Sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities

NABARD has been closely associated with tribal development through concessional rates of refinance, general line of credit for tribal development agencies such as Girijan Cooperative Corporation, and sustainable livelihoods through orchard based farming systems.  As an integral component of NABARD’s Natural Resource Management policy of providing sustainable livelihoods, NABARD laid special emphasis on providing support for holistic development of tribal communities with orchard cultivation as the core element.

The implementation of comprehensive Adivasi Development Programmes in Gujarat since 1995 and in Maharashtra since 2000 had provided several insights for NABARD in framing strategies for holistic development of tribal regions.  The Adivasi Devlopment Programmes were externally supported by German bank, KfW who have chosen NABARD as Indian partner and project implementation at ground level was taken up by BAIF, one of the renowned non governmental organization in natural resource management sector. 

The central focus of the ADPs is “wadi” (small orchard) together with suitable soil conservation, water resource development measures and other measures for improving the quality of tribal life such as community health & sanitation, women development, institutional development, etc. The wadi model has been acclaimed worldwide as a sustainable and replicable model for poverty alleviation. The project was presented as a successful replicable model for poverty alleviation in the developing countries at the UNDP Forum of Ministers for Poverty and Environment in New York, USA in 1999 as well as at the Global Dialogue in Hanover, Germany.  This project was also exhibited in the “Basic Needs Pavilion” at the Expo-2000, GmbH, Hanover.

A brief overview of the wadi model and the two programmes is provided at the following links

Wadi model

Adivasi Development Programmes

Tribal Development Fund – an ambitious initiative from NABARD

Based on the successful experience of Adivasi Development Programmes, NABARD embarked upon an ambitious program of replicating the wadi model across the country.  In this direction, NABARD created a Tribal Development Fund (TDF) with a corpus of Rs. 50 crore, out of its profits for 2003-04. The corpus has now grown to Rs. 575 crore.  All projects under TDF are implemented by partnering with State Governments, Government of India, NGOs and Corporates, 

• Project design
• Status of implementation
• Positive features in implementation strategy
• Good project interventions

Purpose of TDF

• To promote sustainable participatory livelihood programmes (“Wadi” model and “beyond Wadi approaches”) which inter alia, aim at economic uplift through sustainable agriculture, social empowerment, improvement in quality of life including health and women development, in tribal predominant areas of the country through demonstration projects supported through Non Government Organisations (NGOs)/ Community Based Organisations (CBOs) / GOs. The “Beyond Wadi approaches may include (a) livelihoods based on traditional arts and crafts or agro and forest based activities for illiterate or semi-literate groups, (b) projects harnessing the core competencies of the potential tribes, viz., organic cultivation; indigenous knowledge especially regarding medicinal plants and preparation of medicines; collection, extraction and usage of natural dyes; etc.
• To take up promotional efforts such as capacity building, exposure visits, training,developing literature, sensitization programmes etc. for the benefit of communities, NGOs, SHGs, Panchayats, Bankers and Government Departments.
• To implement sustainable livelihood programmes and similar other relevant initiatives through the state governments. 
• To support promotional activities for micro-credit, promotion of SHGs, Income Generating Activities for land-less, SC / ST communities and other weaker sections of the community and other related activities in conjunction with the livelihood development programme.
• To support activities related to development of tribal market, processing and marketing of products manufactured by tribal families/ communities.
• To support other relevant activities as approved by NABARD.

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Project design
The TDF projects aim to provide sustainable livelihoods to tribal families through orchard based farming systems.  The characteristic features of TDF projects are

• Shift in focus from farmer centric to family centric
• Project size of 500 to 1000 families covering approximately 500 - 1000 acre of orchard plantation in a 2-3 clusters
• Support for one acre per family
• Project duration of 5-7 years.
• The project funding is done on grant/ loan basis or blend of both as found appropriate. Generally, the project cost is met as a grant and it is ensured that the participants contribute at least 25% of the labour component.  To inculcate good credit habits among the participants, a small loan component (around 10% of the project cost) is provided as loan to Project Implementing Agency (PIA) for on lending. The loan period and interest rate for on lending to the project participants would be decided at the time of sanction of the project.

