UBFDB Impact Assessment

Some of the Key Outputs as proposed in the phase II project Proposal to SRTT are as follows.

• Increased availability of raw material with more choice of species available to artisans.

• Nursery Management (Developed in Phase I) Assisted Natural Regeneration & Plantations.

• Establishment & operationalization of Artisan facility Centre in 4 districts.• Provide backward & forward linkage services through UBFDB as required by

artisans. • a) Identification of areas in agriculture & horticulture where bamboo

applications can be made. b) Conduct action research for identifying practical applications.

• c) Upscale the successful applications.• Action research on bio-preservation of bamboo & ringal products for chemical

free preservation.• Training program for artisans in product development, bulk order supply

handling, new tool development, quality control organized, market linkages, with support of master craftsmen placed in each AFC.

Some best practices and key outputs of the phase I•  

• 5 One stop facility centers (Ajivika Vatikas) developed at Chamoli, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun, for showcasing various aspects of Bamboo and Natural Fiber technology for the local communities to see, get trained and then replicate to earn a better livelihood.

• Awareness campaign for bamboo plantation conducted in almost 300 villages.

• Common facility center developed in Kotdwar for developing various, furniture and housing items from bamboo, Ringal and Natural Fiber material.

• More than 90 master craftsmen trained and developed for bamboo/Fiber/Natural Grass for large scale replication of the program.

• Development of High-tech nurseries for providing the quality planting material for bamboo, ringal.

• Developed and documented a structured publications, manuals and information material for capacity building for various aspects of the livelihood project from bamboo furniture making, to plantation management.

Methodology for impact assessment• The mission team conducted Primary research in randomly selected 20

villages across 4 district implementation clusters of Phase I and II. • Interactions with community leaders followed by Questionnaire based

survey and semi-structured interview meeting with more than 230 households.

• More than 230 households from 20 villages were interviewed in detail through a Questionnaire, to find out their status and know their experiences from the project.

• Most of the members interviewed were working on ringal/bamboo/or grass, as one their livelihood options. Many of them were SHG members, many were members of the cooperatives, some had just taken part in the events especially trainings organized by the project, and others just knew that UBFDB is implementing the project.

•

Bageshwar Cluster Chamoli Udham Singh Nagar Uttarkashi

1. Jhooni2. Khal Jhooni3. Mikhila 4. Khalpatta5. Supi6. Baicham 7. Patiyasar

1. Tangani2. Pakhi Jalgwar3. Bemru- 4. Berumathal

1. Bhitora2. Pindari3. Lamakheda4. Sadhu Nagar5. Jadavpur

1. Gajoli2. Agora3. Naogaon4. Seku5. Bhankoli

Questions• Questions related to the income generated in the last one year

from craft work, • The Variety and amount of products being made by the artisans.• Distance they need to travel to collect raw material. How much

income comes from other sources like labor and agriculture? • Benefits of being member of the cooperative and how

cooperatives can be made better. • Benefits of the AFC, and services which the artisan receives from

this center. Does AFC provide Raw material, better implements, market linkage etc.

• No. of trainings attended by the individual beneficiary and the number of new products learnt by the artisans. How many of their designs have been source of livelihood for the artisans, who went through these trainings.

• Problems which the communities face and the kind of solutions which the community desires in the future.

Funding arranged by UBFDB Sl. No. Co-funder Amount Area for funding 1 National Bamboo Mission 36497000 Bamboo/Ringal nursery, plantation and

capacity building of artisans and officials of line department

2 Department of Social welfare (SCP)

8865000 Capacity building and infrastructure development

3 Bahuuddeshaya Vitt Evam Vikas Nigam Ltd. (tribal sub plan)

8490500 Skill up-gradation and institutional development

4 World Food Program 888000 Infrastructure and skill up-gradation

5 Bamboo Plantation from state govt.

40000000 Bamboo/Ringal plantation

6 ONGC 8062356 Ringal plantation for ecological rebuilding

7 DC(handicrafts) 183889 Skill up-gradation and capacity building

8 ULIPH 3700000 Livelihood improvement through plant fibers.

9 Bamboo housing from different agencies (public and private)

28271817 Bamboo housing construction.

  Total amount in Rs. 134,958,562   

The Venn diagram shows figures for dependence on 3 resources for livelihood amongst the 212 HHs. ·79% households surveyed have livelihood dependence on Ringal. ·Only 8% are exclusively dependent on Bamboo.·Grass trade which is done in the US nagar region is not taken in this

