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Successful marketing of paddy by local farmers, under the SAFAL initiative of Vedanta University Project

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Members of the cooperative during paddy marketing

Puri, 18-9-09:

For the first time,12 farmers of Sundara village, Puri have successfully sold 144.75 quintals of paddy at their door step through an institutional process, at a total price of Rs. 1,27,439/-, setting a benchmark in paddy marketing in the area. This marketing has been done by the Jay Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd, Chalisbatia, a farmers’ cooperative formed under the livelihood initiative SAFAL of Vedanta University Project, in collaboration with  MARKFED (Marketing Federation of India) and  RMC (Regulated Market Committee). The farmers could sell paddy at the Government recommended price, ranging from Rs. 845/- to Rs. 864/- per quintal depending upon quality, as against the price ranging from Rs 750/- to Rs 760/-, normally offered by the local traders. The paddy has been procured by the K.C. Rice Mill, Chandanpur.

 

 

On the spot determination of price was done by the Secretary, RMC at the village itself and he also helped in the grading of paddy, sorting and price tagging. This marketing of paddy was facilitated by Vedanta University Project under its SAFAL initiative. The main objective of this marketing was to avoid distress sale of paddy, to provide a market to the small and marginal farmers at their door step and to get them some instant income in order to meet the current farming cost of paddy (uprooting, transplantation, weeding of paddy, etc). Moreover, this exercise could make the farmers’ cooperative and their clients acquainted with the Government’s paddy procurement process. The farmers’ co-operative, Jay Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd could familiarize itself with the entire process of institutional marketing like, listing of the farmer’s name and the quantity of paddy to be sold, contacting the buyer, arranging things at the paddy collection point, listing of the sale price, etc.

This marketing process has been very encouraging to all concerned. Purna Chandra Biswal of Sundara village, one of the farmers who has sold his paddy says,” For the first time we have received a good price. We were not aware of the process of selling paddy through Govt. channel and it is definitely helpful to farmers like us”. Similarly, Debraj Pradhan, a farmer of the same village and also a member of Jay Jagannath Samavaya Ltd, says, “This marketing process has given us a lot of confidence. We have learnt how to sell our farm produce at a better price”.

 It can be recalled that the main objective of the SAFAL initiative of Vedanta University Project is to increase the family income of small and marginal farmers, empower them through institutionalized community structures (farmer’s SHGs, Cooperatives, etc), facilitate their negotiation of key linkages in the value chains and thus, mainstream them. So far, 78 Farmers’ Self Help Groups (FSHGs) have been formed under this initiative comprising 1081 farmers from 20 different villages. 2 cooperatives, namely, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samavaya Ltd and Baba Beleswar Krushak Samabaya Ltd and 3 farmers’ clubs with the support of NABARD have also been formed.

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Satisfactory Progress of livelihood initiative SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project, AAF

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Puri, 2-9-09: “We are lagging behind states like Gujurat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc because, our people are not participating in the development process. It is heartening that so many farmers of Puri are actively participating in the developmental initiative, SAFAL, undertaken by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation. I am sure, they can make a difference”, said Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Puri, during the first review meeting of SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood), on Tuesday. The review meeting brought together the local farmers’ representatives, officials of facilitating government departments like agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc of Puri district, officials of participating banks, officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and those of the partnering developmental NGO, ACCESS.

After a brief presentation by the officials of ACCESS on the progress of SAFAL so far and the road map for the future, an open house discussion was held. All those present in the meeting, including the farmers’ representatives, were quite happy with the progress already made and they expressed confidence about taking things forward to attain the developmental objectives. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Soumendra Priyadarshi, SP, Puri said, “SAFAL project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has already proven itself as a successful initiative for the farmer’s upliftment, in a short period of time, and I am sure it will add to the economic development of the area”. Mr. Arjuna Pradhan, a local farmer and a member of the farmers’ cooperative, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabaya Ltd, formed under SAFAL project said, “We have visited Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh with the help of Vedanta University Project and have acquired knowledge on various aspects of agriculture, marketing, cooperative formation, etc. Now we are confident that we can increase our farm income significantly”. Mr. Gagan Bihari Mohanty, District Agriculture Officer, said, “Only Public-Private-Partnership can take the state forward. The farmers of Puri have got an opportunity from Anil Agarwal Foundation. They should make the most of this initiative and the support system. There is no doubt that together we can initiate an ever-green revolution”.

