Rural Cooperative Retail Marketing Chain

(Rural Cooperative Retail Marketing chain) “MARKET LINKED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION & TRANSPORTATION, GOATRY and rearing of MITHUN” FOR BACKWARD VILLAGES TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY OF NAGALAND(A Pilot Project) : 

(Rural Cooperative Retail Marketing chain) “MARKET LINKED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION & TRANSPORTATION, GOATRY and rearing of MITHUN” FOR BACKWARD VILLAGES TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY OF NAGALAND(A Pilot Project)

Goal : 

Goal Provide a stimulating boost for agricultural products and transportation, Goatry and rearing of Mithun to facilities in backward rural areas with the aim of generating income and employment and accelerate the economy of Nagaland.

Objectives : 

Objectives To help accelerate the state economy through boosting agricultural production & rearing of Goatry/ Mithun in the rural areas. To facilitate the marketing of the agricultural products through building a direct link to markets in towns and cities on the one hand, and to link remote villages to fair price essential commodities through the two way service truck. To take up a research study to help planning & accelerate rural economy in Nagaland.

Action Strategies : 

Action Strategies Establishment of 4 fair price shops in 2 villages (Chungtor and Chimonger). Transportation facility to connect rural communities with whole-seller of essential commodities and Link city markets for sale of Agricultural produce. Rearing Goats/ Mithun and transporting it to consumer markets. Establish livelihoods for 20 most deserving youth and 50 families by rearing Mithun from the two villages. The selection process will include setting up a joint screening committee comprised of the VDB, the women society, Church board, Village Council, the student organisation and the NGO staff. The proposal includes staffing for the project, coordination, monitoring and evaluation activities. Being a pilot project, the project will seek to achieve concrete targets in such a way that this program will be replicated in other areas.

Area of Coverage and Target Population : 

Area of Coverage and Target Population Chimonger and Chungtor are two strategic villages having an area of about 50 thousand hactres of green pasture land. In Chungtor there are about 2200 population and in Chimonger, the largest Sangtam village has a population of about 5000.

Problem statement : 

Problem statement The rural- urban divide in the state is very sharp, the rural areas are subjected to intense deprivation and neglect. The gaps between the haves and the have-nots are ever widening. The state needs to take immediate steps to address this ever widening gap and go for an inclusive development agenda. The rural people should become the agenda for providing services and welfare measures.

Project Activity Components : 

Project Activity Components Activity 1. Purchase of truck One of the most inhibiting and debilitating constraint for improving rural economy is the absence of markets to sell farm products especially to transport them to towns and cities where the price will be commensurate with production cost. Purchase of 1000 goats as (seed) and 50 Mithun (Seed) The absence of transport also constraint in procuring essential food items etc. The vehicle will be administered by the facilitating NGO till the SHGs have the capacity to become fully independent. Income accrued from the vehicle will become corpus/ revolving fund, to help sustain the project. Result for activity 1: Within 2 months of the commencement of the project the truck will be purchased and the operational aspects will be fixed. Group formation will be completed in the first month and basic management skills will be already given to the group members. All systems will be developed and used within the first 2 months of the commencement of the project, with regular staff as required. The green pastures for the Mithuns and the Goats are identified with the help of the Village authority. All registers and documentation process will be started and timely reporting is achieved as per any MOU.

Activity: 2 : 

Activity: 2 4 fair price shops will be opened in 2 villages initially where the mini truck will bring provisions and from where the truck will also carry away any agro-based products which the farmers want to disposed of. Such items will be carried to the towns and supply to retailers. The market prices will be controlled by the SHG groups who are engaged in such activities. Result for activity 2: Two each fair price shops are established in the two villages, the shops are operational already. At least two SHGs each are formed in each villages and basic saving ideas and group activities are taken up within the first 2 months.

Activity 3 : 

Activity 3 Side by side the farmers can then cultivate income yielding crops, that are marketable. The main thrust will be to encourage the cultivation of crops that are famous in of that particular place. Result for activity 3: Training on cash crop plantations and basic of marketing management shall be imparted to the villages so that they own up the process and take interest in their own growth & development. Productions and marketing takes place within the first 6 months.

Activity 4 : 

Activity 4 The project includes a survey to help build up sustainable livelihoods for the rural people. This being a Pilot Project, the need assessment is very important to come up with suitable R&D strategies to establish sustainable livelihood processes. This will also help intense intervention plans for the people of the area. Result of Activity-4: Come up with well documented report to upscale the project and replicate the same to other parts of the state.

Implementation schedule : 

Implementation schedule The present project is for duration of 12 months. (1st September 2009 till August 2010) After the project is sanctioned within September 2009, the MOU can be signed. Implementation scheduling will be done in October 2009. (Operational Plans) All purchases and infrastructure will be completed in October. Activities like training shall be completed within November. A mid term evaluation will take place in February 2010. The first reporting will be done in March 2010 A half yearly joint review will be done in March end during which the research findings will be tabled and joint planning for next phase shall be planned. End evaluation will be done in August 2010, together with donors, reference groups and the implementing NGO. (case studies, impact assessment as well as needs assessment will be done within August 2010)

SUSTAINABILITY : 

SUSTAINABILITY The process once owned and appreciated by the community themselves will become institutionalized and ensure sustainable. The whole of this initiative aims at starting the development process which is owned and institutionalized in the villages. This pilot project shall set the example for all other subsequent initiatives and interventions. Hence this is a phase where we insist to assure transparency, accountability and uncompromising quality outcome. This will become the measuring tape for the dedication of the implementing NGO. We wish to see a gigantic movement for the development of the people of this backward area and we hasten to assure our unstinted co-operation to produce replicable models in the outcomes and results. It will enhance Public Private Partnership programs.

Thank you (Sethrichem Sangtam) Secretary Better Life Foundation (BeLiF) Regd. No. 786/09Ph: +91-9862 571 900. Email: belif.admin@gmail.com : 

Thank you (Sethrichem Sangtam) Secretary Better Life Foundation (BeLiF) Regd. No. 786/09Ph: +91-9862 571 900. Email: belif.admin@gmail.com