Orchard cultivation as the core component and complementary measures such as soil conservation, water resource development, inter crop, fencing and boundary plantations (forestry species).  While the fruit plants generate income after 4-5 years, the forestry species provide a fence and also act as a shelter belt.
	The species mix planted meets the families’ needs for fuel, fodder and small timbers.  It also helps in reducing the pressure on existing forests. A one acre orchard accommodates around 60 fruit plants (depending on spacing) and 600-800 forestry plants and provides adequate income and livelihood security under climatic vagaries.  In five years, a poor village of 100 families gets converted into an orchard of a 100-150 acre producing hundreds of tonnes of fruits.

Human resource development (community development) and promotion of community based organizations. Women development - A special emphasis is given for involvement of women in all spheres of the programme. The components include drudgery reduction measures, on-farm and non-farm income generating activities and self help groups for inculcating thrift and credit habits.  Community health and sanitation Special strategies for promotion of micro-enterprises for land less people Processing & marketing

Training and capacity building is a very crucial aspect of implementation of TDF projects given the wide variety of activities undertaken and host of processes involved.  At the national level, BAIF is providing the resource support services.  Series of capacity building programs are held at Dhruva for NABARD officers, Senior State Government officials, the project implementing agencies and farmers.  BAIF also undertakes facilitation visits to project sites across the country for providing inputs on technical aspects and operational issues. Other auxillary components to dovetail with above activities.

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Status of implementation of TDF projects

As many as 136 projects have been sanctioned in 22 States, viz., Rajasthan (22), Chattisgarh (16), Andhra Pradesh (20), Orissa (19), Madhya Pradesh (11),  West Bengal (8), Karnataka (6), Assam (3), Bihar (6), Meghalaya (3), Gujarat (3), Mizoram (2), Maharashtra (2), Nagaland (2), Jharkhand (2), Uttar Pradesh (3) and 1 project each in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The projects are targeted to benefit 1.13 lakh tribal families and are being implemented by 90 NGOs.  involving a total TDF assistance of Rs 380.57 crore of which the grant support is Rs. 356.58 and loan is 23.99 crore. These projects would directly benefit about 1.13 lakh tribal families from those states/ UT.  The state wise and district wise number of projects is indicated in
annexure I and II

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Some positive policy developments

• Collaboration with State Govt (West Bengal), Corporates (Chattisgarh. AP,)
• First time projects in Tamilnadu and Andaman & Nicobar islands
• Diversification into other livelihoods such as non farm sector, minor forest produce, etc
• State level resource support organisations
• Decentralization of project sanction to Regional Offices
• Grant support per family upto 40000/-
• Support for families owning less than one acre supplemented by other income generating activities. 
• Support to non tribals inhabiting the project area to the extent of 10% of the targeted project families

Good interventions under NABARD TDF projects

Chattisgarh

Unique identification number for project beneficiaries Balwadis for children of working tribals and upscaling the idea to mid day meal and basic education Adult education Wadi plantation and vegetable cultivation in schools Bathrooms for tribal women Vegetables as intercrops

Orissa

Community sprayers from farmer wages Convergence with govt depts Low cost water purifiers Low cost water lifting devices Routing the payments to Uddhaan vikas committee (village level comm) Federating the UVS Technical collaboration with reputed institutes Identification of project specific nodal officers at the RO Livelihood plans for land less Use of bio pesticides

Andhra Pradesh

Art and culture, community halls as entry point activities Vegetables as inter crops and sale outlets in the nearby towns, brand name and labelling Low cost irrigation structures Maa thota committees – thrift (one year - > 2 lakhs) Payments routed through Maa Thota Committees Facilitation of bank finance for NFS activities Collaboration with Govt departments Exposure visits sponsored by Hort dept Onsite training by Hort department Vegetable seed kits from hort/agri depts Energisation of pumpsets by tribal dept Jungle clearance and land levelling by tribal dept Bore wells by tribal dept Publicity measures Documentation -  project annual reports

What is “Wadi” ?

