improve the economy of the indigenous community and keep their traditions alive.
• It is suggested that opportunities shall be made available to the tribal to speak out. This will focus their problems and issues better and by such means, solution could be identified to address these issues and to provide them better life.
• There is a need of providing training schools in tribal areas to train the people for their livelihood security.
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oVerall WorKShoP diScuSSion
There are certain schemes that impact adivasi livelihood directly. Amongst them are wage providing schemes like MGNREGA, and welfare schemes like the PVTG fund and Tribal Housing Schemes. It may be useful to consider some changes and adaptations in the methods of implementation and organization of these schemes, as follows :
• MGNREGA–canthisworkbedoneincommunitylands?
• PVTG–creationofaforumforplanningaccessingfunds
• Housing– can itbemade sensitive toculture& tradition insteadof linehouseswhichcause social disharmony and take them away from their lands?
Keystone has only established some examples across the region and these need to be expanded and institutionalised. Some further recommendations which can improve adivasi livelihoods and empower them further are:
1. Establishing governance mechanisms to facilitate the effective participation of scattered populations in local governance Eg. PESA. The tribal communities are most often a minority in the Village Panchayat. This does not allow them to muster the bargaining power required to raise issues in the gram sabha. It is important to see that schemes and projects benefit these communities in terms of basic needs provision, work on community lands and enable local institutions to flourish. There is a need to establish a democratic governance structure that will enable tribal communities’ participation in local governance.
2. Facilitating market linkages – especially in frontier areas e.g. organic products
3. Implementing FRA & strengthening institutional support for communities to benefit from NTFP
4. Promoting avenues for inclusion of tribal youth in the service industry, especially in eco-tourism sector.
In the Nilgiris, it is seen that the choices made by the people between these livelihood options could depend on a variety of factors. This includes aspects of availability and reliability. Often wage labour fulfills that role, enabling the adivasi to choose this option. Besides, in most parts of the NBR, wage rates are higher vis-à-vis other areas, owing to the plantation land use and economy.
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oVerall WorKShoP recommendaTionS
1. Government needs to develop and support participatory certification systems specifically for agricultural and horticultural products produced by tribals. In this connection, the TNOCD may take up need based training programmes and the relevant PGS groups may be facilitated to establish contact with unorganized tribal groups that may benefit from interaction with more successful enterprises.
2. Labels and marketing strategies may be promoted through linkages with established certification systems. In this connection, the present linkages with the APEDA may be strengthened and market information disseminated to the remote an inaccessible locations
3. Assessments of in-country market may be made through rapid field surveys and consolidation of existing reports
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liST of ParTiciPanTS
State Planning commissionTmt. Santha Sheela nair, i.a.S., (retd),Vice Chairman,
Thiru. m. Balaji, i.a.S., Member Secretary
Thiru. Sugato dutt, i.f.S., Head of Division (Land Use)
Thiru. P.Selvarajan,Head of Division (Rural Development & District Planning)
Thiru. T.S.muthukumar,Head of Division (Plan Co-ordination)
dr. K.r. Jahanmohan, Head of Division (Agriculture Policy & Planning)
Selvi. namagiri, District Planning Officer (District Planning)
Thiru. md Kaleemullah, Senior Planning Officer (Land Use)
Thiru. r.K.haroon, Planning Officer (Agriculture Policy & Planning)
Thiru. P.Suresh KumarSenior Research FellowTamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board
Planning, development and Special initiatives department, SecretariatThiru. S. Krishnan, i.a.S.,Principal Secretary to Government (Planning & Development)
agriculture department dr. m. rajendran, i.a.S., Director of Agriculture
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State Planning Commission 65
rural development and Panchayat raj departmentThiru. P. Ponniah, Additional Director
horticulture and Plantation cropsThiru P. haldurai, Joint Director
forests departmentThiru. T.S. Srinivasamurthy, i.f.S., Additional PCCF (Work Plan)
Tmt. P. rajeswari, i.f.S., Conservator of Forest
Thiru. Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, i.f.S., Chief Conservator of Forests (CDM), & Project Director, (TBGP)
environment departmentdr. Jayanthi. m, i.f.S.,Additional Director
agriculture marketing Board Thiru e.KakkanJoint Director
Tamil nadu Women development corporationThiru B. lakshminarayanan,J.B. (TNWDC)
Tribal Welfare departmentThiru S. Ganesan, Joint Director
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iamWarm ProjectThiru. c. Soundrarajan, Deputy Director of Agriculture
midS, chennaidr. l. Venkatachalam,Associate Professor
ifmr, chennaidr. Koyel mandal,Programme Head
Keystone foundation, Kotagiri, The nilgirisThiru. Pratim roy, Founder & Director
ms.archana Sivaramakrishnan, Programme Coordinator
Thiru robert leo, Deputy Director - Technical
ms. Snehlata nath, Director- Programmes
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