A COURSE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

PROJECT REPORT

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE

BY
LALTANPUIA RENTHLEI(UR 737)
SYBSc (MICROBIOLOGY)

SPICER MEMORIAL COLLEGE

AUNDH ROAD, PUNE 411 007
MAHARASTRA STATE: INDIA.

DATE: 25 FEBRUARY, 2011

 Contents

Introduction ……. 1

BAIF At Glance ……. 3

Programme Approach ……. 3

Natural Resource Management ……. 5

Water Resources Development Programme ……. 6

Strategy of the Programme ……. 6

Details of the Programme ……. 7

Important Technology use in water conservation ……. 7

Achievement of watershed Development Programme ……. 7

Livestock Development ……. 8

Strategy for Livestock Development ……. 9

Programme Highlights ……. 9

Coverage ……. 10

Non-farm Livelihoods ……. 11

Animal Husbandry ……. 12

Medicinal Herbs and Food Processing ……. 13

General/Agro Services ……. 13

Conclusion …… 14
Introduction

On February 17, 2011, the College arranged for a field trip to Urulikanchan to visit Bharat
Agro Industrial Foundation to see and study various activities about the activities related to
Human beings and its relation to the environment. We had visited a number of projects taken
care by the unit in different places which are very relevant to the present need of society. With
the help of these projects, many people are benefited when knowledge is imparted to them by the
organization. BAIF Development Research Foundation is a professionally managed non-profit
Public Trust, established by a noted Gandhian, Late Dr. Manibhai Desai in 1967, to promote
sustainable livelihood in Rural India.

The Nature Cure Ashram was established by Mahatma Gandhi at Urulikanchan in March
1946 to promote health care through naturopathy. After spending eight days at the ashram,
Gandhiji entrusted the responsibility of managing the ashram to his trusted disciple Manibhai
Desai. Manibhai worked closely with the villagers and launched various novel experiments to
address their problems. Based on these , BAIF Development Research Foundation
(formerly, the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) was founded in 1967. The foundation stone
of BAIF was established in 1967 by Dr. Zakir Hussain, the-then President of India.

BAIF focuses on families living below the poverty line, empowerment of women,
promotion of education and health facilities and livelihood programmes. This goal is being
achieved using the available natural resources and appropriate technologies, while building
human capabilities and moral values thereby bringing quality life within the reach of the poor
people living in remote parts of the country.

BAIF is committed to sustainable development, currently offering assistance to over 3.0

million rural families spread over 55,000 villages in 12 states of the country.

BAIF at a glance:
  BAIF aims at providing sustainable livelihood to the rural poor through natural
resource management and non-farm services. BAIF's projects and activities cover 3
million poor families of Rural India.

 The programmes increase the value of farm products by contributing 2500 crores ($
520 M) to the GDP. BAIF conducts decentralized operations in 12 states through 9
Associate Organizations.

 The Central Research Station at Urulikanchan and Regional Stations in various states,
provide Research and Technology support.

 BAIF offers excellent Technical and Management training facilities.

 3,000 employees for implementing the policies

Programme Approach:
To address the problems of the poor families who live in a heterogeneous society, BAIF has
developed the following strategy:

 Consider each BPL family as the unit of development

 Multi-disciplinary village cluster development approach for socio economic

development

 Blend development with applied research and training

 Promotion of people's organisations for programme implementation and sustainability

 Ensure empowerment of women, education and community health for better quality of
life

 Integrate environmental protection with livelihood programmes

Vision:
 Building a self-reliant rural society assured of food security, safe drinking water, good
health, gender equity, low child mortality, literacy, high moral values and clean environment.

Mission:
BAIF's Mission is to create opportunities of gainful self-employment for the rural
families, especially disadvantaged sections, ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched
environment, improved quality of life and good human values.
This is being achieved through development research, effective use of local resources,
extension of appropriate technologies and upgradation of skills and capabilities with community
participation. BAIF is a non-political, secular and professionally managed organization.

