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Vishwa Bhushan Joshi Field Officer, Guntur

Dr. P.S. Sreekantan Thampi

Interface with Tamarind Growers Ananthapur (Ananthapuram), the core region of Rayalaseema tract of Andhra Pradesh is a moderate town devoid of complexities. Though being the largest district of Andhra Pradesh with a population of over four million, this is a rain shadow region with near or no less rain (annual rain fall 300 mm a year), Anantapur has a characteristic geography of a plateau with undulating features. With history abound dating back to the era of Vijayanagar Empire; this region has many unique features amidst many shOitfalls.

llllerface meeting with Tamarind farmers ill Klwdllrllpi of Allathapur Dis/ricl

The Spices Board on its mission to this district was to focus on Tamarind, a crop from a mammoth tree, but a spice of minor impOitance. Visits were made to this location earlier to explore the right level to intervene. It is so fOitunate to haveAccion Fraterna­Ecology Center; an Organisation founded by late Mr. Vincent Ferrera, a champion of rural societies in the 60's to help in the mission of Spices Board. The AF - Ecology Center led by Dr. YY. Malia Reddy, having its strong roots in 12 mandals of Anantapur District is concentrating on rural livelihood aspect by a multi disciplinrny approach from building of houses, watershed development, bio-gas plants, development of tanks for irrigation, creating farmer producer's organisations (FPO) under MACS, establishing linkages, coordinating with Government depaltment,

_ 16 March 2017

undertaking projects, etc. Mr. Brahmeswar Rao of the planning wing of the centre, was deputed by Mr. Y V. MalJa Reddy to be our pattner in the execution of the programme.

Mr. Brahmeswar Rao, thanks to this experience had many words to say about the projects they handle to mitigate the problems of the people who are ever exposed to the miseries of drought and water shortage and its aftermath resulting in exodus of villagers as their only own occupation agriculture become a mere impossibility.

With many days of planning done for the first organised interface with tamarind growers and people who depend on its processing, we the Guntur Team started off ourjourney by road from Ananthapur to Kundurpi, covering a distance of over 110 kills. We traversed through frnm lands where cultivation is made

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Tamarind farmers attellding tile farmer intelface ill KUlldwpi

possible tlu"Ough water from deep wells and through drip systems besides vast expanse of lands remaining fallow. Achallenge it is to know tlmt the braving frumers are growing vegetables, mangoes, etc. with the sparse water available.

The third largest river Penna of AP remains dry all tlu"Ough this region. Perhaps the old timers recall that the last time the river had water to the brim of the banks was in 1974. We had the opportunity to cross the dry parched Penna river bed which has now become locations for burying dead, a sign that the river is almost dead from many decades. A sorrowful state to narrate.

The Kalyandurg region, which we crossed in our journey, is a historical place on account of its importance of an erection of a Fort by the erstwhile Vijayanagru· Empire under King ShIi Krishnadevru·aya. Imagine how green would have been with lots of water resources during historic times.

In general the way to Kundurpi is rocky and barren. Yes the dry spell in the region is congenial to harness solar energy and we could see a mega solar power unit in 100 acres with an installed capacity of 50 MW, as said by Mr. Brahmeswar, our travel companion. Since the region is windy, corporates have set up windmills which we could see in staggered locations.

In the venue of our farmer interface in Kundurpi, over a hundred fanners gathered at the grounds of a local junior college. The meeting conunenced at II am with leaders for this mission lead by Dr. Y.Y. Malla Reddy, Director, and AF - Ecology Center. We were also there on dias besides Mr. B.C. Dhanunjay, Horticulture Officer, Kalyandurg, Mr. C. Manohar from DRDA-Veluga, Ananthapur, Mr. Shreyas Shah and Mr. Smeet Soni of Quality Spices & Food ExpOits

_ 18 March 2017

Pvt. Ltd. QSFPL, Mumbai, Mr. Manohar, SERP and local FPO leaders.

