Introduction

Organic vegetable field.

A pilot project entitled – “Paddy organic chain from seed to market: A pilot project in Tamil Nadu” was launched during October 2005 with support from HIVOS, Bangalore. A contract has been signed with HIVOS for a period of three years. The objectives of this project are as follows:

• Empower small and marginal farmers in the practice of organic rice cultivation so that they are able to practice this without any external support.  Enable them to get their farm lands certified. 
• Provide production support to enable them to do organic conversion and enhance food security.  The beneficiaries should reach a stage where they can cultivate organically without any hindrance and sufficient availability of organic resources. This would provide for their food and livelihood security. 
• To create marketing opportunities for the organic products so that organic farming brings about livelihood security.

WORK DONE UNDER THE PROJECT

Selection of Villages
A detailed survey was undertaken for selection of villages for this project. 55 villages were surveyed in detail for selection. Out of the 55 villages four villages have been selected for project implementation. The programme is being implemented in the villages of Chithravadi and Kolanthancheri from October 2005. In Esoor and Kaliyapettai the project is being implemented from April 2006.
 
Selection of Beneficiaries

Women farmers involved in the transplantation of paddy.

Thirty five families from 4 villages were selected as direct beneficiaries for this programme. Most of beneficiaries belong to the category of small and marginal farmers.

Choice of land

The land is chosen in such a way that it fulfills the requirements of ICS certification systems.

A detailed discussion was held in the villages, which were chosen for implementation of the programme. Lands were chosen in such a way that they were adjacent to each other. The lands should also be able to fulfill the requirements of ICS certification systems.

Formation of organic farmers self-help groups
In all the three villages, organic farmer’s self-help groups have been formed. The three groups are named after indigenous rice varieties. The group meets regularly every month on a defined date in the village to discuss issues relating to organic farming. Besides this, there special meetings and specific trainings were also organised for these groups.

Baseline survey
After identification of the land, a detailed baseline survey was undertaken in the villages. The idea of undertaking this baseline survey was to compare the changes after the implementation of the project.

Empowerment  (Technical trainings and visits)

To create awareness about organic farming and also empower farmers with technologies relating to the organic farming, 16 detailed training programmes have been conducted for the beneficiaries of the programme.  The trainees are also provided with course material during the trainings.  Trainings were provided on project orientation, organic farming certification, increasing soil fertility through organic farming, organic paddy cultivation, biopesticides preparation, importance of indigenous seeds and their cultivation and so on.  The trainings consisted of both theory and practical sessions.  Leadership trainings were also provided to the members of the organic farmers groups. 

Training programme for farmers on organic cultivation techniques .

Brain storming sessions on various topics like, sustainability of organic farming technologies, increasing area under organic farming and comparison between chemical and organic farming were conducted for the beneficiaries. Two training programmes on SRI method of paddy cultivation were conducted for the farmers of Kaliyapettai and Kolathancherry villages respectively.

Five training programmes were conducted during the period April 2007 – March 2008. In all the five trainings / workshops that have been conducted so far a total of 154 farmers were trained which included 92 men and 62 women. Trainings have been provided on the topics of organic farming technologies, marketing strategies, formation of a society and functioning of the same for promoting organic marketing, legal aspects related to the society formation and responsibilities of the office bearers. Trainings were also provided on topics related to internal control systems for group certification. Participatory workshops / evaluation workshops as to how the project has been functioning and what other steps are required to be taken for the project to attain self sustainability were also conducted with the beneficiaries of each village. 

Exposure visits

Farmers were also taken for exposure visits to organic farms in other districts and states. 

• Farmers went on a two-day exposure visit to Mysore.  They visited the farm of Mrs. Bharathi near Aguduhanahalli and also the farm of Mr. Chandrashekar and Mr. Moorthy near Alanahalli.
• Two groups went on one day trip to the farm of Mr. Sundarraman at Satyamangalam and to the farm of Mr. Ravi at Uppupallam.
• Eight farmers also went on an exposure trip to the India organic fair in Delhi for five days.
• A group of farmers from project villages were taken to Mr. Anthonysamy’s organic farm at Puliyankudi village in Thirunelveli District during February 2008.

