Sustainable Agriculture Impact of the Project:

Impact of the Project:

1. Near Darimalli Village a pipe Aqueduct and 65 acres of land was brought in to cultivation.

2. A Check dam was constructed near Naidumalli village on Sunam Cheruvu under which 35 farmers got benefited .

3. A Form pond was formed near Darimalli and Sant;hamalli villages because of which 8 acres of land benefited

4. Under Afforestation, Dry land Horticulture and agro horticulture 18520 plants were distributed.

5. Stone Gully Plugs of about 160 cum in volume were constructed to stop soil erosion and protection to pineapple, turmeric and cashew plants.

In Kusimi village a diversion drain (retaining wall) was constructed as a result 27 acres of land got benefited.

6. About 14809 cum Water Absorption Trenches in foothills were formed to check the soil erosion. This has helped to grow cashew, turmeric and pineapple.

In sloppy lands, Continuous Contour trenches were formed 3624 cum in volume.These help checking soil erosion and recharge the ground water and keep the moisture available to the plants.

7. Stone bunds have been constructed about 2852 cum in volume across the hill slopes to check soil erosion.They helped in good crop returns from cashew, pineapple, turmeric papaya, ginger, tamarind, banana cultivated on the hill slopes.

8. The floods in the last year have resulted into a large depression in the soil in the down slope of Pamuguda CheckDam ;and it was stopping the water flow to the lands of Kusumiguda, Kusumi, Patruniguda, Santhamalli, Darimalli, Naidumalli, Masalaguda villages. The farmers have experienced losses in crop yields. Over flow weir has given solution to the problem of salutation of lands up to 2 acres . Now the water gets stagnated in the tank.

9.. The tank renovation work done about 14888 cum for Mallamma Cheruvu, Sunnam Cheruvu, Pamugadda Cheruvu, Malli Cheruvu has resulted into increase in the capacity of tanks.This helped in getting 270 acres of land into cultivation.

10. The waste lands were cleared, farm bunds were strengthen (14289 cum), land leveling was done to the 82 acres f wasted lands in Santhamnalli, Darimalli and Chilagam villages. Farmers started cultivating pigeon pea, maize, horse gram finger millet and vegetables in these lands.

11. In Kusumi area, there was around 70 acres of titled land. But the records were lying with ITDA and people lacked information about their lands. ARTS has facilitated sub division of the land and assigned it to the tribal people for cultivation. People started planting cashew and other crops in these lands. The project has facilitated titles for 35 acres of land for 20 families in the same area.
12. Due to high migrations in the project area there were many school drop out children in the area. Due to employment creation in the watershed area, people started returning their villages. Around 36 such children were identified and joined in the Child Labour School run by ARTS.

13. In Chilagam watershed area, because of the availability of 15870 person days for 350 people migration has been checked to some extent. An amount of Rs.1054733 was spent in the project towards this.

14. The capacity of the tanks were increased due to renovation of tanks and it resulted in increase of ground water level. The tube wells also shown remarked difference in water levels. The condition is favorable for jute processing and aqua culture .
15. In around 50 ha of land crop diversity has been practiced which can improve the soil health.
Group organization.Poverty needs

Sustainable Agriculture

In the Chilagam watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice in a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures).

These issues are being explained to the community.The following issues were discussed in these meetings.
• WDF works •
Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.• Village level problems• Land pattas and land issues• Conduction of the Girijana Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee. • Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.• Land development• Cashew processing unit• Cashew processing and making of adda leaf plates trainings• NREGS works• Meetings with KVK ATMA team• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.

Promotion of women & child Rights by facilitating Women’s day,

ARTS has brought many changes in the lives of tribal children living in Sikakulam and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh state in India. Action Aid has been working here with local organization ARTS since 2001 and thanks to your support that we have been able to improve the quality of poor Tribal people’s lives so that they could live with respect and dignity and able to raise their voices to access their rights.

In this update we want to share with some of our successes and achievement over the past years. ARTS is working in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts with 6493 tribal families living in 165 villages for the past 9 years. Our main aim has been to strengthen the community and enable them to get enough food and resources for a livelihood.