It can be recalled that the main objective of the SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation towards the end of last year, is to encourage the farmers to move away from the low paying conventional paddy cultivation and to adopt more paying cash crop farming as well as other allied activities like dairy. The project aims at significantly augmenting family income of the local farmers through capacity building, use of better farming techniques and tools, organizing them into cooperatives, providing bank and marketing linkages and the like. It also aims at making the farmers aware of the on-going Government schemes so as to benefit from them. So far, 78 Farmers’ Self Help Groups (FSHGs) have been formed under the project, comprising 1081 farmers from 20 different villages. 2 cooperatives, namely, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabya Ltd and Baba Beleswar Krushak Samabaya Ltd and 3 farmers’ clubs with the support of NABARD have also been formed. After successful training programmes and demo-cultivation of marigold, tuberose, watermelon, etc, the local farmers are being progressively mobilized to take to cash crop cultivation. Periodic trips to agriculturally developed states are also being organized to give these farmers hands-on exposure on better farming and allied practices.

The review meeting was presided over by Mr Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, Director, Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation while the District Collector and SP were the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour, respectively. Among others present in the meeting were, Mr. D. N. Dash, Area Manager, Neelachal Gramya Bank; Mr. M. N. Swain, Dy. Director of Agriculture, Puri; Mr. Gagan Bihari Mahanty, District Agriculture Officer, Puri; Mr. Pramodananda Mahapatra, Sub Divisional Veterinary Officer, Puri; officials of Irrigation Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Orissa State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), Banks, RMC, NABARD and MARKFED; officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and of ACCESS as well as the representatives of local farmers. Mr. Prashant Hota, GM, CSR & PR of Vedanta University Project thanked all of them and the MLA, Mr Maheswar Mohannty for the success of SAFAL so far, and requested all of them for continued support in days to come.

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Vedanta University Launches Agricultural Livelihoods Initiative

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

SAFAL – Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood

• At least 1500 farmer’s from 15 villages will be benefitted
• Focus on cash crop cultivation (Floriculture, Horticulture, Grafting, Nursery, etc)
• Aims at increasing family income &  improving living condition

14 Oct, Puri: In keeping with its avowed objective of ensuring a better life for the community while building a world class University near Puri, Vedanta University Project has launched a new livelihood initiative named, ‘SAFAL’ (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ livelihood). Set in motion on the sacred occasion of Gandhi Jayanti , this initiative has now taken a concrete shape with the formation of  28  farmers’ SHGs involving 500 farmers from 8 villages. The main objective of SAFAL is to take the local farmers away from the non remunerative ‘paddy paradigm’ and induce them to take up cash crop cultivation. It will ensure more income for them and hence, a better life also. At least 1500 farmers from 15 villages are going to benefit from it.

SAFAL has been launched after several rounds of need assessment surveys in the project impacted villages near Puri. It seeks to include more and more local farmers in its ambit and encourage them to switch over to floriculture, horticulture, nursery, etc, through SHGs. Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation will provide all forward and backward linkage support to these SHGs to make the initiative successful. For this purpose, Vedanta University project has tied up with ACCESS, a national level NGO, as a Technical Service Provider. ACCESS will impart knowledge and skills on high yielding cultivation practices to the farmers and will be instrumental in arranging any other necessary support including bank credit and market linkage. This is expected to result in a 150% increase in the income of at least 75% of the targeted farmers’ households.

