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| Andhra Pradesh - Activities |
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ACF is doing its bit to improve the state of agriculture in Nadikudi. Farmers’ Field Schools (FFSs) are a direct way of building capacity of the farmers, where they are encouraged to observe and learn new agricultural techniques and undertake experiments on their own fields. Training is an important component of this programme and issues such as the importance of organising into farmer groups, health care during using insecticides, preparation of Bordeaux mixture, types and techniques of nursery raising, Jiva Amrit a etc are taken up. The concept of Agro Eco System Analysis (AESA), enrichment of farm yard manure with neem powder, Trichoderma viridae, etc was introduced to the farmers. Demonstration plots were also developed.
Chillies are cultivated on a large scale in Nadikudi. Three training programmes were held for villages volunteers, where they were taught good practices in chilli cultivation. Equipped with field kits and bicycles, these volunteers are now disseminating their knowledge amongst other farmers. Organic farming is important to make agriculture sustainable and improve the soil quality. ACF is encouraging farmers to take up vermi-composting and is supporting the establishment of a commercial vermi-compost unit.
A wadi project for horticulture plantation has been initiated in Nadikudi on lands belonging to Scheduled Tribes in 3 mandals. About 50was brought under cultivation in the year and now barren land is being cleared under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to be made available for more wadis. Vegetable cultivation is being promoted to augment family incomes and improve nutritional intakes. Several SHG women were trained in kitchen gardening.
Animal health camps are held regularly with the help of the Department of Animal in the villages with the help of. In 2009-10,a new veterinary clinic was established with adequate infrastructure, an in-house veterinarian and an assistant. Farmers from five villages benefited from the clinic.
The quality of drinking water in Nadikudi is a matter of concern. The total dissolved solids (TDS) content in the water is as high as 1800 parts per million (ppm) causing to severe health problems and compelling villagers to spend large amounts of money to buy drinking water from outside. A solution to this problem in the installation on a community based reverse osmosis (RO) plant. ACF has been successful in mobilising the villagers in 3 villages to install this system. Pure water is now available to community members at a fraction of the cost of purchasing water from the market. The benefits of the RO plant is motivating more and more villages to adopt the system.
A two month pilot project on awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS was initiated in nine villages to increase awareness among the people. The programme included a behavioural change communication campaign through outreach and peer education, HIV testing and counselling services, post-test support through a static and outreach clinic and baseline and end line research. About 3000 persons were reached out to by 350 group sessions. As a part of the programme , a mobile Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) was introduced in 4 villages where 114 people were counselled and tested.
Several training programmes were conducted for the women Self Help Groups of Nadikudi. The training covered issues such as management of the revolving fund, internal lending and the role and responsibilities of the SHG. The books of accounts of 24 SHGs were audited by an external resource person. Some common errors were identified that were then addressed in follow up training sessions.
A training centre has been established at Nadikudi where 26 women enrolled for a 6-month programme to learn the basics of sewing. Many women were also presented with sewing machines at the end of the training so that they could open their own small enterprises and earn additional income for their families.
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