Improvement of Extension System for Sustainable Integrated Agriculture and Agriculture Workers Training at Grassroots Level for Small-Scale Farmers in North India.

Last updated: May 2005

	Name (English)		Asian Rural Institute
	Name (Japanese)	Ajia Gakuin(ARI)
	Established in	Year 1973
	Registered status in Japan	Educational Foundation
	Name of the Representative in India	Dr. Teruo Miura
	Address	College of Continuing and Non-Formal Education (CCNFE), Allahabad Agricultural Institute-Deemed UniversityAllahabad, 211007 U.P., India
	Tel/Fax	0532-2684306
	E-mail address	teruomiura2007*ybb.ne.jp　(When sending a mail, please change * into @.)
	URL	www.ari-edu.org
	Activity in India Since	July, 2004
	Objectives of work in India	The purpose of the project is to nurture pilot-farmers, who practice and promote sustainable integrated agriculture, to nurture agricultural extension workers at the grass-roots level, and to strengthen the system of its extension activities for small-scale farmers in north India.
	Outline of ongoing JICA Partnership Programme projects	The project has stressed “more sustainable, more women’s participation.” In July 2004, we have selected pilot farmers from three different states, i.e. Uttaranchal(U.A.), Uttar Pradesh(U.P.) and Orrisa. 61 pilot farmers were selected. 40 of them are women. In 2004, we implemented small-scale broiler raising and Kuroiler raising, food processing with organic products (e.g., jam, lemon-ginger squash, miso, tofu, pickles, sweets, etc.), biogas plant construction, organic vegetable growing, and alternative marketing practice.Pilot farmers often get together to share their knowledge and skills and study new technologies at their farms as well as at College of Continuing and Non-Formal Education.In the year of 2005, we are scheduled to organize producers-consumers cooperative to facilitate organic faming as well as to educate people in relation to the importance of sustainable agriculture.
	Field of Activity	Agriculture and Rural Development
	Working area	Allahabad, U.P. : Mussoorie and Telly, U.A.: Bargarh, Orissa
	Name of the partner NGO	College of Continuing and Non-Formal Education, AAI-DU
	Message from the Representative in India: As a result of the lliberalization of the world economy and modernization, the gaps between the poor and the rich and between “the have” and “the have-nots” have been expanded rapidly in India. Similarly the gap between the rural and the urban is also no exception. Many rural people remain in poverty and in backward situations, while many urban people indulge in modern facilities and equipment. Many scholars and scientists pointed out that these social phenomena have generated social conflicts, social injustice, gender inequality, and social anxiety in many corners of the world. In this context, our project has determined to stress “sustainable agriculture and women’s empowerment" this year. I believe that sustainable agriculture applicable for small-scale farmers and rural women can contribute to the solution of rural problems. Moreover, the concepts and skills of sustainable agriculture are largely relevant to the enhancement of self-reliance and self-help of marginal and small-scale farmers, especially of rural women. According to my experience and observation, rural women can take vital roles in agricultural development activities. As a matter of fact, the majority of marginal rural women engage themselves in almost all farming activities. The amount and kinds of women’s works are often more than those of men’s. Hence, their seriousness and diligence of learning and working attitude give us light and hope to facilitate rural women’s empowerment toward sustainable development.In order to materialize our visions, the project has launched a pilot project to promote the integrated sustainable agriculture in north India since July 2004. So far, 61 pilot farmers and other two NGOs have taken part in our project. We often encounter the difficulties and problems. Yet, we always share those with other members and try to solve them one by one. This is our way to implement the project. If any of you have concerned over our project, please contact us.