Page 16 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2022-23
P. 16
14 Rural Transformation Reliance Foundation | Annual Report 2022-23 15
Expanding
reach through
strategic
partnerships
Strengthening crop through seed drills, mechanized paddy transplanting, the way ahead as well as policy recommendations on sold in value added form, thus helping farmers gain a
value chains for small etc., have been introduced. the functioning of FPOs. The proceedings also better share of the millets value chain.
and marginal farmers During the year, Reliance Foundation has also been addressed themes of sustainability, leadership structures Bringing greater efficiency to paddy
working with more than 121 farmer collectives, building and gender roles. Ultimately, the conference focused cultivation in Telangana
their capabilities, linking them to markets as well as on purpose of FPOs and how they can be bolstered
Integrated Value Chain helping them improve governance and compliance. moving forward in a national context. Paddy cultivation is typically a laborious process,
Development (IVCD) These farmer collectives have transacted with more Reliance Foundation’s experiences in working with and farmers in Kamareddy district of Telangana were
than 60,800 farmers, for nearly INR 112 crore. On an finding it increasingly cumbersome to continue
Reliance Foundation, through its BIJ programme, average, farmers received over 12% better market FPOs through the years was translated into five key physically transplanting paddy because of the
strives to improve market returns by strengthening returns as compared to the local market. learnings for the development sector. The stakeholder expenditure involved as well as the difficulties involved
crop value chains for the benefit of small and marginal engagement provided an opportunity for robust in hiring workers on time.
farmers. Through systematic interventions on In October, Reliance Foundation in partnership with discussions on how these learnings can help the sector
increasing crop productivity and facilitating market NAB Foundation, hosted a roundtable titled ‘Journey contribute to national priorities. RF-BIJ addressed the concerns of these farmers
access post-harvest it also encourages farmers to move of FPOs: Successes, Learnings and Way Forward,’ to through introducing mechanized paddy transplanting
up the value chain. bring together the leading voices in the FPO space on Promoting Cultivation and which completed the job that normally took
a single platform, to reflect on the FPO journey thus Consumption of Millets in Mandla, MP 2-3 days in a few hours and at a fraction of cost.
In FY 2022-23, the RF-BIJ programme worked in far and consider the key challenges that the sector The machine was an instant hit with the farmers
22 value chains across 24 districts. To help farmers continues to face. Leading to the International Year of Millets in 2023, and three farmer entrepreneurs were encouraged by
achieve higher productivity, better farming practices Reliance Foundation initiated a project to promote RF to buy these machines and provide services to
and technological interventions were introduced in To watch the video, please scan cultivation and consumption of millets in Mandla, other farmers on a custom hiring basis. In the Kharif
more than 16,200 hectares of agricultural land. Madhya Pradesh, for improving climate resilience of season of 2022-23, these farmers provided custom
Better farming practices include introduction of Over 80 delegates attended the event, including tribal farmers in the region. With an aim to make paddy transplanting services for nearly 250 farmers,
improved varieties of crops such as soybean, representatives from the academia, private sector, millet farming more remunerative and less and the demand for their services keeps growing.
mustard, wheat, chickpeas, turmeric, etc. In the FPOs, government and development organisations. labor-intensive, this project proposes to adopt an Playing a catalytic role, Reliance Foundation has
area of technological intervention, farm The event consisted of panel sessions in which the ‘Integrated Value Chain’ approach to improve farm introduced a more precision-based planting system,
mechanization, viz. mechanized spraying through panellists focused on current status of the FPO productivity of minor millets, reduce drudgery in helped develop a self-sustaining model and also led to
drones, boom sprayers, etc., and mechanized sowing ecosystem and reflected on the purpose, challenges, cultivation and also focus on processing of millets to be creation of employment.
