Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Bahraich is famous for agricultural products like pulses, wheat, rice, corn, sugar, and mustard. Different varieties of mangoes, medicinal and herbal plants like Tulsi, Peppermint are grown here. Bahraich also has a Galla Mandi (Grain Market) which is second biggest Grain Market in Uttar Pradesh. All this makes Bahraich ideal for farm based enterprises.

Activity

Improved farming Techniques and sustainable agri practices in Risia block of Bahraich district, UP. The identified 150 SHG members were already familiar with agriculture operations and only needed proper training and exposure for taking up high value agricultural operations. Therefore, an LEDP with grant assistance of Rs.6.95 lakh was sanctioned to Trust Community Livelihoods (TCL), the implementing agency. 

Nature of Intervention

Intensive training of 07 days was provided in 05 separate batches by resource persons from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahraich. The training included basic technical know-how of practices such as varietal replacement, line method of sowing, inter-cropping, seed treatment, shade net nurseries and low tunnel poly-houses, recycling of organic waste and soil enrichment techniques, field demonstration and practice sessions. After the basic training, one Community Resource Person (CRP) was identified in each of the five gram panchayats to set up demonstration units and provide full-time practical guidance.

Additional training was provided to CRPs through KVK and National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), Deoria and District Horticulture department. A warehouse in the block has been taken on rent for undertaking bulk procurement of quality inputs. Members under the LEDP project also installed solar pumps of 3 HP. Total bank loan of Rs.7 lakh was availed by 14 SHG members for this project besides Rs.5 lakh from TATA Trust.

The Impact

SHG members engaged in vegetable, chilli, banana, moringa and onion cultivation, etc. are supplying to local vendors. SHG members who have set up shade-net nurseries are selling healthy and disease free seedlings and saplings to other farmers locally. Income and production has more than doubled and the quality of life has also improved significantly. These project beneficiaries are now keen to diversify and expand their business by undertaking processing activities so as to produce snacks/pop-corn, etc. 

Critical Determinants 

• Experience and expertise of the implementing agency
• Selection of activities which could be easily adopted
• Convergence of financial assistance and technical support from Allahabad UP Gramin Bank, Tata Trust, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bahraich, Line Departments of the State Govt., etc.

Source : Creating Livelihoods, Changing Lives