Case Study Report on Promoting Coconut Based Agro ... - APFED

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trees is slowly gaining acceptance. Few coconut wood processing units are presently functioning in the block. With literacy of 93 per cent, the people are responsive to innovation in the production sector and are conscious of the importance of adapting such practices that are concessive to the growth of the community without impairing the quality of environment. The conservation and efficient utilization of the locally available organic sources of nutrients and soil ameliorant has not yet become popular among the farmers. This has resulted in the wastage of potential plant nutrient sources and atmospheric pollution. Similarly coconut farmers have not exposed to the concept and practice of green farming for wider adoption as a viable and sustainable farming system. To address these issue Peekay Tree Crop Foundation initiated project entitled “Promoting Coconut-Based Agro-Ecosystem and Efficient Product Utilization for augmenting on-farm income, improving quality of environment and conserving natural resources” in Pattanakkad block during 2004-2009 through the financial assistance from UNDP-GEF-SGP scheme. To achieve project objective, Project Implementing Agency (PIA) followed some strategy and they are growing multi species cropping in coconut farming with medicinally impotent tree species, promoting livestock integrated farming, encouraging eco-friendly coconut biomass waste utilization, supplying improved tools and equipments, capacity building and women empowerment through participatory approach. 3. Research objectives: This research was undertaken to identify the successful strategies adapted by the Project Implanting Agency in promoting coconut based agro-ecosystem and efficient product utilization for augmenting on farm income, improving quality of environment and conserving natural resources. This case study also assessed the benefits of people participation and capacity building program on off-farm income. People perception on the efficiency and effectiveness of implanting this project was also assessed in this paper. 4. Methodology: Generating adequate data on Integration, waste utilisation and socio-economical items of the block before the treatment is the crucial component of any impact evaluation. Since, sufficient benchmark data was not available before implementing the project in
espect to Pattanakkad block; it was decided to adopt a participatory approach of data/information collection. The information was generated based on observations during the field visits, observations monitored during the project and after the project, sample surveys and discussions with different stakeholders in the project area including individual household, farm clubs, charitable society, coconut product processing units and staffs of the project. Random sampling was adopted for different items / components, among 4 villages, Aroor, Vayala, Pattanakkad and kodamthurth were selected for the survey to represent south and north eastern radius of the Pattanakkad block. 5. Findings: The survey conducted in four villages namely Arror, Vayalar, Pattanakka and kodamthuruth of Pattanakkad Block, Kerala presents the integrated farming practices such as growing of multi species crop, livestock maintenance and waste biomass utilization at the household level as well as community level. Socio-economic benefits such as livelihood and income generation from the current farming practices and biomass utilization were also explored. And finally, the impact of participatory approach and capacity building to empower women community and Project sustainability was assessed. 5.1 Promoting integrated ecological farming system To create multiple sources of food, income and employment from unit land holdings under coconut farm, Peekay Tree Crop Foundation successfully demonstrated integrated ecological farming system in small and marginal landholders covers 395 hectares and total number of households benefited was 2150 (PIA, <strong>Report</strong> 2009). All farmers in the study area are holding a small piece of land with an area of 0.01 to 0.4 ha. During field visit we found that farmers adapted various combinations of integrated farming system and the same were depicted in Table 1, the detail plant and animal species name are listed in Annexure 1. The Pie chart (fig. 3) describes that; all farmers participated and benefited more of less equally by adapting different combination of integrations. From the field observation it was also noticed that introduction of different combinations of integrated farming systems helps in increase in soil moisture, improving the quality of local environment and strengthen on farm biodiversity. Introducing
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