Uttarapath Sewa Sanstha (USS)

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Mission Statement To generate alternative systems of livelihood for the poor andmarginalized, leading to their economic and social empowerment as well as

improved quality of life in poverty pockets and regions of absolute poverty in India.

Registered Office: Muwani, PO Muwani, Block Kanalichhina, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand 262552

Uttarapath Sewa Sanstha

(USS) is an Indian NGO registered

under the Society Registration Act

and is Uttarakhand based grass root

development organization promoted

by a group of development

professionals in 2002. Since then

organization has been working in

Uttarakhand with the dual objectives

of conservation and socio-economic

empowerment of marginal

communities through enterprise

development. These objectives are

derived from the premise that, when

local communities secure economic

and managerial control over their

natural resources and have access to

necessary information and technical

and financial support, they will have

the incentive to work actively

toward the long-term conservation

of these resources.

Livelihood Enterprise Development3

Promoting Livelihoods by Innovation in Bambooand Ringaal Cultivation and Market EnterpriseDevelopment

Sectors & Sub-sectors

Sectors:

- Alternate Livelihood Options

- Sustainable Employment Generation

Sub Sectors:

- Enterprise Development

- Self Help Groups (SHGs) Promotion

- Agriculture Action Research

Work Area/Site 4

Post: MuwaniBlock: KanalichhinaDistrict: Pithoragarh

State: Uttarakhand

• To establish state of the art nursery of bamboo and Ringaal to ensure quality planting material for future climate smart agriculture practices for food, economic and nutritional security;

• To establish Bamboo and Ringaal farmers’ cooperative as market enterprise for commercial cultivation of bamboo and Ringaal;

• To enhance knowledge and skills of farmers towards commercial bamboo cultivation;

• Mass plantation of bamboo and Ringaal to ensure germplasm and ecological balance;

• Development of 100 new artisans from project area.

Goal

• Promoting livelihoods by innovation in bamboo and ringaal cultivation andmarket enterprise development for 500 farmers of Pithoragarh district ofUttarakhand

Objectives

Methodology

• Surveys will be conducted for the potential market of the value added products of Bamboo and ringaal.

• Though organized and systematic channel through cooperative business model will be developed.

• Innovation will be done in handicraft items and making techniques.• Survey report in form of research document with the existing species of

bamboo and ringaal will be produced which will serve as future reference for various agencies.

• Bamboo oriented institutions will be developed, which is unforeseen in this part of the project.

• Herbal colour use in value addition of crafts will be an innovative intervention

• Alternate sources of income will be developed in 17 villages; thusdeveloped 100 artisans and farmer’s cooperative will sustain thetechnique for longer period of time and over 15,000 plants will be boon tothe ecological status in the target region.

Envisaged Outcomes

Envisaged Outputs

• Bamboo and ringaal focused farmer’s cooperative will be establishedwhich will ensure forest based livelihood activities.

• With the plantation of over 15000 plants during two years a germplasmof bamboo and ringaal will be developed.

• Development of 100 trained artisans and new innovation in valueaddition of bamboo and ringaal, which will ensure higher marketreturns to stakeholders.

• Plantation of 15000 plants will increase fodder availability, reducewomen drudgery and increase spring recharge.

Synopsis of the Project • Bamboo/Ringaal handicraft is a natural means of livelihood, which generates income for

marginalized communities who belong to socially backward classes. However there are a

number of major issues that affect this traditional livelihood and have made it less profitable.

These include a scarcity of raw materials from over-exploitation, poor harvesting technology,

lack of skills, and a lack of advance tools and training for adding value in production. This has

resulted in poor quality handicraft products, high labour requirements and shrinking profit

margins. Consequently the knowledge and use of bamboo species amongst younger

generations is declining. Moreover there is a lack of awareness and utilization of modern

technology amongst local bamboo artisans. Hence, this traditional occupation faces serious

problems of not providing sufficient money to support the craftsmen’s livelihood. Therefore

artisans in the mountains of Uttarakhand are shifting away from their traditional livelihoods,

• As a result of the poor return from ringaal craft, migration from villages in the mountains to

the towns or cities is now very common. Thus, there is a need to develop suitable

technological interventions to mitigate this problem and produce sustainable livelihoods for

artisans. It is therefore important to extend the necessary ringaal plantation, propagation and

crafting technologies to larger areas, in order to compete in this modern context.

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• Ringaal is a type of dwarf bamboo existing wild in hills of Uttarakhand. Traditionally this type of

bamboo is used for many kind of items for domestic and agriculture use. On the other hand the

grass obtained is used for feeding livestock. In modern time’s use of plastic have replaced it. But

seeing the drastic side effect of plastics worldwide, this can be a locally resource/available

substitute which undoubtedly is more durable than plastic and eco-friendly. But need is to

promote the propagation and ensure marketing of raw and value added products of Ringaal.

• Ringaal is type of bamboo which can be grown easily in natural climatic conditions on any kind ofsoils. Need is to increase the plantation so that raw material can be made available. As anothernote, need is to institutionalize the community toward bamboo cultivation and valueaddition to increase their outreach to market. This platform can take the scatteredcommunity to a common platform where accessing the resources from government and otherresources will be easier.

• Uttarapath Sewa Sanstha (USS) through its various endeavor have developed a cadre ofhandicraftsman or artisan, who are modelling for value addition of naturally existing Ringaal inthe area. Need is to increase the numbers and the skill of these artisans to ensure the alternatesource of income to marginal community of hills. USS through this project is aiming to developbamboo and ringaal as source of income to poor households. By institutionalization ofcommunities in approx. 25 villages will be given knowledge on cultivation and value addition ofthis locally available non timber material. Ringaal is type of bamboo which can be grown easily innatural climatic conditions on any kind of soils. This project will increase the plantation so thatraw material can be made available. The cooperative will be formed which focusing oncollective approach of production. This platform will be a common platform to the scatteredcommunity accessing the resources from government and other agencies.

Contd...

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Target Areas: Presently it has reached to the 2751 families in the most

backward and remote 201 villages/ tilt of 04 blocks of Pithoragarh

district. The direct coverage in agriculture improvement programme is

with an additional indirect reach to 1500 families through various other

outreach programmes.

Systems of Livelihood Generation • Training and capacity building• Strengthening of community based organizations• Livelihood enhancement and enterprise development • Production and marketing of agriculture and horticulture produces• Tree crop farming and developing Vanpanchayat of Bamboo and Ringal.

Promotion of Self Help Groups (SHGs)

Promotion of Farmers’ Clubs Marketing of Rural Produces – Farmer Cooperative Model

• Local communities/ stakeholders to generate alternative systems of livelihood. As the socialfabric in mountain is strongly bounded, so works toward strengthening of community basedorganizations (CBOs) play critical role in natural resource management. One of the core areas ofthe organization is to build the capacity of these village based institutions like Self Help Groups(SHGs), Farmer Clubs, Van Panchayats (VPs), etc. so that they could have managerial control overnatural resources and biodiversity of local regions in sustainable manners.

Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders

Thank you!