The major emphasis is on food security & livelihood through land, forest land rights & governance, women and child development. Thanks to your extended support. These successes and more were only possible because of your sponsorship of a child. On behalf of children, families and their communities I thank you for your generosity and support to our work in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Featuring the futures Education: ARTS started its work in the interior tribal villages where community not aware of education and not sending their children to school.

There were government schools in the area but people were not aware of the admission system. 268 Children were regularized to join in schools and out of this 6 members have got Govt Jobs in various departments. With the intervention of ARTS, there was change in the lives of children either through providing mid day meals in the schools, to retain the children in schoolsFeaturing the futures Education:

ARTS started its work in the interior tribal villages where community not aware of education and not sending their children to school. There were government schools in the area but people were not aware of the admission system. 268 Children were regularized to join in schools and out of this 6 members have got Govt Jobs in various departments. With the intervention of ARTS, there was change in the lives of children either through providing mid day meals in the schools, to retain the children in schools

http://artsindia.org/

Group organization.Poverty needs

CHILAGAM WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

In the Chilagam watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice in a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures). These issues are being explained to the community.
The following issues were discussed in these meetings.

• WDF works
• Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.
• Village level problems
• Land pattas and land issues
• Conduction of the Girijana Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee.
• Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.
• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.
• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.
• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.
• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.
• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.
• Land development
• Cashew processing unit
• Cashew processing and making of adda leaf plates trainings
• NREGS works
• Meetings with KVK ATMA team
• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.
• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.
• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.
• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.
Group organization.Poverty needs
http://artsindia.org/

Non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization

Community based watershed management program:

In the Vonigedda watershed area watershed development committee was formed with 11 members. This committee meets twice a month and discuss watershed works (Stone gully plugs, contour Bunding, drop wall structure, check dams and loose Bunding structures). These issues are being explained to the community.
The following issues were discussed in these meetings.
• Village problems like drinking water, land pattas and land issues.
• The mainstreaming 20 child laborers.
• PHC’S mobilization for Health camps in case of any health problems in the concerned working area.
• Planting of Cashew, mango, teak stumps and Fodder seeds and encouraging pitcher irrigation.
• Conduction of the Grameena Sameekrutha members meeting every month on 23rd and the strengthening of committee.
• Conduction of the Meetings to create awareness on Non pesticide management practices, group building, management and environment.
• Macs group’s formation and livelihood loan repayments.
• Explaining of Issues like WDF maintenance fund and livelihood funds to the community. MEDP trainings and creation of proper marketing facility to the community.
• Strengthening of VA’S functioning.
• Conduction of the meetings with agriculture department and Horticulture department.
• Conduction of Veterinary health camps and Gramasabha.
• Discussion of NREGS, RT1 act and Domestic violence act.
• Surveying of lands.
• Undertaking of exposure visits and explaining about WDF works to the visitors.
• Overseeing of watershed works and ensuring the release of funds.
• Survey number wise implementation of works identified in the net planning.
Impact of the project
• 133 landless poor families were given 89 Acres of land with pattas in the Vonigedda watershed area. In that land those families have planted horticulture plants. Presently they are earning between Rs.4000 to 7000 per annum.
• Irrigation facility was available to 248 acres of land with the construction of check dams.
• The canal coming from the hill was developed and ensured irrigation facility to 31 Acres of land with the construction of Drop wall structure.
• 188 families were benefited with the completion of Contour Bunding works in 144 Acres.
• Irrigation facility was available to 32 acres of land with the construction of Loose Bunding Structure in Koragam, Vykuntapuram and Uppinivalasa villages.
• Stone Outlets were constructed in 182 Acres.
• Milk collection centre was established in watershed areas. With this work 69 farmers will be benefited.
• Different crops like seasom, sunflower and vegetables were grown by 282 farmers.
• 250 kgs of fodder seeds were distributed to 32 farmers.
• 8 vermi compost units were constructed with 152 farmers as part of non pesticide management practices.
• Soil fertility tests were conducted in 60 farmer’s lands and analyzed the type of soil and which types of crops can be grown in such lands.
• 25 Macs sub groups were farmed through Grameena Sameekrutha and created livelihood resources to 82 women.
• Loans were sanctioned for sheep, goat and cattle rearing and salt business. The repayment was in process.
• The ground water level was increased by 3 feet with the watershed works.
• The annual income has increased by Rs.6000 to 15000 in the watershed area.


