Thematic Development Areas -
To address the problems
of difficult regions across
the country and those
regions having their
unique set of problems,
theme-based Centres
have been established
in desert, fragile hilly and
remote tribal regions and
in emerging sectors such
as hospitality and tourismbased
livelihood.
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Centre for
Development in Desert/
Arid Areas:
Focussing on the arid
regions of Rapar,
Kutchh district in Gujarat
and Barmer district of
Rajasthan with a core
grant support from DST,
Government of India,
suitable technologies
such as cultivation of
drought tolerant fruit, vegetable, foodgrain
and forage crops such
as ber, date palm,
pomegranate, khejari and
guggul, conservation of
water resources through
technologies such as
tanka and well re-charge
and promotion of good
livestock husbandry
practices through
introduction of suitable
goat breeds such as
Sindhi, Khader and
Marwadi breeds, are the
major activities to improve
the local livelihood.
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Centre for Development in Fragile Hill Areas:
Centre is focussing on the
development of Kumaon
and Garhwal regions of
Uttarakhand. Innovative
water conservation
measures, agri-hortiforestry,
vegetable
production in greenhouse,
dairy husbandry and
poultry are becoming
popular among local
communities because of
direct economic benefits
and efficient backward
and forward linkages. For
designing a suitable socioeconomic
development
strategy for this region of Mid-west Himalayas, a
workshop was organised
in collaboration with
the Department of
Biotechnology and
Department of Science
and Technology,
Government of India,
which has given new
clues for future action.
The Experts identified
the following as the most
appropriate programmes
for providing sustainable
livelihood for the local
communities in the
mountainous eco-system.
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Resource Centre for Tribal Development:
With a focus on
betterment of tribal
families, studies on
emerging challenges
and opportunities for
forest resource-based
produce such as lac,
tassar and honey in tribal
clusters of Central India.
Activities such as Nontimber
forest producebased
livelihood, farm
diversification options,
tribal heritage agriculture
systems and Forest
Rights' Act and community
claim settlement were
undertaken. Various
local specific income
generation activities
such as high-value
vegetable production
in low-cost bamboo
greenhouse, floriculture,
dairy husbandry and
innovative feeding
practices for poultry have
also been introduced.
Nutritional security is
being addressed through
enrichment of backyard
gardens with perennial
vegetables, cultivation
of strawberries and
high value vegetables,
conservation of paddy,
millets, tubers, wild
vegetables, promotion
of non-timber forest products such as tassar
silk, palmyra palm,
mahua (Madhuca indica),
charoli, lac farming, gum
cultivation, aromatic grass
such as lemon grass and
rosha, water chestnut
cultivation and inland
fishery. |
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Centre for livelihoods through provision of
innovative hospitality services for tourists:
This Centre has
developed communitybased
tribal tourist
centres in Jawhar
cluster of Maharashtra
and at Dadra-Nagar
Haveli region, operated
by community groups.
Services include authentic
tribal cuisine, tribal culture,
craft and festival, tourist
guide and revival of traditional food through
food counters known as
Nahari on tourist routes,
thereby providing off-farm
income opportunities.
These initiatives have helped in creating financial security and stability for the participating communities while ensuring recognition for their rich, quaint culture and traditions and appreciation of their harmonious co-existence with nature. They have generated suitable opportunities for gainful employment for the tribals and tribal communities in their own settings without any displacement, and ensured conservation of tribal diversity, culture and traditional innovative skills. Capacity building of local service providers, identifying and packaging innovative services for the benefit of tourists, marketing of innovative products and services and Institution building for management of tourism enterprises are some of the expected outcomes.
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"Come….stay…learn…and… experience…the beauty of nature, the tribal way of living, rich culture, useful traditions and more importantly, tribal hospitality.....! This is the fervent appeal of the members of Kalmandavi, Jawhar, a Tourism Committee formed under the Community-led tourism activities Project promoted by BAIF in Maharashtra, South Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. This is a holiday package which is different from those marketed on glossy travel brochures. Managed by locals belonging largely to the Kukana, Kolcha and Warli tribes, the initiative in Kelichapada village of Jawhar block in Thane district of Maharashtra, has demonstrated how responsible tourism can create a window of opportunity for locals while giving outsiders a peep into their traditional culture.
