RevITALISING RAINFED SOILS

1. RevITALISING RAINFED SOILS THEMATIC NODE - Chetna Organic / FFID

2. A.1. Project overview • Project period – September 2012 to August 2013 (8 months completed now) • Previous year’s engagement – On stand-alone pilots • Main objectives of the current project – • Provide models of systemic alternatives to overarching design and implementation/reach of current soil fertility improvement interventions • Demonstrate the required paradigm shift as ‘proof of concept’ in CP locations on large-scale/saturation-targeted using Government schemes and funds • Innovate on the processes and investmentstructures for ensuring adoption of soil interventions

3. Human resources deployment

4. a.2. CONTEXT of soil Node’s work • A. General picture • Problem analysis: • Soil Productivity declining; • Fertilisers as the only option (without conjunctive use of organic matter) for soil productivity improvement despite their negative impacts economically and ecologically; • Rainfed soils are marginalized; No special focus by public research and extension institutions • Appropriate technologies (bulky organic matter) not considered despite huge research evidence;

5. a.2. CONTEXT of soil Node’s work • B. Field level (with CPs) • Baseline assessment: • Through typological comparative assessments, Rainfed soils receive too little inputs; Crop productivities are relatively smaller • Except FYM there are no other interventions on organic mater addition [exceptions CIKS (cattle penning) and SPS (NADEP composting, tank silt)]. • Soil Productivity Improvement methods are minimal - reasons being lack of awareness, no access to appropriate resources, no public support to address the issues • Implications on the programme • Rainfed soils occupying Larger area with Lesser crop productivities • Soils becoming unproductive and thereby affecting farmers livelihoods

6. a.3. strategies and approach • [Since the initiation of project period, the strategies and plans have been dynamically evolving and have stabilized since December] • Strategies • Taking forward earlier efforts of 10 modules… • Packaging them into generic and location-specific interventions • Biomass based manure in rainfed soils and Green manuring in low lands/irrigated soils • Tank silt application in light soils • Liquid manures at individual level and enterprise level • Need based legume intercropping • Building a case/experience on the possibility of generating organic matter addition for 100 acres in each CP using biomass • Situational analysis of the typologies with soils perspective • Importance to the processes being adopted 10 ways of soil fertility improvement Improve quality and quantity of FYM/compost Biomass based manure generation Green manures and cropping systems Concentrated manures Soil amendments Livestock penning Supplements Biofertilisers Liquid manures Mulching and tillage

7. a.3. strategies and approach – first year Current Fertiliser use assessment in CPs as against recommendations and appropriate action plan Generate Perspective Plans on soil productivity improvement using Government’ schemes and funds – GP level Knowledge management – trainings, review of literature, training resources, etc. Advocacy – generating evidence and perspectives appropriate technologies and supports CP Locations WASSAN RRA-M –N ACT AKRSP CIKS VSK IDF SPS

8. B. 2 activities – status, reasons & learnings • Activities done so far • General • Consultations with experts and institutions (CRIDA) • Inter-nodal collaborations - (ALC and ResRA) • (Review articles) • Long-term soil health monitoring (CRIDA) • Soils proposal at GP level – Perspective plans • Trained resource persons • Communication- soils page on website Activities done so far CPs Field visits (twice) and trainings to staff Documentation and Communication tools on soil productivity action Visits to CP level local public agencies for campaigning and resource support Intensive trainings to CP project persons Handholding on the activities - on-site trainings

9. B. 2 activities – status, reasons & learnings • Yet to start: • Write-shop on successful experiences on soil productivity management • Draft on rainfed soils policy • Meta-analysis – studies on models based on organic matter addition to soils • Did not happen (as yet) • Topics for Research studies have been roughly identified but did not go forward. Clarity on priorities… and need for intensive inputs – will be revisited • 12th FYP perspective on soils • Networking with researchers and practitioners – will happen through write-shop

10. B. 6 results • The results of the interventions in CPs can be quantified by July end. • Enhanced knowledge on soils management to the stakeholders • Explored the public sector avenues for supporting soil interventions • Association with experts and institutions

11. B. 7 Key risks and asssumptions • Soils interventions - suitable avenues majorly from Rural Development’s MGNREGA – so, much dependency on the scheme for Soil Node’s Interventions • Our non-integration into its program cycle • Changes in MGNREGA program strategies • Lack of appropriate interventions getting into those plans • Lack of rapport with GPs, District level agencies, etc

12. Status of soil related milestones agreed by cp - Status as on 1st May 2013

13. Institutional Arrangement and Support Systems • Inputs and support from RRA Network/ Secretariat • In the overall guidance on strategy along with other nodes • Facilitation help • Inputs and support from Thematic Nodes • ResRA – Listed out areas of study; Worked out indicators; working on internship/SRF for analysis work on soil health monitoring • ALC – Worked out on important formal and non-formal institutes with their specific supports suitable for interventions we are working • Contribution of the TN to the RRA Network Building • Malkangiri district program • OD exercises of RRAN • Planning exercises with other Thematic Nodes • As support person to one CP (CIKS) • Promoting RRA with Agri Director, Odisha

14. Reflections • New things in the last year – • CP approach – TN advantage • Emphasis on bulky manure – process oriented rather than technology • Layer, scale and convergence – satisfactory as per the targets • Confidence on RRA FW on programmatic action • Need to facilitate formation of advisory committees for nodes is required (mix of tech and social researchers) • At RRA-N, need for documenting strategies and suggestive blueprints for each node / CP • Confidence on RRA FW on institutional approach • Need for intensive coordination between TNs and CPs; and within CPs • Advocacy oriented engagement (rather than delivery-orientation) required at CP level • Reflections on institutional arrangements – • Action in this regard is evolving in consultation with ALC

15. Status of new proposal • Not yet initiated, but will be submitted around Mid-July • A. Contours of the new proposal • Majorly will be based on the learnings from the first year. Emphasis to bring visibility to the work done in the first year – Workshops, publications, Videos, etc • Intensification and expansion of interventions and coverage (HHs and GPs) • Engagement with targeted components of MGNREGA • Emphasis on integration of calendar of activities with MGREGA program cycle • Refining the interventions after taking feedback from each location • For eg., In Biomass based manure, targeting the cut in duration of composting period will reduce the need for moisture and other management activities (Can be achieved by shredding the material; using biological cultures, etc)

16. Status of new proposal • B. Continuation • HR deployed + Hiring MGNREGA expertise • C. Modifications • Systematizing Soil Health Monitoring engagement • D. Dropping • From Soil Node, dropping of review and training workshops for CPs. Integration with secretariat activities for the same. • E. Addition • Soil Expert committee management (Individuals and Institutions like IISS and CRIDA)