 In Vonigedda watershed area, because of the availability of 15870 person days for 350 people migration has been checked to some extent. Ant amount of Rs. 1054733 was spent in the project towards this.
 The capacity of the tanks increased due to renovation of tanks and it resulted in increase of ground water level. The tube wells also shown remarked difference in water levels. The condition is favorable for jute processing and aqua culture.
 In around 50 ha of land crop diversity has been practiced which can improve the soil health.

Drought Mitigation Programme, ArtsIndia Srikakulam

Drought Mitigation Programme:
The main interventions were
1. Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs
2. Promotion of kitchen gardens
3. Drinking water facilities
4. Gram Sabha to create awareness on NREGS
5. Health camps and Emergencies6. Facilitation of Government Programme
Government Programme
1.Support the grain banks through providing rice and ragi to meet the emergency needs:
ARTS support to 20 CBOs in two district with the support of Action Aid, they are working in village level issues regarding the drought situation then ARTS and CBOs planned to create food security to every family through the promotion of grain banks by providing 10 tones rice and 5 tones through 100 grain banks to benefit 2450 poorest of the poor families ( 34 grain banks in srikakulam and 66 grain banks in vizaianagaram dist.),Totally.
2. Promotion of kitchen gardens:
ARTS support 100 kitchen gardens kits to 350 families in our 100 villages.

3. Support to Drinking water facilities:
ARTS supported Gravitation flow system in Chappaguda village to benefit 36 families and 15 bore wells repaired with the help of government in the area.

4. Gram Sabha to create awareness on NREGS.
Facilitated Grama sabhas and create awareness on NREGA programme , 14 Grama Sabhas are conducted and 12 group work applications are applied in the Grama Sabhas.
1360 families are received work under NREGS about 43 days in this six months through our facilitation process.
Natural Resource Management

Workshops,studies and training

ARTS team participated in the following training programs.

* Training on Netplan, which is organized by ARTS – NABARD.
* Training on strengthening of SHGs by DRDA.
* Training on Watershed Management by NABARD- Hyderabad.
* Training on Ridge to vally concepts on water shed Management – WASAN – Hydeabad.
* Logical frame work by IGSSS.
* Waste land development exposure program G. Vdaigiri by IGSSS.
* Tribal Rights and Empowerment process by Action Aid.
* Training on Better Agricultural Practices.
* Training on Panchayat Raj intuition and women by CWS women Net work .
* Training on Gender Sensitisation by CWS – women Network and Action Aid- Hyderabad.
* Training on Leadership Training progamme by Manavatha Kendra – Mumbai.
* Vulnerable women & Sex worker Study in Srikakulam.
* Training on Rights Based approach by Action – Aid – Vishakapatnam.
* Training on AIDS/HIV spread by ARTS- SHP.
* Study on Hunger and food security in Tribal areas of Srikakulam by Action Aid & ARTS.
* Micro – level planning and community Forest Management by APSFD – Dhalapulli.
* Participated in Asian Social Form program – Hyderabad.
*Participated in Social Audit Process by Action – Aid – Malkangiri.
*and Personality development.
Training on MIS, Finance and Accounting System by FMSF – New Delhi.
Training on Behevioural communication change.
Sindromic case management.
Training on council ling skills.


The progress of the activities are reviewed on a weekly basis by the Project Director the project has developed a compresive training program for its staff. ARTS is developed an employee information system ie a directory of skills inventory. This contains information on each employee’s education, skills, experience and career aspirations (Computerized).

This will be reviewed/ updated annually during the performance appraisal and accordingly the training calendar will be drawn. This will also help to reflect in line with the organizations vision and mission and evaluate the project performance in reaching out to the most disadvantaged groups. The program staff is submitting their plans and reports to the Project Director on a weekly basis. The staff are provided training on different themes and issues.
Development Organization