The “Wadi” model of tribal development is holistic in approach addressing production, processing and marketing of the produce and also other needs. The core of the programme is “Wadi” and other development interventions are built around “Wadi”.  The “Wadi”' in Gujarati means a  'small orchard' covering one or two acres.  The ‘‘Wadi’’ as an effective tool for tribal development evolved gradually out of two decades of concerted efforts made by BAIF in Vansda (Gujarat).  The “Wadi” may be of mango or cashew or amla or any fruit crop suitable to the area or a combination of these tree crops, with forestry species on the periphery of the land holdings.  Two or more tree crops are selected in the ‘‘Wadi’’ model to minimize the climatic, biological and marketing risks. Tribal families having less than 5 acre land is given 1 acre wadi each for raising 60 fruit plants suitable to local area and 600 forestry plants on the boundary.

Other development interventions in the areas of environment, gender and health viz., soil conservation in the wadis, water resource development, agriculture development, women development, health are woven around the wadi. 

Water resources development: Even though the programme area receives an annual rainfall of 2500 mm, because of steep slopes and rocky terrain, water retention is poor resulting in severe soil erosion and nutrient loss. As existing water resources are not sufficient to irrigate ‘‘Wadi’’ plots, run off water is harvested through construction of temporary check bunds across river streams and development ofperennial springs.  The spring water is used for drinking as well as irrigation purposes. Pot drip irrigation is provided for the fruit plants in the initial 3 years of plantation as protective irrigation. 

Soil conservation measures viz., bunding, tree platforms, the combination of these two and trench-cum-bund based on field level requirements have been introduced from the first year. The participants are paid for the soil conservation and plantation work done by them in their fields.

Health Programme : Some of the basic problems faced by the tribal families are related to malnutrition, illness and inaccessibility to health care. Community health programme focuses on mother and child health care (MCH) as well as primary and preventive health care.  The participants are educated on sanitation and hygiene. The local youth, especially women, called Village Health Guides (VHG) are trained in diagnosis and treatment of common illness and serious cases are referred to appropriate facilities.

Women Development: There has been an increased emphasis on women’s participation in the programme.  The major activities taken up are promotion of SHGs, income generation activities, drudgery reduction along with awareness generation about reproductive health and development aspects.

The income generating activities included fruit and forest plant nurseries, vegetable cultivation, produce collection, papad making, vermi composting etc. In order  to reduce drudgery of  women, three major activities are taken up in the field. They are smokeless stoves, use of bearings in the traditional grinding stones and pedal thresher for paddy. 

Support to Landless:Besides the land holding families, the programme has supported landless by providing micro-enterprises in farm and non-farm sectors and employment opportunities in processing units.

Processing and Marketing: The programme has been designed to ensure assured market and remunerative prices for the wadi related produce. Decentralised processing facilities for cashew and mango are established under the cooperative fold with two levels viz., village and cooperative (central). This has facilitated creation of employment opportunities for landless tribal families in the project area and also ensured appropriate price for the farm produce, by providing captive market for the raw material and better returns through value addition.

Adivasi Development Programmes in Gujarat and Maharashtra

Programme Area

The "Wadi" programme sponsored by Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau(KfW), Germany is under implementation in in two states:
Gujarat since 1995:  Valsad (Dharampur & Kaprada blocks) and Dangs Maharashtra since 2000:  Nasik (Peint, Triambak & Surgana blocks) and Thane (Mokhada block). Since 2007 another Wadi Programme has been launched in Dangs and Valsad districts of Gujarat named as ADPG - Phase 2 with the financial assistance from KFW Germany.

Programme Partners

Under the bilateral cooperation between Government of Germany and Government of India, MoEA, GoI acts as a regulatory and linkage body between donor and receiver countries. The development partners in wadi programme and their respective role are described as below:

1. Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau(KfW), a Development Bank of Germany is providing grant support of Euro 36.00 million (Rs.173 crore) for a period of 10 years for each programme in Gujarat and Maharashtra. 
2. NABARD is responsible for channelising funds, coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
3. DHRUVA for Gujarat / Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas MITTRA for Maharashtra  - the principal implementing agencies supported by BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune.

Village Ayojana Samitis (VAS - People's Organisations) are executing the programme at village level.

