Pragati, Koraput

Pragati Koraput is taking the initiative to establish Producer Groups at the village level, which are then integrated into Producer Cooperatives. This structure empowers them to access crucial services, information, and markets through both backward and forward linkages. Collaborative efforts enhance members' bargaining power, allowing for risk and cost-sharing. In areas like Koraput, where farmers are dispersed across challenging geographical terrain and face difficulties in transportation and communication, the importance of such organizations becomes even more pronounced.
Currently, four Producer Cooperatives have been established in Nandapur, Koraput, and Kotpad block areas. Among these, two Cooperatives are exclusively comprised of women farmers, while the other two have mixed memberships. Anchalika Bahumukhi Samabaya Samiti, Ltd., a Cooperative Society established in Nandapur Block, boasts 1685 members and an annual turnover of INR 27,25,934.

Forest ecosystems not only serve as habitats and sources of sustenance for a significant portion of the indigenous population in Koraput district, where 50.66% of the residents belong to scheduled tribes, but indigenous communities also play a crucial role in the preservation and sustainable management of these ecosystems. However, their legal rights to natural resources remain ambiguous. Furthermore, the classification of indigenous territories as state-owned forest lands has historically led to conflicts between indigenous communities and government authorities.
Since 1994, Pragati Koraput has been actively engaged in promoting community forest conservation and management through the establishment of Village Forest Committees, which are subsequently organized at the Panchayat and Block levels. At the district level, the Federation known as Koraput Jilla Banabasi Sangha (KJBS) encompasses 1,274 villages across 14 blocks within Koraput District.

Pragati Koraput has initiated the implementation of Diversion Based Irrigation, employing gravity flow irrigation, solar water pumping systems, and Hydro Rams. These systems provide essential irrigation for rain-fed crops and support the year-round cultivation of off-season vegetables. Community engagement has played a crucial role in this endeavour, with local residents actively contributing to earthwork for pipeline installation.
User groups have been established to take ownership of the process, manage water usage, and generate funds for the future maintenance and repair of these vital infrastructure developments.

Pipe-based irrigation utilizes the force of gravity to direct water from nearby streams and rivers to agricultural fields. The system comprises a low barrier (weir) or embankment built across the water source to raise and divert water. A network of pipes is then employed to convey the water to the agricultural fields. These irrigation structures have been implemented in 47 villages, providing irrigation for 995 acres of land collectively owned by 1,266 farmers.

Pragati Koraput has taken the initiative to promote cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar pump set irrigation. This approach involves the installation of solar panels and a pump set to lift water from perennial streams or other water sources. It has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of solar irrigation systems in four villages, namely Sukriput, Dayanidhiguda, Mangra, and Lunging. These systems now provide irrigation for 77 acres of land owned by 70 farmers, enabling year-round crop cultivation.

Pragati Koraput has played a pivotal role in empowering communities to access, govern, and oversee their natural resources. This has been achieved through capacity-building initiatives within these communities, practical demonstrations of soil and water conservation techniques, and the establishment of irrigation infrastructure. These combined efforts have significantly boosted land utilization, crop productivity, and crop diversity, ultimately leading to an overall enhancement of the livelihoods of the rural population.

The management of forests has long been a critical issue concerning rural livelihoods and environmental well-being. Amidst widespread deforestation and a rapid decline in forest cover in Koraput, it is noteworthy that many local communities have taken the initiative to protect and regenerate degraded forest patches. Pragati Koraput embarked on its journey by mobilizing communities to protect forests in a single Gram Panchayat, and this initiative has since expanded to cover the entire district.
At the village level, Village Forest Committees have been established, which are then federated at the Panchayat and Block levels. Additionally, the formation of the Koraput Jilla Banabasi Sangha at the district level ensures the oversight of conservation efforts throughout the district.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), originally developed for irrigated paddy production, has been extended to rain-fed regions in Koraput to enhance unirrigated rice production. This transformative approach, which began with just 11 small farmers in Kharif 2006, has now been adopted by an impressive 11,443 farmers in Koraput District.
The dissemination of SRI technology is accomplished through a variety of means, including video presentations, skills training, the development of a cadre of service providers, practical demonstrations, the provision of essential inputs, and recognition of successful farmers. SRI has substantially boosted productivity, contributing to the food security of small and marginal farmers. These smallholders continue to adhere to SRI principles due to its cost-effectiveness in terms of input and water requirements.

Despite the inherent advantages, finger millet production has been overlooked, traditional landraces are declining, and its share in the food supply is diminishing.
Enhanced cultivation practices for finger millet have the potential to increase production and income for small-scale farmers, especially since finger millet is increasingly finding its place on urban dinner tables. Pragati introduced an Intensification method for finger millet in 2010, initially involving five farmers in the process.

The vegetable sector in Koraput holds significant growth potential, yet its progress is hampered by factors such as low productivity, limited irrigation, insufficient storage infrastructure, and inefficient market connections. Pragati has taken steps to address these challenges by encouraging organic vegetable cultivation and the establishment of kitchen gardens. This intervention yields multiple benefits, including heightened household consumption of fresh produce, increased income for farmers, and improved soil health through the application of organic fertilizers.
These efforts have encompassed various initiatives, such as organizing training sessions for farmers, establishing model farms, creating irrigation facilities, providing essential inputs, promoting producer groups, and facilitating cooperatives for collective farming and enhanced market access.