Jawhar is a typical tribal town. The region is blessed with natural beauty and a vibrant, unique, tribal culture. It also has an advantage due to its proximity to Mumbai, Nasik, Vapi Pune and Thane. The hospitality service was launched four years ago when BAIF decided to respond to the growing trend of tourism in rural and tribal areas as it felt that it had potential to contribute to the livelihoods of the local communities. This realisation was translated into action by BAIF through the Thematic Centre, "Centre for promotion of livelihoods through provision of innovative hospitality services by communities" which is being implemented in selected project locations.
BAIF helped the community members to identify and develop themselves to be able to provide various useful services for tourists and to organise themselves into a committee which will manage the tourism service provision enterprise.
Today, the members of the Kalmandavi Tourism Committee manage all the activities independently which involves tourist bookings, boarding and lodging and entertainment. Visitors and tourists are warmly welcomed. They are then taken on an extensive tour which comprises of a visit to the wadi (promotion of agri-horti-forestry on drylands and degraded unproductive lands, resulting into productive orchards of mango, cashew and other fruit crops), accompanied by trained guides, nearest waterfall, trekking or visit to any of the local sightseeing spots in Jawhar town such as the Jai Vilas Palace. Some who wish to experience the true rural scenario, can wade into nearby paddy fields to view crop cutting and ploughing. Visitors can also follow a trail to a tribal village and learn warli painting from a master craftsman. Also on offer are delectable traditional tribal cuisine, a glimpse of local tribal culture and dance performances and living in a tribal hamlet.
For further details, please contact any of the following:
Dr. Rajashree Joshi
BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune
Telephone No. 020-25231661 25231663-7
Mobile No. 09822843108
Mr. Bharat Bhonsale
BAIF-Jawhar Amrai Training Campus
Telephone No. 02520-222093
Mobile No. 09422574041
Goraksh Bhor
Kalmandavi Paryatan Seva Samiti – Kelichapada, Jawhar
Mobile No. 09730765387
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Kauncha village near Silvasa in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar-Haveli, is another tribal cluster which has been developed as a hospitality centre by the enterprising tribal community who comprise the members of the local tourism committee. This scenic place is becoming a popular tourist destination.
Apart from offering various experiences in tribal living, culture and traditions, setting up of indigenous food corners by tribal women along the highways in South Gujarat is another example of innovative service provided by tribal communities. These roadside food outlets provide delicious ethnic tribal cuisine made from traditional cereals, pulses and vegetables such as finger millet, lentil, traditional chillies, wild tubers and seasonal forest foods. Tourists and visitors to these food counters, receive an unique opportunity to taste authentic tribal preparations throughout the year at reasonable prices.
The impact of this initiative so far, supports the possibility of developing newer development directions in response to the changing context, for the long-term benefit of tribal and rural communities.
Kauncha Tourism Centre
For further details, please contact any of the following:
Dr. Rajashree Joshi
BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune
Telephone No. 020-25231661 25231663-7
Mobile No. 09822843108
Rama Bhoye / Sudam Bhoye / Mahendra Bagul
BAIF–Dhruva, South Gujarat and Dadra Nagar Haveli Eco-tourism Site
Mobile No. 07600048919
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Cluster Based Approach -
Sustainable livelihood
through transfer of
appropriate technologies
for holistic development
in backward regions, was
promoted in 74 villages in
10 clusters of 5 backward
districts of Maharashtra
including selected clusters
in 3 districts of Vidarbha
through the Sustainable
Rural Livelihood Security
in Backward Districts
of Maharashtra under
the National Agricultural
Innovation Project (NAIP),
sponsored by ICAR.
BAIF as a consortium
leader introduced
various interventions
with focus on value chain
development, which
enabled 13,000 small
farmers to enhance their
income, ensuring food
security and better quality
of life. The integrated
farm development model
comprising of improved
agriculture and water
resource development
practices, increased the cropping intensity by 49%.
