overview of fg projects 2011 assam
DESCRIPTION
Fertile Ground is a Canadian organization working to promote organic farming practices in Assam, India. Through a growing network of farmers, tea growers, NGO's and families, we're also helping to restore confidence in India's traditional farming practices, including Vrikshayurveda. For more information, visit www.fertile-ground.orgTRANSCRIPT
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Fertile Ground
an enthusiastic group from Assam, India and the west coast of Canada working together to promote sustainable and traditional farming
and celebrate our culture and diversity!
visit www.fertile-ground.org
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PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING IN ASSAM
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Dependence on pesticides & chemical fertilizers by Assam’s tea industry and by large-scale agricultural producers has contributed to higher levels of pesticide use in production of agricultural crops - even in home or kitchen gardens.
Why are we working in Assam?
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Links between large chemical & seed corporations, universities and banks+
heavy promotion & marketing of hybrid seeds, fertilizer and pesticides+
loans to help farmers and growers “improve” their efficiency=
loss of confidence in more sustainable and traditional farming practices
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Between 2006 and 2008, Fertile Ground worked to set up a Resource Centre, demonstration garden and classroom to promote use of organic practices in Assam
The project has been carried out in partnership with Rotary Club of Digboi, with support from Rotary Clubs in Canada, Rotary International, Indian Oil Corporation, Canada India Village Aid and other donors.
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Next…….meet the great group of volunteers who’ll be joining us in Assam this year!
An important element of our work is sharing ideas and information about Canadian and Assamese culture, and
creating opportunities for work and study exchanges
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Sarah Kerr, FG & PhotographerMitch & Erin, Camosun College
Bec & Adam, CumberlandKel Kelly, Merville
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Chip Ross and Peggy CarswellSunrise Strathcona Rotary
LeighAnn Vaughan & Onyx
Other potential volunteers include:
1. Anisha Sridhar (film writer)
2. Carmen (Cortes)
3. Marcus (Camosun, Env. Studies)
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a look at what’s ahead…..
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Activities include:
1. Sadiya – Community Garden Project2. Five Villages - Five Bicycles: Bicycles and Bike Trailers3. Kids to Kids – exchanging information between east and
west through pictures and stories4. Raising awareness of the importance of organic and
traditional farming practices in schools near Jorhat5. Fair Trade Tea Project – investigating the possibility of
establishing a project, and provide links and training for small-scale growers
6. Maintaining connections with Singpho community near Ketetong village
7. Connecting with staff and projects taking place at Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa - our head office in Digboi
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Location of main activities in 2011
Bodo tea growers
State capital & airport
PrakritiSchoolProject
NEADS headoffice
Gobin Hazarika’s tea garden
Gossainbarie Tea Garden
Sadiya
ASP & Singpho
Dibrugarh airport
India
State of Assam
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1. Community Garden Project in Sadiya
Teach people how to – take care of the soil– grow vegetables organicallyso they have healthy food to feed their families
Let people know that pesticides can make people sick and harm the environment
Help some of the families in the village earn money by growing and selling vegetables
Make sure families have the information they need so they don’t take out loans that they can’t manage
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• Funding for this Humanitarian Project came from a grant initiated by Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club which was supported by other clubs on Vancouver Island and matched by funding from District 5020.
• Additional support is being provided by Fertile Ground and the Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa project
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Pompy will teach people
- how to improve their soil
- how to stop insect pests from damaging their crops without spraying them with pesticides.
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The teacher and parents can use vegetables from the garden to make healthy school lunches for the kids.
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Provide tools, signs, seeds, school supplies, etc.
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Ensure each school has a
sanitary latrine and water filter
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Work with local residents to build playgrounds at all 5 schools using local materials like bamboo and also recycled materials like rubber tires.
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Because of all the rain Assam has, bamboo and wood won’t last very long, so we are also hoping we can raise money for some metal swing sets and teeter-totters
• a teeter cost will cost about $95
• a metal swing set will cost about $125
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2. Bicycles and Bicycle Trailers
Five villages - Five bicycles• To travel between villages, we
hope to purchase 5 bicycles• In the short-term, bikes will be
used by volunteers helping to work on the gardens
• They’ll remain with NEADS for use of their staff, village animators, or future volunteers visiting Sadiya
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Low-cost bamboo bike trailersConstruct prototype low-cost bicycle trailer to help move materials that will be used to make compost at the village schools
Provide training that will give village members the skills they need to manufacture similar trailers
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3. Kids to Kids letter-writing, story & photo exchange between kids in the east and the west
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Read the complete story online at: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/comoxvalleyrecord/community/106790758.html
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4. Raising awareness of the importance of organic agriculture
with Prakriti NGO’s Samir Bordoloi and Mahan Borah, supporting their efforts to promote organic agriculture at elementary and high schools near Jorhat
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5. Fair Trade Tea Project
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•Explore opportunities for establishment of a fair trade project linking Gobin Hazarika, Singpho growers and Binod Saharia
•Meet with workers, management and garden owners to explore what’s needed (health care, schools, drains, water, etc.)
•Look at possible technical support to improve quality of teas, access to needed capital for equipment
•Provide training for our growing network of small-scale growers - January 8th/ 9th and again prior to our departure, end of March
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6. Maintaining connections with Singpho community near Ketetong Village
• visit the school that funds from Fertile Ground helped to restore
• distribute school supplies, make presentations
• assist with design of the new school garden
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7. Connecting with Our Home BaseAdarsh Seuj Prakalpa - Digboi
• ongoing site improvements and repairs, including new roof for the outdoor classroom, new Rotary club/guest house and compost bio-digester
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Continue with vegetable production & sales
Mushroom cultivation training
Training and experimenting with formulas and controls for reducing insect damage
Repairs to office equipment, file organization
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Thanks to our friends and supporters for all the different
ways they support Fertile Ground’s work in Assam!
To make a donation or find out how you can help, visit our website www.fertile-ground.org