Pragati has been championing Digital Green technology across 195 villages in four blocks of Koraput District. This technology disseminates targeted agricultural information to small-scale and marginal farmers in the region through video presentations. The video content is tailored to local conditions, covering aspects such as crops, climate, farming practices, and indigenous knowledge. The result has been an increased adoption of improved farming practices and a reduction in investment costs.
Local service providers are instrumental in this process, using Pico Projectors to screen the videos in small groups. These providers play a critical role in pausing or repeating content, maintaining records, encouraging audience discussion, and capturing valuable feedback.

Pragati Koraput, in collaboration with the District Administration, has been hosting District-level Annual Women Conventions since 2009. The aim is to foster the collective strength of women, create an environment for mutual learning from best practices and idea exchange, acknowledge women's contributions to societal well-being, and celebrate their accomplishments alongside them.
To date, six District-level Women Conventions have been organized, each bringing together approximately 1,000 women from across the district. These events provide a valuable platform for cross-learning and experience sharing among women from various parts of the district. They enable women's voices to be heard at the district level and in front of state and national policymakers. The conventions facilitate interactions with state-level representatives, including the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, the Governor of Odisha, Members of Parliament and state legislatures, social activists, government officials.

Women are integral to every facet of agriculture, from enriching the soil to the harvest and preservation of seeds for the next crop. However, they are often relegated to the roles of 'farmwives' or farm laborers rather than being recognized as farmers in their own right. They face barriers to accessing information, institutional credit, and extension services that would enable them to enhance their skills and expertise. Furthermore, with the advent of the Green Revolution, women have become vulnerable to health hazards stemming from the harmful effects of chemical farming.
In this context, Pragati Koraput is dedicated to empowering women farmers. This empowerment involves enhancing their skills in eco-friendly farming practices and strengthening their organizations to foster improved production and collective marketing efforts.

Women's groups have emerged as a vibrant and articulate constituency, uniting women to collaborate beyond mere thrift and credit activities. These groups are committed to fostering the comprehensive development of their members in social, political, and economic domains. They have played a crucial role in reducing the vulnerability of impoverished women by creating assets, generating income, offering emergency support, and elevating their self-esteem and knowledge.
Pragati’s efforts have revolved around organizing women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Producer Groups, and their Cooperatives, facilitating their integration with Panchayats and Blocks. This has heightened their awareness of social and political issues, leading to increased mobility and a reduction in the traditional seclusion of women. Simultaneously, it has contributed to household economies, bolstered their bargaining power within the household, and significantly decreased their dependence on men.

The accelerating degradation of the environment has its most profound impact on children and youngsters. They represent the next generation of water consumers and environmental custodians within households and communities. Their ability to coexist harmoniously with nature and effectively manage and preserve local water, air, and land resources is of utmost importance.
To transform them into effective agents of change, avenues must be available for translating their knowledge into advocacy and action. Recognizing that schools provide an ideal platform for enhancing children's environmental awareness, Pragati Koraput has initiated interventions with School Children's Cabinets focused on climate change awareness.

The vast majority of rural residents rely on local ecosystems to sustain their livelihoods. Rain-fed agriculture has been and will remain the primary source of staple food production for most of the rural population in Koraput. These communities are currently grappling with the challenges posed by fluctuations in rainfall, and predictions regarding the effects of climate change indicate that this variability is likely to intensify. Over the past decade, there has been a recurring pattern of droughts and flash floods, which disrupt agriculture, ultimately leading to food insecurity and an increase in poverty among rural residents.
Given this context, Pragati Koraput has actively promoted climate-smart agriculture and climate-resilient cropping systems. These efforts aim to empower the rural poor to adapt to the effects of climate change.

A significant portion of the rural population in Koraput relies on fossil fuels like kerosene and diesel for home lighting and irrigation, as well as firewood for cooking. These fuel-based practices for lighting, irrigation, and cooking result in the release of toxic smoke and carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and climate change, and posing serious health risks, particularly to women and infants. Considering these challenges, Pragati Koraput is actively involved in promoting the use of solar energy for home lighting, irrigation, and cooking, offering clean energy solutions to rural residents while simultaneously addressing the broader issue of climate change. Transitioning from solid fuels to cleaner energy sources like solar power holds the potential for the most significant reduction in indoor air pollution levels while mitigating the environmental impacts of energy consumption.

While natural disasters have a devastating impact on those who experience them, the rural poor are particularly vulnerable due to their poverty, limited awareness, and lack of coping mechanisms. In this context, it is essential for communities to be prepared to withstand disasters, and initiatives for risk reduction must be in place to safeguard both livelihoods and lives in the event of a natural catastrophe.
Over the past decade, the communities in the intervention areas have endured three prolonged dry spells leading to drought-like conditions, three flash floods accompanied by landslides, and one cyclone. To enhance the resilience of these communities in the face of such challenges, Pragati Koraput has taken action to promote disaster preparedness and reduce disaster risks. This includes implementing land and water management practices, empowering communities to access institutional and technical resources, and enabling them to respond effectively to emergencies when they occur.