Impact on Income• 40% of respondents from Bageshwar felt that the annual increase in

income has been around 1000, • Almost 40% of artisans in Uttarkashi felt that there has been an upto 5000

Rs increase in annual income due to the project interventions.• They attribute this growth to AFC being developed in these clusters, with

the cooperative formation. The activities began here from scratch in phase II, so the impact is clearly visible.

• Except for Uttarkashi in the entire target area of the project, at least 20 - 25 percent of the respondents felt that there has been no increase in income in the last 3 years.

• In the case of Chamoli, more than 40% feel that there has been no increase in income due to the interventions of the project. Here the AFC is very far from the village clusters, and intervention focus from UBFDB seems to be weak in phase II compared to phase I.

• Overall the mission team also believes that the 1440 beneficiaries, which was proposed for Phase II, has not been recorded for, which raises questions as this much number benefitted or not.

Name of District

Name village

Avg. Income (Bamboo/Ringal/Grass) %

Avg. Income (Agri) %

Avg. Income (Labour) %

Bageshwar J huni 3125 51% 1250 21% 1713 28% Lahur 2788 44% 2225 35% 1353 21%

Mikila Khalpatta 3000 69% 622 14% 733 17%

Supi 6500 78% 513 6% 1275 15%

Tarsal (Patyasar) 5000 61% 750 9% 2500 30%

Bageshwar Avg. 3705 58% 1321 21% 1329 21% Chamoli Bedumathal 3433 71% 133 3% 1300 27% Kiruli 16333 69% 1059 4% 6139 26% Tangadi 4875 67% 250 3% 2125 29% Chamoli Average 9847 69% 584 4% 3766 27% US Nagar Bhitora 27667 41% 34333 50% 6222 9%

Chinti Majhara 5500 7% 67500 92% 750 1%

J adopur 2250 31% 0 0% 5000 69% Lamakheda 2556 3% 71556 94% 2111 3% Nangla 14000 38% 8500 23% 14000 38% Sadhu nagar 2700 9% 21400 73% 5160 18% US Nagar Avg. 10968 19% 43452 74% 4560 8% Uttarkashi Agora 9167 41% 10667 48% 2500 11% Bhankoli 6667 68% 2067 21% 1067 11%

Bharaan Gaon 14000 66% 4859 23% 2500 12%

Gajoli 13000 67% 2943 15% 3536 18% naugaon 6000 43% 6000 43% 2000 14% Uttarkashi Avg. 11930 61% 4930 25% 2702 14% Project Average 8979 40% 10632 47% 2954 13%

Amongst the survey sample – the average incomes for each village in the cluster

Sales through Cooperative

Resource availability

More than 50 percent of the artisans across all the clusters, said that it takes a full day to collect the resource material.

Surprisingly the incomes increase as the effort and time increases to collect the resource material.

R&D initiative

• Poultry Shed – backyard – order from the verteniry department 100 pieces, price around Rs. 2500 for 25 birds

• Poly House being constructed, and being replicated after an order from the Horticulture department.

• Neem Seed Oil and lantana leaf extract – A study done in collaboration with FRI

SHGName of Cluster Total SHG

formed Total Membership

Saving Inter-loaning Per member saving

Bageshwar 15 178 38310 5000 Rs 215

Chamoli 14 95 52725 9000 Rs. 555

US Nagar 25 314 886767 587500 Rs.2824

Uttarkashi 7 90 17986 0 Rs. 200

Total 61 677 995788 601500 Rs. 1470

Artisan Facility Center• The AFC as a program strategy has been

used effectively in Uttarkashi, US Nagar, leading to it becoming the center of program activity.