In a meeting convened to formalize this initiative,  Mr Bhaskar Sharma, Collector and District Magistrate of Puri commended Vedanta University Project for such a noble initiative and expressed hope that it will surely improve the living condition of farmers in the project impacted villages.

Giving details of the new livelihood initiative, Prashant Hota, GM, PR & CSR, Vedanta University Project said, “ The success of  SAFAL will not only benefit the targeted farmers’ families, it will also motivate people in other villages to adopt similar activities both in farm and non-farm sectors to augment their income. This will ultimately ensure a better life for many.”

Mr. Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, Director, Vedanta University Project; Mr. C. Joseph, Head, Commercial; Mr. Kiran Naik, AGM, Finance and Dr B. N. Swain, Deputy Director, Agriculture Range Office, Puri were present in this meeting along with officials of ACCESS, members of newly formed farmers’ SHGs and a number  of local villagers.
Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has been consistently trying to develop the villages in the project vicinity and improve the living condition of the villagers through a dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. SAFAL is yet another concrete step in that direction.

For further details, contact:
Kishore Chandra Das
Head, Communications
Email   kishorechandradas@gmail.com
Mobile No.:  91-9437012258

Ashis Kumar Acharya
Public Relations Officer
Email – ashis_pro@rediffmail.com
Mobile No.: 9937107444

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Vedanta University Celebrates Teachers

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Puri, September 8, 2008: In keeping with the intent and purpose of the Teacher’s Day, Vedanta University Project arranged a teachers’ get-together at Puri in order to felicitate them. Accepting invitation of the University Project Management, hundreds of teachers of the University Project area and of Puri came to Holiday Resorts for this get-together. It was a good opportunity for the University Project Officials to personally meet the teachers of the area, spend some time with them and exchange ideas. Eminent teachers, including the former Principal of SCS College, Puri, Mr Somnath Mishra; Retired Teacher of Municipal High School, Puri, Mr Dinabandhu Mishra; Retired Teacher of Biswambara Vidyapitha, Puri, Mr Basanta Kumar Mishra; Principal of DAV School, Puri, Mr Bibhuti Bhusan Parija and many others were present on the occasion.

Felicitating the teachers and thanking them for their gracious presence, Director of Vedanta University Project, Mr. Sanjeev Anand Zutshi said that everybody, no matter how big and famous, is indebted to their teachers and no one can ever repay the debt.

Mr. Prasanta Kumar Hota, GM, PR & CSR, Vedanta University Project said that children are the future of India and the teachers are the makers of that future as they educate and groom the children. Speaking about the proposed Vedanta University, Mr Hota said that the University will one day be a milestone in the education sector where financial constraint will never be a problem for any deserving student to access higher education.

A presentation was shown to the teachers on the purpose, the vision, the unique architectural plan of the proposed University as well as the socio-economic development the project is expected to bring to the local area and to the state and country as a whole. The presentation was followed by an open discussion where various queries of the teachers regarding Vedanta University were answered by the University Project’s officials. On behalf of all the teachers, Mr. Gangadhara Mishra, Sanskrit teacher of Harish Chandra Memorial High School, Chhaitana, thanked the officials of the University Project for arranging the get-together and expressed the hope that Vedanta University will one day make Puri the best education destination.

Among others, Mr M K B P Mohapatra, Associated Vice President and senior officials of the Vedanta University Project were present on the occasion.

For further details contact:

Mr. Kishore Chandra Das
Head, Communications
Email   kishorechandradas@gmail.com
Mobile No. :  91-9437012258

Ashis Kumar Acharya
Public Relations Officer
Email – ashis_pro@rediffmail.com
Mobile: 9937107444

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Vedanta University Project Celebrates Teachers

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Puri, September 8, 2008:  In keeping with the intent and purpose of the Teacher’s Day, Vedanta University Project arranged a teachers’ get-together at Puri in order to felicitate them. Accepting invitation of the University Project Management, hundreds of teachers of the University Project area and of Puri came to Holiday Resorts for this get-together. It was a good opportunity for the University Project Officials to personally meet the teachers of the area, spend some time with them and exchange ideas. Eminent teachers, including the former Principal of SCS College, Puri, Mr Somnath Mishra; Retired Teacher of Municipal High School, Puri, Mr Dinabandhu Mishra; Retired Teacher of Biswambara Vidyapitha, Puri, Mr Basanta Kumar Mishra; Principal of DAV School, Puri, Mr Bibhuti Bhusan Parija and many others were present on the occasion.