Farmers being taken on exposure visits to an organic farm.

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PRODUCTION SUPPORT (WORKING TOWARDS CONVERSION AND ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY)

Providing inputs
Inputs like paddy seeds, vegetable seeds, green manure seeds, ground nut seeds, gingelly seeds, pulses, neem seed cake, biofertilisers, manures and material for vermicomposting were given to farmerss. They have also been provided adequate training for production of these inputs on their own. Farmers are involved in the cultivation of paddy, vegetables, oil seeds, banana, guava, fodder crops and minor millets.

Preparation of vermicompost
For preparation of vermicompost technological support and material support was provided through the project. In two villages they have attained self-sufficiency in the preparation of vermicompost. The other two villages have shown significant progress. In two villages, they have reached a stage where they can supply worms and compost to other members of the village.

Vermicompost unit of a beneficiary.

Distribution of agricultural implements
Agricultural implements like power sprayers, knap sack sprayers, tarpaulin sheets have been provided to all the three SHGs to avoid mixing it with chemicals. Water barrels have also been given. Farmers are using it very effectively.

Seed storage structures
To enable farmers to store seeds after harvest seed storage structures have been constructed in the villages of Chithiravadi, Kaliyapettai and Kolathancherry. The land for construction of these storage structures were donated by the farmers. They have also contributed additional money and constructed storage structures of bigger size.

Sampling of water and soil
Water and soil samples were collected from the farmers fields. NPK and micronutrient status were analyzed for these samples. This data would be compared with the new data available every year to see how the status of soil and water changes over a period of time.

Soil testing laboratory and small-scale paddy processing unit
We are planning to establish a soil-testing laboratory which would be managed and maintained by CIKS.  When organic farming is undertaken, the soil undergoes a number of changes, which needs to be systematically documented.  This laboratory would help document these changes.
One of the requirements of certification is that the paddy that is cultivated organically should also be processed organically. We are also planning to establish a community owned small-scale paddy processing unit.

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MARKETING (TOWARDS ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY AND CREATING LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES)

Certification goes a long way towards helping organic farmers find a market for their products. CIKS has adopted Internal Control Systems and gone in for group certification for farmers under this project.

Internal Control Systems

After making a detailed study of the existing certification system and also visiting several certification agencies we decided to adopt Internal Control Systems and go in for group certification for farmers.  We have chosen IMO, Bangalore as our certification agency and have made a contract with them.  The following work has been done in the area of implementation of ICS.

• Resource persons from IMO conducted trainings on group certification and Internal Control Systems for our staff. 
• We have prepared an internal CIKS manual on ICS.
• Detailed records are being maintained for ICS purposes.
• Trainings on ICS have been provided for all the beneficiaries and the beneficiaries also maintain the required records.
• Internal inspections have been conducted by internal inspectors of CIKS. External inspections have been conducted by officials from IMO. 

Creating consumer awareness and establishing marketing supports

• To raise sufficient consumer awareness about organic farming and its benefits we have participated in more than 10 agricultural fairs and meetings during the project period. 
• We have also produced awareness and advocacy material for the promotion of organic farming.
• We were also one of the participants in the seminar and exhibition at the India organic 2007 held in Delhi.
• We have also established organic farmer’s producer’s society in the Thiruvannamalai district.  We have also put several procedures in place for the existing organic farmer’s producer’s societies both in Kanchipuram and Nagapattinam district.  A total of three organic farmers’ producer’s societies are currently active. 
• We have also had several discussions and meetings with auditors, legal experts, CEOs of companies to workout the structure of a company which will be most suited to do this marketing. 
• Our team has also spent a substantial amount of time with a consultant Mr. Kishore  Rao from genus AB associates of Bangalore and have worked out a business plan for the company to be established.  

Monitoring of the programme

• Every fortnight the field coordinators and the programme coordinator meet together and discuss the completed work and make a detailed plan for the next fortnight. 
• Once in 10 days the field workers and the field coordinators meet together for a discussion. 
• Besides the trainings provided all the beneficiaries are met at least once a week by our field workers for troubleshooting.  They are met directly in their fields.