Logo:

The BAIF Logo is a symbolic representation of the Mission of BAIF in Rural

Development. It is a visual portrayal of the four important natural resources - land, livestock,
water and vegetation. Anna Bahu Kurveet Tadh Vratam as inscribed in the epitaph signifies
BAIF's commitment to the conservation of these precious natural resources and to promote
abundant agricultural production from land.
The crossbred cows located strategically in the centre depicts the efficient conversion of
coarse fibre from straws of sorghum, millet, bajra and wheat into milk which is a major source of
protein in the diet of the poor rural people, without suppressing the production of food grains.
The two milk bottles embedded in the soil signify milk being a product of earth. The microscope
highlights the role of research in rural development. The wheel symbolizes the blend of science,
technology and industrial approach towards agriculture practiced by small farmers. The petals of
the lotus form a bell and are synonymous with rural prosperity.
The original name Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF) also reflects the need
for treating agriculture and rural development as an industry requiring sound back up of
management and motivation to turn the farmers into entrepreneurs to manage their resources,
while generating gainful self-employment in their own environs. BAIF was renamed as BAIF
Development Research Foundation to emphasis the need to blend development programmes with
research and appropriate technologies, as development without research becomes outdated and
research without development becomes academic.

Some major programmes that are undertaken by BAIF are:

1. Natural Resource Management

Water in every age and every civilization is the essential lifeline necessary for survival
and progress of the mankind. Naturally, it is also critical for food security and sustainable
livelihood of the rural population. Particularly for Indian farmers, water is the basic requirement
as the agricultural productivity and their livelihood is highly dependent on the availability of
water. Nearly 40% of the agricultural land in India is located in arid regions; farmers are not able
to recover their investment in agriculture.
In India, only about 30-35% of the total rain water is utilized, while the rest is wasted
resulting in floods, soil erosion and situation of river beds and reservoirs. Generally, the poor
farmers who own poor quality land are deprived of water even for drinking.

BAIF works for water resource development with ravine land development and
conservation of village common lands to sustain the interest of small farmers. Watershed
development Programmes are arranged as per the special problems of different enhancing
agricultural production and also providing safe drinking water for local communities. During the
year 2008-09, 527 watershed projects were under operation, covering 257521 ha in 767 villages,
benefiting 76766 families.
In other regions, where the rainfall is moderate or high, the farmers are not able to make
efficient use of the available water. It has been reported that hardly 35% of the rain water is used
effectively while the remaining 65% runs off to the sea, causing severe soil erosion, flooding of
rivers. Hence, this valuable asset has turned out to be a liability. Over 25% of the villages are not
able to provide year round water supply. Even in those villages where water is available, 75% of
the water sources are not able to meet the W.H.O. standards, due to pollution.

Water Resources Development Programme

Water Resources Development Programmes are an important component of Rural
Development throughout the country. BAIF is engaged in water resources management through
watershed development in selected village clusters of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh over a decade. It aims at creating drinking water
security, boosting agriculture and livestock production, particularly to benefit weaker sections of
the community.

Strategy of the Programme

This programme works for following aspects:

 Participation of the entire community with special focus on the weaker sections, in
planning and implementation

 Effective water conservation with appropriate technologies and systems

 Convergence for holistic development, particularly for food and water security, supply
of drinking water, health and hygiene and environmental conservation

Details of the Programme

The participation of the weaker sections of the community through the Gram Sabha helps
to reach to a larger section of the rural community.
The user groups consisting of members from different hamlets in the watershed are
encouraged to discuss the plan of implementation of the programme. Self help groups of men
and women from the weaker sections of the society can be empowered themselves along with
attained the watershed development. Along with regular meeting and discussions, these self help
groups contribute a sum for the saving fund which is used for helping the needy members to
enhance their income.
With increase in soil productivity and confidence in the participants, many SHGs
demanded agricultural inputs for improving agricultural production and livestock for
supplementary income. Many groups have set up community grain banks, seed banks and agro-
fservice centers. Simultaneously, many social problems which were affecting their morale and
progress have also been solved by the women themselves. Formation of village level watershed
committees at the initiation of the project has helped to prepare an action plan, based on the local
priorities.