• AFC creates an environment for the community to work as a group, and product improvement and mass production could be practically achieved.

Correlation between No. of Trainings and Income generated

Plantations• As per the forest department

and UBFDB figures, almost 4800 hectares of bamboo and ringal has been planted across the state in the last 6 years in the state

• An outlay of more than 5 crores.• Visit to the forest sites during

the assessment gave mixed results, in terms of survival. More indepth studies may be needed to assess the impact.

Plantation

Name of cluster Physical target Achievement StatusBageshwar 4 ha. 12 ha. Ringal forest was protected in two

van panchayats of Mikhia Khalpatta and Tarsal Patiyasar. 450 meter stone wall was constructed.

The results are encouraging as the community has cash incentive to save the plantation

Chamoli 4 ha. For protection to 4 ha. Ringal forest of village constructed approx. 142 meter stone wall with the support of SRTT project and 140 meter stone wall constructed with the support of Alak Nanda Ghati Shilpi Federation under NREGS, 2 ha each in villages Pakhi and Ludaun. Apart from this 4000 Ringal sapling were planted.

The plantations have mixed results due to the altitude issues.

Uttarkashi 4 ha. 4 ha. Ringal forest was covered under ANR activity in two van panchayats of village Gajoli and Naugaon. For protection to ringal forest 80 meter stone wall was constructed and 500 ringal sapling were planted.

Plantation at Nau Gaon village is in a very good condition, but that same cannot be said about Gajoli, due to grazing by livestock.

Total 12 ha 20 ha. ANR have been done.  

• UBFDB in collaboration with Horticulture department has launched a scheme for promotion and implementation of private plantation scheme funded by National Bamboo Mission.

• In 2009-10 250 ha. target was accomplished and in 2010-11 again 250 ha target was accomplished. Next 250 ha plantation is underway.

• So, far 638 farmers have adopted this scheme including 214 in USN, 57 in Pithoragarh, 65 in D.dun, 98 in Chamoli, 57 in Pauri, 30 in Nainital, 28 in Bageshwar, and 89 in Uttarkashi.

ClusterRaw Material Availability

Products/Marketing Skill level AFC Cooperative

Chamoli

Ringal : Free, High availability from Forests

Traditional Products like Kandi Sales are done by artisans themselves to nearby villages.

Skill level: High, Artisans making traditional agri products

The AFC is closed, as it is bamboo based, whereas the resource and the skill is based on Ringal. Distance of AFC from cluster is also very high.

The Cooperative made for bamboo artisans is not very functional as the bamboo based activities are not continuing and the AFC is closed,

Bageshwar

Artisans have to pay 100-150 to the local Van Panchayat every time to harvest the ringal from the forest.

Marketing a problem, overstocked with products made from large number of training activities being focused in this cluster. Marketing a huge problem as cluster is not on tourist map,

Low - medium, inspite of highest no. of trainings in the cluster. Recent entry of master-craftsman from chamoli has is leading to betterment of quality. Most women artisans.

The AFC was not functional at the time of impact assessment (due to unavailability of working space). But community remembers it as an important center of activity during the project phase.

The Cooperative has been functional, and transactions of buying and selling of products, made by artisans and transactions are all made in agreement with the members.

Uttarkashi

Available for free from Forest. On an average takes one full day to collect ringal from the forest by the artisans.

Largest percentage of new products made for orders from vendors and UBFDB. Mix of traditional and new designs being developed at the AFC.

Skill level Medium to high, Most entrepreneurial ringal artisans in the cooperative, in terms of fulfilling orders.

The AFC is functional, in a temporary Tin structure being occupied through cooperative leaders liasioning. Is the center of artisan based activities in the cluster.

The cooperative is active, and young members from 2-3 villages are providing full time patronage. But not all the members are involved, as the orders are not enough.

