List of interventions in North East India by FARMER ( A non profit fellowship program of Vet Helpline India )

Category of the fellowship program : Development Projects

Inception Date: 05-10-2006

Closing Date: 31-12-2010

Location: Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Mizoram

Donors:

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• UNCTAD is the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development.

The Department for International Development (DFID), UK

• The organization is the part of the UK government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.

Ministry of Commerce and Industries -Government of India

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion

Partners:

All Mizoram Farmers’ Union

• A state level association of farmers in Indian State of Mizoram

Sikkim Apex Grower Association

• An association of small farmers in Indian State of Sikkim

Sikkim Chamber of Commerce

• A private sector industry association in Indian State of Sikkim

Center for International Trade in Agriculture & Agro – Based Industries (CITA)

• CITA is a one of the two ‘Tire I’ partner organization of the project responsible for Agriculture and allied sector activities. FARMER is a Tire-II partner under CITA. CITA as an organization aims at empowering farmers and stakeholders for 21 st Century agribusiness through various programmes.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

• ICC is the premier body of business and industry in Eastern and North-Eastern India.

Activities:

On Farm Training of Dairy Farmers

Delivered an unique on-farm training program based on need assessment. Beneficiary included fifty (50) model commercial dairy farms and a private milk processing unit. The program was organized in the light of perceived import surges from neighbouring countries.

Workshops and Consultations

Conducted three (3) globalization and trade related sensitization workshop cum consultation involving stakeholders from Poultry, Dairy and horticulture subsector in Assam and Mizoram state of India,

Field Study: Dairy Sector in Assam

Conducted a study on Cost and Quality of Milk in and around Guwahati (The Gate way to North East India). The report indicated number of interventions needed for cost reduction and enterprise efficiency.

Field Study: Floriculture sector in Sikkim

A primary study covering 300 small growers was undertaken to identify specific barriers which hinder exports of flowers from Sikkim. The study assisted in designing and implementing interventions for targeted segments of the producers.

Flower Quality Training

Conducted training program on value addition and quality management for 80 select flower growers in Sikkim.

Website Development and Publication of Flower Grower Directory

Designed and published a content rich website and a directory of 300 small flower growers in Sikkim.

Capacity Building for Market Linked Innovation

Facilitated close interaction between Sikkim Apex Grower Association, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, various banks and other private/government agencies for market linked innovations. Working jointly with All Mizoram Farmer’s Union (AMFU),a number of field level interactions were organized for market linked innovation amongst Turmeric value chain players in the State.

Advocacy for smallholder flower growers

Report of Primary study of 300 small flower growers in Sikkim was shared with Planning Commission and other government agencies. Dy.Chairman of Planning Commission released the report on the occasion of Sikkim Flower Show. The report was referred during various policy discussions.

Study Tour – Horticulture Sector in Meghalaya

A report of reconnaissance of horticulture sector in the state was prepared based on study tour of experts.

Facilitation of Consultations for Free Trade Agreements

Working jointly with Indian Chamber of Commerce – North East chapter, FARMER mobilized agriculture sector stakeholders across North East India to participate in number of regional level consultations, organized by UNCTAD / Ministry of Commerce to support trade negotiations. e.g. Indo-Japan Free Trade Agreement.

Representation in National Seminars

FARMER representative attended various National level Seminars such as : Saving Doha and Delivering on Development ( New Delhi, 12-13 March’2007 ); Going Beyond Doha Negotiations-Promoting South South Trade( New Delhi 9-10 August’2007 ); Consultation on India EU Trade and Investment Agreement Negotiations ( 29th Sept’2007 ); WTO and Trade Issues ( 20-22nd July’10 ); International Conference on Progress and Protection through Geographical Indication ( Dec’2010 )

Publications:

Capacity Building Initiative for Augmenting Floriculture Export from Sikkim (Cafe’) : This report on floriculture in Sikkim seeks to identify specific barriers which hinder exports of flowers from Sikkim. ( Floriculture_report brief )

Evaluation of cost of cow milk production and quality of milk produced by commercial dairy farms located within the radius of 100 km from Guwahati city ( CostofProduction_Milk_Guwahati_India) Annexure of the report ( Annexures_milkcost study_Assam)

Glimpse of an unique ‘On Farm’ Training Program for Dairy Farmers in Assam ( India ) conducted by FARMER / CITA under UNCTAD -India Project : Click Here for video

Contributing fellow Members:

Dr.Miftahul Islam Barbaruah BVSc & A H, MBA, MDM

Dr.Barbaruah contributed to over-all project activity planning, communication, fund mobilization and liasoning with donor. He also lead the FARMER team in extending support UNCTAD-India project office at New Delhi and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in organizing various stakeholder consultations related to trade agreements.

Dr. Monjul Islam BVSc & A H,

Dr.Monjul lead the field and project administration team at FARMER in implementing various activities under the project.

Dr.Abdul Samad PhD

Representing Bombay Veterinary College, Prof Abdul Samad extended lead support in conducting the ‘On farm’ training program for dairy farmers.

Capt. ( Dr ) Kiran Konher MVSc

Dr.Kiran extended support in conducting on-farm training program for dairy farmers.

Dr.Tapan Amonge PhD

Prof (Dr)Tapan Amonge extended support as Principal Investigator ( Honorary ) for the study on Cost and Quality of Milk Produced in and around Guwahati city.

Dr.Biresh Kumar Banerji PhD

Representing National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow (India), Dr.Banerji extended support in conducting flower quality and value addition related training to farmers in Sikkim.

Dr. Desh Beer Singh PhD

Representing Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET), Dr.Singh extended support in conducting training program on Flower quality for flower growers of Sikkim.

Mr.Aleen Mukharjee MSc. (Horticulture)

Mr.Aleen Mukharjee led a team of experts for a study tour to State of Meghalaya. He has contributed in preparing the report of reconnaissance of horticulture sector of Meghalaya.

Dr.Niranjan Kalita PhD

Dr.Kalita provided honorary support in project’s poultry sector activity evaluation. He also extended one to one free advisory services to 46 Poultry farmers and one feed mill owner in Tezpur, Assam.

Dr.Mukul Bora PhD

Dr.Bora extended honorary support as member of various research support groups providing inputs on research design and data interpretation.

Dr.Pranjal Borah MVSc

Dr.Borah, extended support as Assistant Investigator for the study on Cost and Quality of Milk Produced in and around Guwahati city. He also contributed to the on-farm training program for dairy farmers.