Important Technologies Used in Water Conservation

For rain water conservation, modern technologies such as Geographic Information
System and Remote Sensing are introduced simultaneously adopting a ridge-to-valley approach
for improving the efficiency of watershed development. Suitable technologies referring to the
local conditions and traditional knowledge and scientific skills are offered. This process of
evolvement gives rise to many innovative approaches that ensure equitable distribution, effective
use of water and improved agricultural production.

Achievements of the Watershed Development Programme

The organizational coverage includes many areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
More than 4.0 million ha spread over 850 villages has been covered benefitting over
75,000 families intensifying the cropping area and increasing the yield by 30%-40% increasing
the annual income of the farmers.

Most of the villages are having high water table level and increased potable drinking
water level. Many women's groups have established their grain banks, to provide food grains on
loan to their members, who return it after the harvest without being exploited by the money
lender
 2. Livestock Development:

Dairy farming is a reliable source of livelihood for small and marginal farmers. India has
the largest cattle population in the world but the average milk yield is less than 900 kg per
lactation, due to severe genetic erosion, resulting in a large population of poor quality animals,
poor health care and acute shortage of feed.
BAIF maintains an elite herd of Jersey and Holstein Friesian breeds at the Central
Research Station, Urulikanchan to produce superior bulls for semen collection. With a view to
conserve native breeds, Gir, Amritmahal, Hallikar, Sahiwal, Khillar, Tharparkar, Krishna Valley,
Ongole and Dangi breeds of cattle, Surti, Murrah and Jafrabadi breeds of buffaloes and bucks of
Sirohi, Osmanabadi, Jamnapari and Barbari goats are also maintained. The Semen Freezing
Laboratory with ISO 9002 certification produces over 4.5 million doses of frozen semen
annually. Embryo Transfer Technology for production of elite bulls and genetic conservation of
indigenous breeds is the unique feature of this laboratory.
The Goat Development Project in West Bengal which reduced mortality from 45% to
5% and enabled over 10,000 goat keeping women to enhance their earnings by three folds, has
become a role model for the country. This Programme has now been expanded in West Bengal,
Jharkhand and Tripura states apart from the initiatives taken by the Government of West Bengal
for replication in the state.
In India, dairy farming through buffalo and cattle husbandry, goat husbandry and sheep
husbandry is a traditional and important source of livelihood for the rural population. Keeping
these aspects in mind, BAIF focuses the progress of livestock development in various states of
India.
Strategy for Livestock Development
Rural families are motivated to breed their low productive non-descript cattle with
genetically superior milk breeds while conserving elite native breeds. The crossbred cows are a
reliable source of livelihood even in drought prone areas.
Goat husbandry has always been a very important source of livelihood for rural
population, mainly the poor rural women, landless and the marginal farmers living in the interior
areas and don't have any other means of survival and earning.

Programme Highlights
 Enabling more than 50% of the rural families to have cattle of their own

 The Programme uses the inferior quality livestock already owned by the farmers and
need not any capital investment

 Efficient delivery of services and mentoring help the farmers to adopt improved
technologies with greater efficiency

 Superior quality cattle and buffaloes produced under the Programme come into milk
production at the age of 3 years and are valued at 20, 000 25, 000. Each crossbred
generates a surplus of 7000 8000 per year.

 Farmers tend to feed the high yielding animals more and thus reducing the pressure on
the eco-system and enhancing the collection of dung useful for biogas production and
organic farming

 Having high yielding animals naturally reduces the herd size and thus the pressure on
food and fodder supply and global warming too.

 Livestock programme is the best livelihood opportunity for the women

 User groups of goat keepers are formed where micro-credit, input procurement, sharing
of technical knowledge and collective marketing to increase their earning take place.

 Breed improvement through promotion of breeds like Sirohi, Jamnapari, Black Bengal,
Osmanabadi and Barbari. BAIF keeps frozen semen of elite bucks.

