Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector – India – Sector Network Natural Resources and Rural Development Asia

Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector – India

Context

Roughly half of India’s population is engaged in the agriculture and food sector. As there is great potential for growth, the Indian government has set itself an ambitious goal: ‘Doubling Farmers Income by 2022’ and establishing 10.000 Farmer Producer Organisations by 2024. As a result, farmers will have better collective strength for improved access to quality inputs and sales markets. Working in line with these initiatives, the Green Innovation Centre India aims at increasing the yield and income of small holder farmers as well as the turnover of rural enterprises. By addressing common challenges such as inadequate inputs, price volatilities, storage constraints, and the occurrence of pests and diseases, the project disseminates innovative solutions along the value chains of three crops: potato, tomato, and apple. Within the activities, a special focus is set on women and youth.

Being part of the BMZ special initiative “ONEWORLD – No Hunger”, the Green Innovation Centres are a global programme and were established as a network in 14 countries in Africa, in India and Vietnam.

Objective

Innovations in the agriculture and food sector help increase smallholder income, boost employment and improve regional food supply in selected rural target regions. Therefore, the Green Innovation Centre India targets to create 1,800 new jobs for eco-preneurs, especially for youth and women and to provide training and education for 139,000 farmers. Through targeted training approaches, women entrepreneurship is promoted. In addition, the goal is to advise on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and to support the setting up of farmers organisations. The establishment of sustainable economic relationships between farmers and off-traders is a focus area.

OUR GOALS

Creating 1,800 new jobs for eco-preneurs, especially for youth and women and providing training and education for 139,000 farmers and entrepreneurs
Advising on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and supporting the setting up of farmers organisations

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project promotes the tomato, potato and apple value chains in selected states of India. The target groups are small scale farmers as well as small enterprises in the processing industry and marketing companies to which the farmers supply their products.

SOME OF OUR INNOVATIONS

WHERE WE WORK

SUCCESS STORIES

‘We had no previous experience in nursery management but purchased two acres of land to start our nursery business’, tells Kalavathi. ‘High quality seedlings are of utmost importance. The better the seedling, the better the crop and yield. Therefore, we set up model nurseries for tomato crops.’

‘The Green Innovation Centre gave us valuable technical guidance and provided inputs and working capital. One highlight was an exposure visit to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research to learn about best practices for nurseries. The turnover of our nursery has increased by over 55 per cent between 2017 and May 2018. We are now a successful family business and there is a huge demand from farmers all around for our high quality and healthy tomato seedlings.’

“My name is Manje Gowda, and I am from Kodihalli village in Hassan district, state of Karnataka. I own a nursery where I produce seedlings of various crops. Through the Green Innovations Centre’s promotion of low-cost local potato seeds via the innovative Rooted Apical Cuttings (RAC) technology, I was able to use 4 given tissue culture bottles for trials last year. With these few tissue culture plants, we were able to multiply 16,000 plants. Last kharif season I grew 500 ‘K. Himalini’ RAC plants in my polyhouse and got 75–80 kg (about 6 tons/acre) seed potatoes. The crop is very good. We gave our plants also to neighbouring farmers and they were growing potatoes successfully. That’s why I encourage other nursery owners to take up this activity and help their surrounding farmers. Compared with other seeds, with the new technology we find fewer diseases and I am expecting double the yield. Initially, people were laughing at me when I planted cuttings. But now after seeing the success, they are asking for more”.

“I went to school only until 10^th grade. Our financial background didn’t allow me to study further. I had to become the bread winner of the house. But society would point fingers for sending a girl child to work. They would even mock my potential as a woman. But my parents never vouched for gender roles. They were my pillars of support. I was made aware of the opportunity to participate in the Women Entrepreneurship Programme through online videos, then we were interviewed and made to take a test. Qualified ones were given a task to complete. I spend my whole life hemming and tailoring. I wasn’t equipped to face the real world. Still, I showed up. I was given a set of bangels to sell. I sold the 15 rupees set for 25 rupees. I was shocked to see that I had the capability to pull that off. When a small task could teach me mountains about business, I knew this training was going to be a game changer for me. During the pre-incubation phase of the programme we visited UrbanKisaan, India’s first sustainable farmers’ marketplace. There I learned that we can grow stuff on our balcony. That’s such a simple idea. And there we met Samantha, a top actress was indorsing the business. If someone like Samantha could do it out of her hectic schedule, why not us? It was important for me to contribute. I had such crazy ideas in our inauguration workshop. I have them all penned down in my book. My success is given, I’m sure.”

PUBLICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS

Photo Gallery

VIDEOS

SOME OF OUR PARTNERS

HOW CAN YOU COLLABORATE WITH US?

We work with government agencies, research institutes, non-governmental organizations and private companies. If you are interested in a cooperation, please contact greeninnovationcentreindia@giz.de

COUNTRY

India

DURATION

Nov 2014 - Mar 2025

Contact Person

REGINA SANCHEZ SOSA
Project Director
L (India): +91 80 46664000 (Ext. 6022)
greeninnovationcentreindia@giz.de

Agriculture