PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE PERIO April 2002 to March 2003

During the year, MYRADA ISPWD-K's Operational Guidelines, Monitoring & Evaluation documents were finalized and adopted by the Village Development Societies, Watershed Management Committees, and at the Project level. Video documentation of focus area processes was carried out. An Exchange Forum was conducted on the theme of Common Property Resources at Kodli, involving all NGOs partners, PSMU, Donor Agency representatives and invitees from the Forest Department. 

This Project, which operates in Chincholi Taluk of Gulbarga District, is supported by the Swiss Development Co-operation. A team of 13 staff is working on this Project. 

Capacity Building For Staff and Communities

32 training programmes were conducted in the current year in which a total of 130 men and 370 women participated. Some of the topics covered were :

• Gender in sustainable agriculture facilitated by AME, Raichur and conducted over a period of 5 days. 

• Technical training on Soil and Water Conservation Structures for community resource persons and staff facilitated by PIDOW-Myrada project and WOTR, Ahmednagar.

• Exposure was organized to Molakalmur KAWAD Project, to get more clarity on institutional arrangement aspects and mobilizing local investments.

• Gender sensitization workshop facilitated by HID Forum organized by PSMU. 

•  Two Gram Sabhas were conducted on measurement systems for watershed structures and rate finalization for each unit of work.

•  An orientation programme was conducted on the Resource Centre concept.

• There were also training programmes and review meetings on book-keeping, integrated pest and nutrient management, etc.

Watershed Development

On the 800 ha. planned for development on watershed basis, work started only in January 2003 as the lands were cropped till then and harvests had to be completed. Besides, establishing watershed institutions and implementation arrangements also took time.

Agriculture Production

Focus was on the introduction of selected and appropriate sustainable agricultural practices based on the principles of
(i) Eco-friendly interventions.
(ii) Respect for traditional knowledge systems and practices Agriculture-Man-Ecology (AME) Raichur provided technical inputs. Redgram (tur) which is the main crop in the area was chosen to demonstrate the practices. Demonstration plots were selected in Kanchanal and Sugur K villages. 40 farmers of these two villages are the members of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) that meet weekly. They have analysed and updated traditional knowledge through discussions, and have taken decisions such as to commit to the use of bio-pesticide to control pests on Tur crop.

Integrated Nutrient Management

The traditional practice of putting up field bunds with residual stalk of red gram was promoted to the extent of 50,000 running feet. These bunds control erosion and are later ploughed back into the fields when the stalks have decomposed.

Livelihood Promotion

An important project component is to create livelihood options for landless families who have no sustained benefit from watershed activities. With the involvement of BASIX-Hyderabad, a study was conducted with community involvement to assess the types of activities that could be supported. Based on the findings, the Village Development Societies are supporting various enterprises like carpentry, blacksmithy, wool weaving, etc.

Community Actions

4 Village Development Societies engaged themselves with the Project to revive 10 drinking water wells which helped to meet a major need in the concerned villages. 

Local Level Institutions

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW COMMITTEE (PIRC):

Based on the recommendations of a mid-term review, a PIRC has been constituted for the purposes of monitoring project progress towards the achievement of project goals and objectives as well as reviewing budgetary allocations and expenditures. All the VDSs and WMCs were oriented on this concept and the PIRC has been constituted with 2 male and 2 female representatives from each VDS/WMC. In addition, there are 2 representatives from Myrada and 1 from the PSMU (donor agency unit). 11 meetings have been held so far, with field visits made between meetings. Discussions have focused on fixing of rates for various works and solving conflicts that emerge during the execution of works.

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation

Planning was completed for 800 ha. For watershed development.. All 4 VDSs and WMCs participated in the process. Monitoring and Evaluation formats were introduced to the VDS/WMSs and they were oriented on how to maintain them. The recommendations of the Joint Project Review exercise were taken into account in the planning of activities as well as in the design of the monitoring and evaluation tools.

Documentation

The following documents were developed on the Project for wider sharing with others :

• Seed concept case study.

• Photo album on project activities .

• Video on implementation processes .

• Video on CPR Exchange Forum .

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