1122 ha were brought
under improved crop
varieties and 828 ha under
irrigation, resulting in
rise in net income by Rs.
27,500 per ha, benefitting
5546 families. Linseed
growers have been
motivated to cultivate
improved varieties,
processing for Omega-3
oil for a nutraceutical,
useful for treating many
diseases.
Livestock breed
improvement resulted in
production of high yielding
cattle and buffaloes at the
doorsteps of the small
farmers while installation of bulk milk coolers
resulted in the processing
of nearly 4,000 litres of
milk per day, benefitting
500 milk producers in
the project area. Value
chain on tassar silk has
led to production of
disease free layings and
superior quality cocoons,
generating employment
of 90 to 120 days per
annum. 162 families in
Etapalli block of Gadchiroli
earned supplementary
income of Rs. 8000 per
annum from this activity.
A Sustainability Fund
has been created from
people's contribution, to
maintain the facilities.
This model has shown
potential for wider
replication in the state.
For more details, please click here
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The Landscape Approach -
To converge the wadi
programme with various
on-going development
programmes, Landscape
Development Approach
has been evolved. This
approach focvusses
on integrated planning
and implementation of
diverse interventions by
the local community, to
address development
problems at the village
level and to ensure
efficient and optimum
utilisation of financial
resources.
This pilot project was
implemented from 2007
to 2013 in Amboshi in
Dharampur block of
Valsad district and Sarvar
in Dangs district of south
Gujarat.
Significant achievements
have been made
through this approach to
undertake soil and water
conservation, develop
wadi, introduce high
value crops, optimize
crop yields, promote
livestock development,
afforestation, micro enterprises,
community
health and sanitation
measures. Progress
has been recorded
through convergence
of participatory village
development plans
(PVDP) which is a unique
model for holistic village
development.
The methodology has
been documented in
"Landscape Approach
for Integrated Rural
Development", a book
published by BAIF.
The Landscape Approach (LA) focusses on integrated development-planning and implementation at the catchment level. LA is integrated planning and implementation of diverse interventions by the local community, to address development problems at the village level and to ensure proper and maximum utilization of financial resources available from various sources.
This pilot project is being implemented since 2007 upto 2013 in 11 villages in Amboshi in Dharampur block of Valsad district and Sarvar in Dangs tehsil of Dangs district of south Gujarat.
Significant achievement have been made through soil and water conservation, wadi, improved and commercial agriculture, livestock development, afforestation, enterprise promotion, community health and sanitation measures. Progress has been recorded through convergence and use of participatory village development plans (PVDP) which is a unique model for holistic village development.
A document titled Landscape Approach for sustainable development highlights the output of a project to pilot a "Landscape approach" for rural development, initiated by BAIF and its Associate Organisation, DHRUVA, with support from the German Development Bank - KfW, through NABARD and describes the salient features of this approach and its observed impact till September 30, 2010.
For more details, please click here |
National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) -As a Consortium Leader of the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP),
Component 3 of ICAR, BAIF is implementing the Sustainable Rural Livelihood Security Project in 10 backward
village clusters in Nandurbar, Ahmednagar, Yeotmal, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra with
Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Maharashtra Animal and Fishery
Sciences University, Hedgewar Sewa Samiti and Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune as Consortium Partners to develop an
approach for improving the livelihood in backward districts. This multidisciplinary programme covering water
resource development, improved agricultural practices, tree-based farming, tasar silk production,
livestock development, and empowerment of women, benefitted 10,000 participants from 76 villages.
Capacity building of people's organisations has enabled them to organise bulk procurement of critical
inputs, collection and marketing of agricultural inputs including milk.
There has been a significant boost to linseed growers as the project promoted disease resistant high yielding varieties.
To develop value chain of linseed, BAIF is implementing another innovative
project with a buy back arrangement to process the seeds into Omega 3 rich nutraceutical in partnership with PDKV
and BVU.
Value Chain for Linseed - Processing and Value Addition for Profitability
Sustainable Rural Livelihood Security in Backward Districts of Maharashtra
For further details please visit http://baifnaip.org.in/
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