Programme Funding

The programme is supported by a grant assistance of Rs. 130.00 crore by a German development bank viz., Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau(KfW). The core wadi and other components are supported with grant assistance. A unique feature of the funding mechanism is blending of grant with credit not only to ensure participants’ stake and involvement in the programme, but also for self -reliance of the participants.As the programme progressed with ‘‘Wadi’’ establishment and income generating activities, loan assistance is given to the tribal participants to support income generating activities, micro enterprises, water resources development and other emergent needs under Alternative Credit Delivery System in far flung unbanked areas. This innovative credit programme is being implemented through NGO, peoples’ organisations and SHGs.  

Programme Achievements

In these two states, over 25,800 tribal families have been brought under the programme and an area of around 24,000 acre, spread over 356 villages has been brought under 'wadis' of cashew and mango (and also amla in Maharashtra) alongwith boundary plantation of fuel wood and fodder species.  Production has already started in the Gujarat programme with around 300 MT of cashew and 500 MT of mango, which has been instrumental in establishing 10 village level processing units providing perennial employment to 180 landless tribal people, mostly of which are women. Ten tribal co-operative societies have also been registered to facilitate the continuation of the programme once the external support is withdrawn. A shift in cropping pattern towards commercial crops has resulted in generating regular income. This has helped in developing saving habits through SHGs and has led to reduced dependence on moneylenders. 

Sr. No.	Particulars	Gujarat		Maharashtra
		Phase 1	Phase 2
1	Programme area launched	Valsad & Dangs	Valsad & Dangs	Nasik & Thane
2	Launched in	1995	2007	2000
3	Target [tribal families]	10000	4700	12000
4	Participant families [Achievement]	12896	--	13848
5	Area brought under wadi	12732	--	12293

The programme has completed 14 years in Gujarat and 9 years in Maharashtra. In this short span, it has made significant socio-economic and ecological impact. The programme has been recognized by national and international agencies for the change it has brought about in the lives of tribal families. Arresting migration and soil and water erosion are the major benefits derived so far. Other major achievements are:

• “Wadis” spread over 25,000 acre on the private land of 26,744 families have been established. These lands considered as wastelands and non-productive assets, have become productive and sustainable assets.
• The availability of protective irrigation through water resources development has increased cropping intensity. A shift in cropping pattern towards commercial crops such as vegetables and pulses has resulted in generating regular income.
• The production of vermicomposting and NADEP compost and emphasis on bio-pesticides in the programme have opened up avenues for production of organically grown produce.
• Seasonal migration has been reduced to a great extent as ‘‘Wadi’’ provides year round employment opportunities to tribal families. This has also resulted in increased attendance in schools.
• The production of around 350 MT of cashew and 500 MT of mango has opened up avenues for processing activities.
• There is a substantial rise in employment opportunities for landless in procuring and marketing of farm produce and processing of cashew and mango as well as other income generating activities in non-farm sector.
• The health programme has reduced the incidences of infectious diseases in the area and has improved health and sanitation in the villages.
• The successful functioning of VASs and SHGs has developed confidence among the participants in asset and fund management.
• SHG movement has provided voice to tribal women and brought out their entrepreneurial skills which is demonstrated by the micro enterprises and income generating activities such as nursery management, vermicomposting etc. undertaken by them.
• Initiation of informal credit delivery system (credit through VASs and SHGs) has increased access of tribals to credit for income generation. It has inculcated saving and repayment habits.
• Non-participant families have started adopting the ‘‘Wadi’’ model in the programme area.

