ETC CONSULTANTS INDIA PVT LTD.,
'SRINIVASA', 2nd floor, C2, Site 2 & 3, Yadhava Farm,
New RBI Layout, Chunchaghatta,
Bangalore - 560 062, India
Phone: +0091-(0)80-26638112/26638120
Fax: +0091-80-26583471
Email: etcind@bgl.vsnl.net.in
 




PTD Kerala Project

SDC/IC in the state of Kerala is working with several NGOs on natural resource management issues. ETC India was requested to support the NGOs in developing PTD program in their NRM activities. ETC India has provided backstopping support to the IC Kerala PTD NGO network since the start of the PTD program in the year 2000 for 10 NGOs.

ETC initiated the PTD process with a consultative workshop with NGO staff, identifying the main crops, problems therein and the farmer - research gap. The need for doing systematic experimentation on various key problems in cultivation of main crops faced by the farmers emerged. This initial phase therefore, focused on training the NGOs in steps of PTD and particularly selection of farmers, problem analysis in main crops, Searching for options together with farmers, scientists, experts and literature.
The NGOs work in different parts of Kerala where the main crops are pepper, cardamom, paddy and banana.

After selection of farmers, crops, problem analysis, identification of experts, possible solution to try out (developed by experts and farmers) by the respective NGOs, June 2001 onwards PTD experiments were laid out in the field with the participation of the farmers. The NGOs also identified local technical expert from the Research Stations, Government Extension agencies, independent experts. Since the farmers were not organized, social organization of the farmers was also given focus. Thus, the first year support was training the NGO staff in major PTD steps, viz.
 

  1. Selection of geographical area.

  2. General problem analysis of the main crops in the area.

  3. Selection of farmers.

  4. Problem analysis with the farmer groups.

  5. Social organization of the farmers and facilitation by NGOs.

  6. Finding out possible solution for the problems identified by the farmers together with technical experts and scientists.


7   Experimental design.
8   Monitoring and data collection.
9   Data processing and data analysis.
10 Evaluation of results by the
     farmers.
11  Farmers Scientist interactive
     workshop for sharing of results and
     searching for new options.


In the second year, June 2002 – 2003, ETC scaled down its support to the program in order to give more responsibility to the NGO network. The backstopping support was mainly for the issues identified at the May 2002 workshop. The issues were 

  1. Experimental design.

  2. Data collection, analysis and evaluation.

  3. Master farmer.

  4. Scaling up.

Field support was given for the above first two issues. Overall program support was provided through the quarterly review meetings. 

In all the PTD crops, technologies for major problems identified soil fertility and pest and disease management has been developed. In some NGOs, the emphasis was on organic management. Farmers have learned from each other and scientists through various interactions at network level. The NGOs facilitated the knowledge empowerment of the farmers in an intensive manner. Scaling up of technology was seen as the need of

In the third year, ETC support could be organized only from January 2004 as SDC/IC Kerala was in transition to new Phase. A detailed planning was done along with Ms. Jane Carter and Mr. Sebastian from SDC/IC and Mr. Dilip Chinnakonda and Mr. Mans Lanting from ETC based on the planning sessions with NGOs between June and December 2003.

The focus for third year onwards now is on scaling up, master farmer training, manual development and linkage development with scientific institutions.



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