HEG: Transforming India
Our Implementation partner, Global Vikas Trust is a not-for-profit organization into nation-building projects with a mission to Transform India in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, participatory governance and the environment. One of our renowned projects is the Global Parli project, a movement to transform India through Rural Economic Transformation. It was started by Mayank Gandhi with a focused goal of increasing annual farmer incomes to a minimum of Rs.1 lakh per acre (present annual income of farmers across the nation is annually between 10,000 to 20,000 per acre). Since 2016, Global Parli has been working on grassroots projects with a focused goal of transforming India.
We have effectively increased farmer earnings from Rs. 10,000-20,000 per acre to between Rs. 1,00,000 and 2,00,000 per acre through our ‘Proof of Concept'. This was first witnessed in over 106 villages across the Parli Taluka, which is located in Marathwada's drought - prone area. We've accomplished the following in the last few years:
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2016 - Global Parli supplied 1.54 crore litre of water.
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2017 - Global Parli initiated 360-degree development including reforms in education via e-learning, healthcare, sports, capacity building, clean energy, going towards less cash etc
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2018 - We created a water capacity of 222 crore litres. This included deepening and widening of Paapnashi river 70 km long, creating 162 farm ponds, 64 dams & 606 watersheds. Saved 880 Cr Rs. on water tankers
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2019 - Global Parli planted 1.2 million fruit trees in Marathwada, Maharashtra
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2020 - Global Parli planted 2 million fruit trees in Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh
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2021 - Global Parli aims to plant 7 million fruit trees and increase farmer incomes to at least 1 Lakh rupees per acre, per annum with a focus on marketing, forward linkage, training, expansion and Institutionalization.
What we did in 2020?
In 2020, as a part of replicating the project, HEG and GVT team began working in 4 districts of Madhya Pradesh i.e. Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore and Bhopal. We undertook the challenge to work for the farmers in Madhya Pradesh and elevate their incomes to at least 1 lakh per acre by using remunerative crop instead of traditional cropping pattern. As soon as we initiated our project in Madhya Pradesh the nationwide lockdown took place.
Although the setback caused by the pandemic did plunge the rural economy, our team, however, have not given up the hope of serving the nation with their proactive participation. To overcome this situation we decided to introduce new and innovative techniques to mobilize among the farmers such as, using social media campaigns for targeted outreach, Launch of comprehensive guidebook, online capacity building sessions, use of technology to simplify and digitalize mobilization as well as calling and planning online farmers meet.
Despite this challenge we planted around 2.54 lakh trees covering more than 700 farmers. Creating awareness of remunerative crops such as Papaya, Guava, Lemon, Custard Apple, Mango, Orange and Sweet Lime in the region where traditional cropping used to take place on a large scale. Farmers in these regions are now being motivated to adapt this new cropping pattern.
Fruiting & other challenges of 2020 plantation
Fruit sapling was a challenge to grow in Raisen, Vidisha, and other areas of Madhya Pradesh due to excessive heat in the summer and cold in winter. Not just that, but the Locust (Tiddi) attack had a major impact on these areas. These insects destroyed the saplings that had been planted.
Despite this, our field staff and the team of experts worked tirelessly to resolve the situation and find a solution. We gave free medicines to farmers. Our staff put in long hours and conducted surveys on a regular basis, staying in contact with the farmers and assisting them in every way possible.
After months of hard work, most of our fields are now seeing fruiting on their plants. Other fields have reached an advanced flowering stage and fruiting likely to begin in those by the next 2 months. All of the hard work, efforts, and long hours are now paying off. As a precautionary measure, we offered crop covers to farmers this year, based on previous experience.
Since the production is expected soon. With the help of our partners team has already began market survey and has started contacting buyers, exporters etc for ensuring that the buyers are connected with the sellers. Once the produce has been sold at the market, a dedicated calling team and on-the-ground team conduct a survey to record the rate and other market information. As previously said, each crop ripens at a different time and under various conditions. There are crops that have up to nine cycles of fruition, and some fruits require at least three to four years to mature. Thus, accordingly crop wise the final income is tracked from farmer to farmer.
Beginning of 2021 plantation and fruits
Our team has set some massive goals for 2021 and is working hard to accomplish them. Despite the challenges of previous year the Global Raisen team decided to plant 7.5 lac fruit trees in Madhya Pradesh. However, the second wave of Covid again impacted our ground operations. But despite the challenges as of June, 2021, the entire Madhya Pradesh team successfully booked 20 lakh fruit tree plantations. Pic 2
Introduction of Burhanpur as a new Banana cluster
This year, we've expanded and included Burhanpur as a new banana cluster. Following our preliminary survey, we decided to work with Burhanpur farmers and assist them in every manner we could. Starting with the best tissue culture plants, which are given at a 75 percent subsidized rate, technical assistance, capacity building workshops, and so forth.
Institutionalization
As we work towards replicating and scaling up our model, we must simultaneously work on institutionalizing the process too. A step in that direction was taken as we met with below policy makers:
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Sanjay Singh, Secretary ICAR.
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Ministry of Agriculture - Narendra Tomar (Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture)
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Ministry of Agriculture- Sanjay Agarwal (IAS), Secretary
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Ministry of Shipping and Fertilizers- Hon’ble Mansukh Mandaviya
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Director - General Food and Transport supplies Lt. General Manoj Yadav, Indian Army.
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Collector of Burhanpur - Mr. Praveen Singh (IAS)
We discussed how this movement has changed people's lives in Parli and the urgent need to establish holistic development models so that the agriculture industry may reach its full potential and contribute to the country's economy while also benefiting farmers.