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Status of implementation

State wise project sanctions

S.No	State	No of Projects	No of Families	Total Outlay	Govt/NGO Contribution		Grant	Loan	Total support
					Govt	NGO
1	Andhra Pradesh	20	15448	6438.57	0	30.97	5319.08	286.39	5605.47
2	Bihar	6	6430	3211.40	31.14	0	2359.42	142.00	2501.42
3	Chattisgarh	16	12500	4888.68	0	118.44	4043.37	237.37	4280.74
4	Jharkhand	2	2000	876.38	0	0	753.26	56.03	809.29
5	Madhya Pradesh	11	10209	3924.06	320.98	7.00	3138.21	130.17	3268.37
6	Manipur	1	500	199.58	0	8.00	173.44	18.14	191.58
7	Meghalaya	3	1500	546.25	35.14	0	458.87	17.57	476.44
8	Mizoram	2	1000	369.72	0	0	336.11	33.61	369.72
9	Nagaland	3	1650	605.88	0	0	500.98	15.00	515.98
10	Orissa	19	17433	7217.10	0	0	6128.97	398.62	6527.59
11	Rajasthan	22	20734	7718.30	0	7.79	6104.45	571.75	6676.20
12	Tamil Nadu	1	916	361.57	0	0	288.77	0.00	288.77
13	West Bengal	8	5750	2549.43	918.64	0	1305.54	137.89	1443.43
14	Karnataka	6	5770	1970.37	0	0	1765.83	106.41	1872.24
15	Arunachal Pradesh	1	500	143.95	0	4.12	126.74	13.09	139.83
16	Gujarat	3	3150	882.78	0	0	618.93	55.00	673.93
17	Uttarkhand	1	900	290.17	0	0	260.73	29.44	290.17
18	Assam	3	1500	531.87	0	0	474.05	40.10	514.14
19	Maharashtra	2	2150	760.68	0	197.29	460.36	30.00	490.36
20	Uttar Pradesh	3	2550	893.19	0	0	756.42	51.97	808.39
21	Dadar Nagar Haveli	1	800	312.69	0	0	284.26	28.43	312.69
22	Andaman and Nicobar	1	318	96.46	4.38	0	78.66	6.45	85.11
23	Bee keeping (in two states)	1		11.68	0	0	11.67	0.00	11.67
	Total	136	113708	44800.76	1310.28	373.61	35748.12	2405.41	38153.53

 

TDF - District wise projects
S.No	State	District	No of projects	Total
1	Andhra Pradesh	Srikakulam	3
		Visakhapatnam	4
		East Godavari	1
		West Godavari	2
		Guntur	1
		Prakasam	1
		Chittoor	3
		Mahabubnagar	1
		Warangal	1
		Adilabad	1
		Khammam	2	20
2	Chattisgarh	Raigarh	3
		Bastar	1
		Raipur	1
		Jashpur	1
		Korba	2
		Kawardha	1
		Dhamtari	1
		Sarguja	1
		Rajnandgaon	1
		Mahasamund	2
		Kanker	1
		Bilaspur	1	16
3	Dadra and Nagar Haveli	Mandani	1	1
4	Jharkhand	West Singhbhum	1
		Ranchi	1	2
5	Madhya Pradesh	Jhabua	2
		Mandla	3
		Barhanpur	1
		Sagar	1
		Chindwara	1
		Betul	1
		Ratlam	2	11
6	Manipur	tamenglong	1	1
7	Meghalaya	Ri Bhoi	1
		West Khasi Hills	1
		West Garo Hills	1	3
8	Orissa	Mayurbhanj	3
		Malkangiri	1
		Kandhmal	2
		Rayagada	1
		Nuapada	1
		Gajapati	1
		Keonjhar	2
		Sambalpur	1
		Sundargarh	2
		Kalahandi	2
		Koraput	1
		Nayagarh	2	19
9	Rajasthan	Udaipur	4
		Dungarpur	6
		Banswara	9
		Chittorgarh	1
		Pratapgarh	2	22
10	West Bengal	Purulia	2
		Bankara	2
		West Medinipur	1
		Birbhum	1
		Jalpaiguri	2	8
11	Karnataka	Tumkur	1
		Chamarajanagar	1
		Chikkabellapur	1
		Mysore	1
		Raichur	1
		Chitradurg	1	6
12	Mizoram	Sinlung Hills Dev Council	1
		Mamit	1	2
13	Arunachal Pradesh	Lower Dibang Valley	1	1
14	Gujarat	Panchamahal	1
		Dahod	2
		Valsad	1	4
15	Uttarakhand	US Nagar	1	1
16	Assam	Karbi Anglong	2
		Cachar	1	3
17	Bihar	Jamui	3
		Bankara	2
		Munger	1	6
18	Maharashtra	Pune	2	2
19	Nagaland	Tuensang	1
		Peren	1
		Dimapur	1	3
20	Uttar Pradesh	Lalitpur	1
		Jhansi	1
		Bahraich	1	3
21	Tamilnadu	Krishnagiri	1	1
22	Andaman& Nicobar	Little andaman	1	1
			136	136