Dr. P.S. Sreekantan Thampi, Deputy Director, Spices Board in his opening remarks explained the objective of the mission, the importance ofTamru·ind as a spice as well as the importance of hygiene in the post harvest processing stage. As explaining the objectives of the working of the Spices Board in the region, he linked the impOitance oflinking the tamarind farmers also into the e-Spices Bazaar project. Emphasis was given on how linkages can be formed for the farmers to sell their product directly to the expOiter instead of a trader through the e-Spice Bazaar porter to get better remunerations.

Mr. Manohar, SERP, deliberated on how they are able to create FPO's and procure Tamarind from farmers and produce blocks of Tamarind for sale and how they fonned linkage with Walmillt India which is procuring their product from them. The importance of hygiene was stressed as strict regulations are to be followed when supplies are made to exporters who cater to quality sensitive markets. Tamru·ind blocks in packets were put on display at the venue.

Mr. SIu·eyas Shah, the expOlterfrom Mumbai who was present detailed on the export of Tamarind to USA and Europe and the various uses of the product which is utilised in making acetic acid and other products like masalas, beverages, concentrates, etc. in the cooking and food segment. He emphasised on the need for cleanliness of the product, that it should be free from seeds, outer shell as well as from nann·al fibres, etc. He informed they have an ISO HACCP accredited unit in Mumbai , which is making blocks out of the product and packing the Tamarind for expOlt. He also assured of buying from the farmers or famer groups on condition of assurance of quality.

Fanners and FPO leaders expressed their desire to participate in process of selling their produce for expOlts and other linkages.

The HOlticulture Officer Mr. Dhanunjaya, Govt. of Andlu·a Pradesh, explained the various schemes that deprutment ofHOlticulture is undettaking in the region like cold storage and pack houses, where the fatmers and FPO's may get a subsidy for construction of the san1e.

Concluding the session, Dr. Y.Y. Malia Reddy,

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Tamarind Sweetens lLife DIiY Analilthapur •

In Dr. P.S. Sreekantan Thampi

The fann lands in the villages of Ananthapurof Andhra Pradesh remain parched and dusty with stones surfacing above the soil. This geographical part of eatth had not got the chance to get wet in the last so many years. No or scanty rains, the lands are really powdery and walking on foot itself can raise a pool of dust behind. The farmers obviously are aghast at thek fate to live without the basic necessity oflife.

Migration of people from this hOlTor situation to the cities had taken place but still mass movements are not taking shape on account of some sustainable elements in the villages. Ground nut and Tamarind are the two crops that are giving them sustainability to a considerable extent. The water that are drawn from down deep the very rare water available wells are feeding some t(acts to produce greens.

Groundnut requires minimum water to grow while

Director, AF- Ecology Centre, called upon the fanners to move fOlwru-d to achieve fmancial gains and stability and to bring about growth and changes which ru'e sustainable. He asked the farmers to come together to form groups, and gain strength from group synergy. _ 20 March2017

the Tamarind tree is so sturdy that it can withstand the hard sun and drought situation. Nature has blessed this part of the district with great number of tamarind trees and it is quite obvious a large number of families are making a living out of this. Not a surprise the country's principal Tamarind market is in Hindupur in the vicinity from where huge quantities are bought by upcountry traders and processors.

During the tamarind season, as is now, heaps of tamarind fmits are seen lying in the backyards of many homes. Most of the family members sit in front

of their houses for long hours in the day beating the tamarind fiuits on a stone to deshell the fmit and then beat the rind with a stick to de seed it. The conditions of the homes where they do these processes are not so appealing. The low roofed houses and the dark walls will reveal their financial standing. Floors of their homes are found to be broken cemented surfaces and the fmits are put on bare floor. No one would have done any post harvest interventions so far in this

The take home points fi'om this unusual intetface of Trunruind, God willing will filtCtify into a unique project to showcase a novel programme to help farmers to sustain and to enable processors and exporters to gain from the frumer sustainability.