Documentation

• Detailed records of all the activities of the project are maintained by the field coordinators and the programme coordinator.  The farmers also maintain records required for implementation of ICS.  Detailed photo documentation of the activities is also undertaken.   
• We are also in the process of evolving a proper structure for a data base to maintain all records of the farmers. 

Studies undertaken

• CIKS has completed a study on different institutional structures and options available for marketing organic products.  We have also commissioned a study to explore the potential of the organic market and work out a business plan for the CIKS organic products.  
• CIKS has also done some preliminary study on organic marketing potential and certification requirements etc.  A detailed study for Tamil Nadu was also done.
• CIKS had undertaken a small research study on the ways to enhance phosphorus content in organic farming since the addition of phosphorus to the soil organically is a major challenge in organic farming.  This research study was done both in the groundnut and paddy crop.  Different phosphorus enhancing substances like rock phosphate, bone meal, vermicompost were used for experimentation.  Initial results have shown that rock phosphate and bone meal need to be applied in combination with farmyard manure and vermicompost for it to be effective.  We are also in the process of fixing the right concentration and application time.

Experiment on increasing phosphorus content in paddy.

Capacity building of staff

• Our staffs have also visited the Centre for Technology Development, New Delhi Uttaranchal Commodity Board, Dehradun, ICAR New Delhi, ICRISAT, MSSRF and several other institutions to learn about marketing of organic products and get an exposure.  We have also participated in the first International Conference on Organic Certification. 
• In January 2008, a two-day training programme on “Understanding our soil” was conducted for the technical staff of CIKS in Chennai. A total of 20 technical staff attended this training programme. This training programme was coordinated by Dr. Sultan Ismail, Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, New College and Mrs. Dhatchayani, Lecturer, Department of Microbiology,
  Dr. M.G.R. Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women.  Participants were trained on various topics such as Structure and Types of soil, Soil Microbiology, Nutrient cycles and Macroorganisms of soil with major focus on Earth worms.
• In February 2008, a training programme on “Approaches for commercial seed production” was conducted by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Coimbatore. Ten technical staff from CIKS participated in this training programme. Participants were trained on various topics like, production of breeder seed, foundation seed and certified seed production and seed hardening. Participants also visited the Agricultural Research Station at Bhavanisagar to get to know about the various stages involved in the seed production.

Dr.Sultan Ismail consucting a programme on soil science

Preparation of a manual on internal control systems

• Currently, the resource material available for the group certification process using Internal Control Systems (ICS) is mostly material that has come from the west. They are not suited to the Indian situation and also not available in the local language. CIKS had requested a supplementary grant from HIVOS to prepare resource material to suit the Indian condition. Work towards this has started in this phase of the programme in close consultation with farmers. We have had discussions and consultations with farmer groups, NGOs and Certification Agencies. We are in the process of preparing ICS manuals in English and Tamil for use by a large number of farmer groups across the country.

A buffer crop being raised in the paddy field to avoid contamination from a chemical field - an important requirement for certification .

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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR

• The beneficiaries are practicing organic farming in 60 acres of land for the past two years.  Now, the same beneficiaries and some additional farmers are ready to convert 60 acres more of land to organic farming.  Hence a total land holding of about 120 acres would be completely converted to organic. Farmers are extremely satisfied and convinced about the sustainability aspect of organic farming.
• The external input usage was reduced by 80%
• Farmers have decided to do away with all external inputs except for seeds of certain crops in about 60 acres of organic farming land.
• Farmers from the non project villages after having visited these project villages, have converted 16 acres of land to organic farming on their own.
• Farmers have gained knowledge on the nutritional status of the inputs used by them. 
• The pest incidence has come down significantly in most crops except vegetables.

Project in NEWS

• One of the leading Tamil magazines featured the work of one of the project villages in their September issue.
• Six farmers from three villages shared their experiences on organic farming in the farmers programme broadcast by All India Radio, Chennai.