Felicitating the teachers and thanking them for their gracious presence, Director of Vedanta University Project, Mr. Sanjeev Anand Zutshi said that everybody, no matter how big and famous, is indebted to their teachers and no one can ever repay the debt.

Mr. Prasanta Kumar Hota, GM, PR & CSR, Vedanta University Project said that children are the future of India and the teachers are the makers of that future as they educate and groom the children. Speaking about the proposed Vedanta University, Mr Hota said that the University will one day be a milestone in the education sector where financial constraint will never be a problem for any deserving student to access higher education.

A presentation was shown to the teachers on the purpose, the vision, the unique architectural plan of the proposed University as well as the socio-economic development the project is expected to bring to the local area and to the state and country as a whole. The presentation was followed by an open discussion where various queries of the teachers regarding Vedanta University were answered by the University Project’s officials. On behalf of all the teachers, Mr. Gangadhara Mishra, Sanskrit teacher of Harish Chandra Memorial High School, Chhaitana, thanked the officials of the University Project for arranging the get-together and expressed the hope that Vedanta University will one day make Puri the best education destination.

Among others, Mr M K B P Mohapatra, Associated Vice President and senior officials of the Vedanta University Project were present on the occasion.

For further details contact:

Mr. Kishore Chandra Das
Head, Communications
Email   kishorechandradas@gmail.com
Mobile No. :  91-9437012258

Ashis Kumar Acharya
Public Relations Officer
Email – ashis_pro@rediffmail.com
Mobile: 9937107444

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Vedanta University Launches Long-Term Community Development Programs

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Puri, 26th Aug 2008: The Vedanta University project has commenced significant initiatives for education, healthcare, infrastructure and livelihood improvements in the local area comprising over 20 villages.  This includes sponsoring 500 local village children for high quality education in DAV School, Puri, Mobile Health Units for villagers and Mobile Veterinary unit for animals like cattle and goats which provide supplementary / alternative economic livelihood in these villages. Besides, electrification of no power villages, upgrading of school and village infrastructure, a programme of sustainable livelihood solution and training of local youth in skills development etc, have been initiated

A dedicated department of for Social and Community Initiatives,  is driving these policies and programmes. Ms. Abhijita Panigrahi, a young member of the social initiatives group of the Vedanta University Project says “We are working to develop the local communities to a standard of living (education, health, infrastructure and livelihood) so that it forms a continuum with the world class community of Vedanta University.   The local people will feel proud and be a part of building this institute which will bring huge economic prosperity to Orissa”. Endorsing it, the General Manager & Head of the department, Mr Prashant Hota says, “For us this is nothing less than a commitment’

The Vedanta University Project envisages setting up a world class multidisciplinary University with quality higher education facilities in Arts, Science, Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business, Education, Design and Architecture, Journalism and communication, etc, that will not only promote greater learning, cutting-edge research and socio-economic development, but also put India prominently on the global education map.

The university will also have research centers and complete infrastructure for the students, faculty and staff and will become a vibrant academic & research township over the 6000 acres campus near the Puri-Konark marine drive in Orissa.  Like all major universities of the world, Vedanta University will be a “Not for Profit” institution.  The University is being set up with an initial donation of over Rs. 4000 crores (1 billion USD) by Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc and Anil Agarwal Foundation, a philanthropic organization.

For further details contact:

Mr. Kishore Chandra Das
Head, Communications
Email   kishorechandradas@gmail.com
Mobile No. :  91-9437012258

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