 Regular Vaccination of goats against PPR and Goat Pox to ensure good health,
 Deworming

 Promotion of regular and sufficient supply of forage

 Helping in controlling goat population

 Arranging microcredit through the SHGs to prevent the distress sale of goats

Coverage
This Programme has been assisting more than 4.5 million families spread over 67,000
villages in 12 states of India enabling them to engage in sustainable livelihood activities,
contributing 2500 crores (USD 520 million) to the national GDP. Ministry of Rural
Development and Farmers' Cooperatives are the sponsors of this programme along with many
corporate houses and individual donors. For efficient implementation of all these Programmes,
BAIF has promoted over 10,000 strong People's Organizations mainly self help groups, user
groups and their federations, of which 80% were represented by women.
Through an interaction with the farmers and their families, the BAIF programme reduces
the pressure on natural resources and promotes organic farming making a significant impact in
the field. So far, 5.4 million conceptions have been recorded and 0.65 million cows and buffaloes
are under milk production, contributing milk worth 1800 crores (US$ 375 million) per annum.
As the demand for milk in India is expected to rise from 98 million tons to 180 million tons by
2022, there is good scope to expand the Programme across the country, particularly in backward
regions to ensure gainful self employment and food security for small farmers.
The goat keepers are able to earn 1000-1200 per head per annum through sale of males
and culling of old females. A family can earn 6000 to 8000 and can have food security.
Improved productivity motivates the goat keepers reduce the herd size and ease the biotic
pressure on the eco-system. Close interaction among the SHG members will help them to build
their capabilities to initiate other socio-economic development activities for the benefit of the
community.
 3. Non-farm Livelihoods

BAIF has been promoting programmes that are aimed at generating non farm livelihoods
for rural people. Following are the activities that are offered by BAIF to the farmers.

Agriculture And Horticulture

Fig. Nursery raising Fig. Grafting

 Fig. Bee Keeping Fig. Vermicompost Production

Animal Husbandry

Fig. Pisciculture Fig. Piggery

 Fig. Poultry Fig. Dairy Husbandry

Medicinal Herbs / Food Processing

Processing of herbal medicines, food / fruits and vegetables, Sieving of flour and grains, Chillie
pounding, Rice mill, Papad, Sugar ball machine, Sugarcane crusher, Oil expeller, Paddy thresher,
Bakery.

General / Agro Services

Flour Mill, STD kiosk, Mike and acoustics system, Loudspeaker, Laundry, Barber, Cook,
Masonry, Carpentry, Blacksmith, Welding, Tyre vulcanization, Air compressor, Motor
rewinding, Photography, Cycle repair, Repair of two-wheelers, Hiring of motor cycles, Watch
repair, Handpump repair, Electrical, Battery charging, Hiring of bullock cart, Horse cart, Hiring
of donkeys, Shoe / footwear, Rickshaw puller, Camel trolley, Dish Antenna installation, Hire of
Tents, Merry-go-round, Hiring of bicycles for school children, Agro-service centre, Hiring of
cows and buffaloes, Cattle shoe fixing, Chaff cutter operation, Hiring of chairs and water drums
for storage.

Trades
Grocery, Petty shop, Grains, Tea stall / small hotel, Vegetables, Eggs, Dry fish, Meat, Sweets,
Edible oil, Groundnut, Fruits, Jaggery, Betel leaves and arecanut, Bakery products, Ice cream,
Coconut, Edible salt, Chillies, Puffed rice, Fruit juices, Soda water, Minor forest produce, Seeds,
Gunny bags, Cattle feed, Fodder, Coal, Stationery, Clothes, Bangle, Cosmetics, Jewellery,
Utensils, Aluminium, Furniture, Handicrafts, Framed photographs, Vocal instruments, Leather
products / parcher, Metal tools / Plastic containers and bags, Chain pulley stores, Limestone,
Cement, Iron box, fuel wood.

Conclusion

In the contemporary society, every nations including India make a priority studies in
school and colleges about the environmental issue. If our environment is conducive to human
life, the impact will be tremendous. Environment will effect to our all round activities including
the food we eat and the kind of health we enjoy. So it a duty of every good citizen to create a
better environment at all levels. Whether we live in the rural or urban society, we should always
remember and to give our full contribution for a better and healthy environment. We human
beings are responsible to take care of the earth we live in. It is my advice to all my fellow
students to be a good citizen wherever we are either in the countryside or in the city. Let us all
pledge ourselves that we may a part of a citizen who take up the full responsibility of creating a
pleasant environment.