Vermi-composting has the potential to transform the farm-women as environmental conservationists. The unfelt needs in understanding the innate benefits of using vermin-compost in the fields were un-freezed in Jorhat District of Assam through Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach. The farmers especially farmwomen are in forefront in practicing and propagating the production and utilization of vermin-compost among the fellow farmwomen in their area of surroundings.
Public Private Partnership
Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA) has taken up a project on Public Private Partnership for gender mainstreaming in agriculture on network mode with six partners spanning over entire country. Assam Agricultural University (AAU) undertook an action model of PPP for producing vermin-compost involving both public and private players. Department of Home Science Extension under AAU implemented the model on Promotion of organic farming through PPP mode in 20 villages of four blocks in Jorhat district during 2011-2012. The project team of AAU led by Dr. Manju Dutta Das, P & H of Home Science Extension identified both public & private partners, conducted stakeholders meeting and finalized the model.
Background
In Jorhat region, application of chemical fertilizers was perceived to result in poor quality of farm produce especially in small tea gardens. Alternatively, organic method of crop cultivation was suggested to overcome the constraints of small scale farmers by researchers and extension agents. However, there was no initiative from any of the agencies to motivate the large number of small producers to go for organic method of cultivation.
Initiation of the Project
The network partner viz Department of Home Science Extension identified partners of the project based on their continuous field activities in Jorhat district. The department conducted a stakeholders meeting in March.2011 in which the public partners such as College of Home Science, District Rural Development Agency and private partners such as District Level Rural Development Society (NGO) and farmers groups participated and actively engaged in interaction. Later, the felt needs of farmers groups were identified based on which series of training were organized on vermicomposting production for groups of farm men and women.
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Original link :https://icar-ciwa.org.in
