Local Needs Assessment to Fisheries Business Model:
Group Practicum Report on Community Needs Assessment of Bharatpur District (Jeeraheda, Karmooka, and Aashuka village), Rajasthan State, India
Abstract
The study for a local needs assessment is conducted as part of the course on group practicum ofM.A. Sustainable Development Practice (SDP). This study is based on a fifteen days field visit and household surveys in Kaman Block (Jeeraheda, Aashuka and Karmooka), Bharatpur District, Rajasthan, India. The major objective of this paper is to assess community needs of the households in terms of sustainable livelihood framework. These households are further analyzed within the framework of sustainable livelihood approach to measure the vulnerability index of the community. Achieving specific objectives would collectively help in attaining the general objective of research i.e. by identifying the level of vulnerability of a village implies the needs of the communities. Methodology that has been used in this study is Non-probability Purposive quota non-proportional sampling (non-probabilistic analogue of stratified random sampling) to study Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) households. The quota nonproportional sampling is generally to specify the minimum number of sampled units in each category in the target population. To obtain the community needs 20% percent of sampledpopulation is taken from each village through semi structured questionnaire using sustainable development approach of sustainable livelihood approach, FGD with relevant stakeholders and PRA tools has been used. PRA tools like Priority rank matrix, social resource mapping, timeline, accessibility map; daily activity schedule is taken amongst others.
The results show that the sampled villages are moderately vulnerable whereas given the fragile circumstances it is like to be highly vulnerable if immediate intervention of integrated programs is not launched rather than creating Patron-Client relationship. The existing institutions are fragile which the needs strengthening to cover up the individual livelihoods while implicating them for assistance programs like adaptation either of these two methods can be used to identify livelihood vulnerability of community at post and prior of the programs. This study has revealed that community which is more vulnerable to climate change impacts (or overall environmental changes) contributes very less to induce those changes.
Keywords: Kaman Block, Local needs Assessment, PRA tools, Sustainable livelihood approach, Vulnerability Index.
Cold Storage Business Model:
Strengthening Sustainable livelihoods: Establishment of cold storage for fish farming within
Jeeraheda Village, Bharatpur District, Rajasthan State, India
This project titled " Establishment of cold storage for fish farming within Jeeraheda village of Kamanblock” aims to intervene by strengthening the livelihood options for households at Jeeraheda village through establishing cold storage for fisheries. Lupin Foundation has made an intervention in Kaman Block by focusing on fish farming through the adjacent Gurgaon irrigation canal as a possible means of a sustainable livelihood opportunity. This was made possible by the foundation converting a “Problem into a potential” as water logging was a prominent issue in the area. Lupin has also established fish seed hatcheries where 200 ponds were constructed apart from the 750 community ponds used for fish farming. Farmers have benefitted with income generation through fish marketing. Most of the fish farming projects in Kaman Block are in the initial phase of their cycle. Commercialization of fish farming is essential for increasing the productivity as a whole. Kaman Block is well connected by roadways and the nearest possible markets are Agra, Delhi, Jaipur, and Gurgaon amongst others. Hence, to fully justify the intervention there was a need to assess the institutional impacts and gaps of the project, explore the present market linkages for fisheries in Kaman block. This project proposal will act as a support in establishing cold storage facilities to add value to the occupation of fish farming that Jeeraheda village is dependent on. The recent study in Bharatpur district covering Jeeraheda shows that the village is moderately vulnerable; given the fragile circumstances they are likely to be highly vulnerable if immediate intervention of integrated programs is not carried out. The principal beneficiaries of this project will be the 156 households of Jeeraheda. 25 HHs belong to marginalized and underprivileged below poverty line HHs. The project is highly anticipated by the local community who are ready to contribute anything they can during project implementation, construction, operation and maintenance for the long term. Women and children will also benefit from this project. The fish produced in the ponds of Jeeraheda village are directly purchased by traders who have made the villagers just producers rather than active players in the market. Traders dominate the purchase of the fishery production; farmers do not obtain fair prices for the production. In addition, the fish cultivated by fish farmers are directly procured by traders’ at the farm gate level, thereby isolating producers from the market structure. For 150 tonne cold storage, requirement would be around 600 square meters of land. The total initial requirement would be 6.5 million Indian rupees. However, the working capital would not be financed by banks, or under government scheme. Funds could be arranged through government schemes and LUPIN foundations’ endeavors for farmers’ development activities. Banks are also a viable source of finance. However, for calculation purposes, we assume 25 percent is own fund and 75 is borrowed fund.
No comments:
Post a Comment