20160424 c.spahn mtrds india visit report linked in

MTRDS INDIA

Visit Report to MTRDS, Narketpally – India

By Christopher H. Spahn

April 24th, 2016

CSR – has a face…

“Creating impact acrosscultures in uniting together”

SEED-HARVEST-STORE-MARKET

Content

• Introduction & Background

• Visit scope

• Observations and Opportunities

• Development focus areas

• Summary

• Next steps

Background to project:• First connected in 2008 whilst volunteering to support visit in

Germany and local involvements

• Conducted support and coaching to Vision, Mission and

Association strategy development for MTRDS

• Successfully supported, funded and succeeded in

membership application for UK based ACWW

• Visited a local supporters Meeting in Freiburg Germany in

2013 with over 40 European MTRDS supporting members

(some more than 25 years). German funding association

presented auditing and rating support.

• Continue to build up support reaches in Europe and

beyond, first time addressing to Clariant Chemicals India

Ltd. – CSR committee members - Apr2015

• Next meeting with Fr. Julian scheduled for Apr16th, 2015

during his Europe trip in Freiburg, Germany

• First visit to MTRDS, Narketpally – April 18th until 22nd, 2016

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MTRDS visit report C. Spahn April, 24th 2016

Visit scope April 2016

Based on previous interaction it became apparent that a

visit to personally see and meet the project work of Fr.

Julian would be required.

This plan started in early 2016 and finally was completed

on April 22nd, 2016.

The entire objectives of this short visit were all met and

partially exceeded by the very focused and destined

agenda that Fr. Julian had prepared.

I would like to thank him and his entire staff for their

excellent preparation and the entire hospitality.

Christopher H. Spahn

April, 24th 2016

Selected pictures next pageMTRDS visit report C. Spahn April, 24th 2016

Pictures of Day 1 & Day 2 5

Arrival & introductory meeting with entire staff or MTRDS

Women's cooperative meeting Day 2 MTRDS visit report C. Spahn April, 24th 2016

Pictures of Day 2 MTRDS6

In front and inside of Seed storage and packing facilities, MTRD


Observations and opportunities7

In total -4- observations and opportunities were made:

� Staff up-grade: for future development andsustainable growth

� Solar power system: to become independent fromelectric power supply

� Developing further from: pure production tomarketing of products and goods

� Use of innovative technology: supplying localwomen’s group leaders with a smart phone andestablishing a What’s App based -> MTRDS coop

messenger


Opportunity # 1

Staff up-grade: for future development

and sustainable growth in reach of support

� It appears that for mid- and long-termdevelopment and evolution of Fr. Julian’s work itwill be essential to have a candidate in his staffthat has the passion, skills, desire and belief tosupport him as his deputy. Finding such acandidate (I interviewed one) does not seem tobe easy. However I did submit myrecommendations and input to Father and willstay in close touch with him including thementoring of a good skilled person.

� Supporting opportunity: Support in salary funding

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Opportunity # 2Solar power system: to become independent from electric power supply/ Local women group –becoming independent from energy consumption with solar panels

� One of the women’s group leaders spoke onbehalf her group how far they successfullyimplemented a local water treatment system thathowever to process the water cleaning isdepending on high energy bill for electricityconsumption. The overall upscale needs withinstallation of a solar power supply would be thenext development step required.

� Supporting opportunity: Solar power unit planning,installation and running it

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Opportunity # 3Cooperative development from production to market/

developing further from pure production to marketing of

products and goods

� The Young Farmers Rural Development Society (YFRDS) we

visited in Nagarkarkurnool/state of Telanga (approx 3 hours

drive) was founded by Fr. Julian already 27 years ago. Those

strong appearing farmers at their annual general assembly

showed their unity, focus and skills how to further direct the

development of their cooperative. Being already there a 2nd

generation of members was present and showed strong

involvement.

� Next to their offices they already run a small shop in the next

village and are willing to further develop into marketing of

their products.

� Supporting opportunity: Further evolving from the cotton

harvesting, spinning and ginning. Providing the raw material

to the tailoring class and women of MTRDS in support of

tailoring women wear to be sold locally and or in shops.

Could be exported to “Fair Trade” shops in Europe and or in

cooperation to ZG Raiffeisen eG retail shops in south of

Germany.

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Pictures of Day 3 “YFRDS”11

Speaking to general assembly with Fr. Julian


Opportunity # 4Use of innovative technology: supplying local women’s group leaders with a smart phone and establishing a e.g. What’s App based -> MTRDS coop messenger

� Using new and innovative technologies for moreimpact is another opportunity which could helpreach the local women groups more efficiently.With having an own messenger system on smartphones the women could receive text or audio(pre-recorded) messages for the next meeting,planned sales of harvested goods or plannedpurchase and distribution of seeds.

� Supporting opportunity: Provide monetary support for purchase of coop owned smart phones and development of the MTRDS coop messenger app.

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Into the next 5 years development for MTRDS one can see 4 major areas

SEED

13 HARVEST

STORE

MARKET

• Strong development of seed reproduction for coop members

• Continued focus on joint harvesting of grown agricultural product by all cooperative members

• Further development of local andrural seed and harvested goodsstorage facilities. Independentdecision on purchase or sale ofgoods. No middle-mendependencies

• In moving from pure productiontowards marketing of goods moretraining, development andinvestment needs to happen


Summary visit April 2016:

� In summary – this my first personal visit – contained lots

of promising observations that can be further

supported by many means. Not only monetary but

also support for training, education and marketing

development.

� Overall my impression of the office, staff and general

situation I could observe at MTRDS in Narketpally – and

in speaking to the staff and other present cooperative

members was excellent.

� Special highlight were my observations and learnings

from attending the annual general assembly meeting

of the Young Farmers Rural Society Development on

April 20th, 2016 in Nagarkarkurnool/state of Telanga

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Next steps:

� Provide meeting observations and summary

� Share publicly with LinkedIn and with keysupporters and new options. (ACWW London(UK), CNFA (USA), EM3Agri (India), Dr. E. GlaserCEO ZG Raiffeisen eG

� Follow-up on possible support applications in thedescribed fields with governmental or any otherNGO, privately interested corporations orindividuals

� Gain further insights from May 04&05th local re-union of women’s cooperative with governmentconsultant support

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LINK to projects – please visit www.mtrds.org

- Seed reproduction - …..

- Health & Sanitation

- Economic support for poor widows

- Educational help

Cooperative – support women

Contact:

Founder and Director: Fr. Julian Policetti

Mother Teresa Rural Development SocietyH.No.9-31/ANarketpally,Nalgonda-508254Andhrapradesh-IndiaPhone:-91-08682-272633cell:-91-09849818750

E-mail:[email protected]

Website:-www.mtrds.org

Reference contacts:Christopher Spahn, [email protected]

THANK YOU VIELEN DANK

Dhanyavaad

Gracias

Merci

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“Creating impact across

cultures in uniting together”

Presented by:

Christopher SpahnApril 24th, 2016

20160424 c.spahn mtrds india visit report linked in

Presentations & Public Speaking