US Nagar

Grass available locally, Bamboo bought from Nazibabad and other bamboo markets.

Most modern products of Grass made at AFC. Bamboo AFC also making furniture for stores and exhibitions.

Skill level high in the Grass category. AFC of Grass fulfills large orders. AFC of bamboo also makes furniture’s.

3 AFCs in the cluster through various funding sources :- Two bamboo based, and One Grass based. All are functional.

The cooperative is mixed, of bamboo and grass based artisans. This has lead to confusion of purpose, and halfhearted efforts by members.

Community aspirations• More than 50 percent of the respondents, felt that the orders for

work is insufficiant, and work should be come regularly. • Around 50 percent of the Bageshwar and chamoli cluster artisans

felt that raw material availability is a problem. • 35 percent of the respondents from uttarkashi demanded a

building for AFC.

Fund Sources – UBFDB & Projection

Year

Govt. of

India, National

Bamboo

Mission

Govt. of Uttarakhand, SCP

DC Handicr

afts

ONGC New Delhi

UCOST - Govt. of UK

SRTT

WFP

IYNF

Housing

GOU, Plantat

ion progra

mUPAS

AC GIZCAMP

AKVIB

Bamboo

Housing

2009-10 154 27.15 1.84 26 4.7 15 7 9 17

2010-11 220 250 51.4 71 35 250 181.7 43 5 95

2011-12 190 20 35 25

Total 564 297.1 53.2 97 4 85 7 8 17 250 18 1 43 5 120

% 36% 19% 3% 6% 0%5%

0% 1% 1% 16% 1%

0% 3%

0% 8%

Projected 2012-13 254 20 111 352 7

Phase I & Phase II – Lack of Continuity Phase I Phase II

Ajivika Vatikas were one of the key strategy of intervention, with all future program activities to be knit, around this facility

Non of the Ajivika Vatikas, has been continued in terms of support, program interventions, or activities. Leading to lose of effort, and negative impact in Pipalkoti cluster.

Master Trainers, who were developed in the phase I, 90 in total, which were thought to continue the program activities in the future.

Except for 4 master trainers employed in AFCs, and a few from North East, who are continuing in the building business, most of the master trainers are on their own, without any recognition or role in the phase II.

Community managed Nurseries – 8 Nurseries were developed with a figure of 2 lakh planting material in them at the end of phase I

During the mission visit, non of the clusters, had any active community managed nursery, or any available planting material except for some in Pipalkoti AV.

Awareness campaign in 300 villages, was one of the key activity, leading to a lot of interest generated amongst the community, towards bamboo and ringal plantation activity

The plantation proposals from the community generated from the awareness activity, have not been followed up by any mechanism either in the phase I or II, limiting the effectiveness of this activity.

Problem AnalysisIssue 1. Livelihood Development is not all about marketing.

Why centralization did not work, in phase II.

• Inspite of these clusters, based in tourist routes, the marketing approach was to bring the goods to Dehradun. Therefore increasing transit losses, and making it a logistical nightmare.

• Lack of marketing and quality control staff in the AFCs, and more than that, lack of transfer of ownership to the clusters, led to bad/medium quality production.

• Absence of inventory management, financial management system, as per the business requirement led to inventory and financial mismanagament.

Solution proposed·UBFDB moves on to new clusters, with support role to get finance, plantation, and technical inputs, for the federation/cooperatives in the existing clusters.

·Cooperatives take care of the production, inventory management, community level nurseries, and plantations.

·Team of professionals with the cooperatives, take care of the production and marketing managament.

·Developing District or region wise market clusters, as per tourist destinations (reducing the centralization of the sales activity).

Future of the program

• Develop an umbrella either a federation or a SRC, to bring the cooperatives and its institutions under it.

• Providing support of working capital and salaries of field coordinator and master trainers supporting the cooperative and the AFCs.

• Business support team of professionals, with only responsibility of making the cooperatives profitable through market-production linkage.

• An independent handholding cum M&E team which does a quarterly program review and suggest strategy and guidelines.

Thank You