9-Dec-2022: Skill Development Training helping Women of North East to earn their livelihood through mushroom cultivation

Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) under the aegis of ministry of DONEAR with an aim to empower Nari Shakti through Skill development has helped women living in rural areas of the North Eastern regions to earn their livelihood through mushroom cultivation.

It all started with the NERCRMS giving training to a Women self-help group- Banchung for mushroom cultivation. This group is from Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh. The group was formed in January 2016 with a total of 20 female members. This group belongs to the Singpho tribe.

In this area mushroom cultivation is growing rapidly, with the produce fetching good returns in the market. The oyster mushroom is one of the most suitable fungal organisms for producing protein-rich food from various agricultural wastes without composting. Starting oyster mushroom production requires training and preparation.

Initially, the group was not aware of its activity and how to ensure its sustainability. In the year 2016, after the project's implementation, the group learned about its process and activities and later became a part of it. A total of Rs. 1,22,000/- (2016 to 2020) was received through the Revolving Fund, where the group began with pickle making, weaving, and mushroom cultivation.

In the first week of September 2019, the group were trained on mushroom cultivation by Bad M Bhejega from Mohong village at Kherem Bisa. The group members actively participated during the training. Later, in January 2020, through the training and with the support of the revolving fund, the group started mushroom cultivation with an amount of Rs. 7000/- spent towards buying mushroom spawn, packaging plastic, rubber, and pipe spray.

After two months, mushrooms begin to sell at a whole sale market price of Rs. 150 to Rs. 160/kg and occasionally at a retail market price of Rs. 200. Over a month and a half, they sold 17 kg at a whole sale price of Rs. 2870 and 60 kg at retail with a sale price of Rs. 12000. The total amount sold was Rs. 14870, with a profit of Rs. 14870.

The group expressed its sincere gratitude to the project for its theoretical and financial support received through NERCRMS, by developing and enhancing the skills of rural women by providing knowledge about mushroom cultivation for income generation.

17-Mar-2022: Enhancing supply chain management through NERCRMS initiative - a registered society under the aegis of Ministry of DoNER Govt.

Konsa hamlet is in the Longding District of Arunachal Pradesh. Pongchau Block is one of the last villages near the Myanmar border. As per the PRA report, the village is surrounded by 120 households. The district headquarters is 68 kilometres away. The village's eight SHGs are Banu, Jingnungja, Mohiman, Josa, Chingkho, Jongkha, Mokha, and Lamngoi. All of these SHGs are promoted and supported by NERCOMRP III Tirap and Longding.

The area's resources include mostly agricultural items such as chilly, pumpkin, ginger, maize, millet, squash, and so on, as well as non-timber products such as bamboo shoots, banana blossoms, wild edible leaves, and fruits. Village women, on the other hand, were unable to promote their locally accessible products and services due to a lack of transportation and high fares.

On the 7th of September, 2019, during a Cluster Self-Help Group Federation meeting in Pongchau hamlet, the concept for a weekly market was developed. Through the support of the Partner NGO AIDA team, SHG members from Konsa, Konnu, Pongchau, and Bonia invited Mr. Khampai Wangsa (President Chingke NaRM-G Konsa Village Cum Caretaker of Pick-up Van) to the meeting and expressed their willingness to sell their products, negotiated for a reasonable fare, and set the fare and marketing days.

On October 5, 2019, SHG members visited Longding District Head Quarters for the first time to market their products. Previously, the AIDA team had trained them in entrepreneurship. However, they faced challenges such as a lack of knowledge about where to market their products, how to sort and grade them, and concerns about product cost. It was their first exposure to marketing as well as their first hands-on involvement with it.

Through AIDA’s team initiatives and support, the other women around them graded and priced their products. The SHG members successfully adapted to the situation, and it only took three hours to sell all the supplies.

Observations

1. Their confidence had grown
2. Grading and standardisation
3. Improved calculation skills
4. They learnt how to negotiate with customers
5. Purchases made by non-residents

Learning’s

1. Following the success of the Konsa SHGs, Pongchau, Konnu, and Bonia approached the AIDA team for support and expressed their willingness to do the same.
2. The SHG members acquired practical experience in marketing.
3. The products were organic and tasted different because of the cold climate, and many people preferred to purchase more from SHGs.
4. SHGs needed more capacity-building on value addition.
5. To follow up on the profit generated on the market days,
6. To discuss and share their experiences and thoughts following the marketing days, for future income-generating activities.

2-Mar-2022: North East Nari Shakti encouraging towards sustainable development- North-Eastern Council under the aegis of Ministry of DoNER

Bordumsa is a small hamlet in Changalang district, Arunachal Pradesh, where most people depend on agriculture and farm labour for a living. The Himalaya Self-Help Group was founded in this village in 2015 with the motto "Self-sufficiency and independence." The group had 11 members, and the majority of them worked in agriculture. The group used to meet on a regular basis to discuss various topics such as loans, savings, group activities, etc., with a total savings of Rs 10,710.

It all started with the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) under the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP), in which the villagers received financial support of Rs 46,186/- and they had collected a total of Rs 79099/-from all sources. The group members chose "fishery" as a group activity for self-sustainability.

Initially, they invested Rs. 8800/-for the purchase of fish saplings and other development costs. As a group activity, the total profit from fishing was Rs. 20,000/-. Every two years, they harvest the fish pond. As a result of this activity, many changes in the organisation occurred, including unity, leadership, self-sustainability, and other developing social services such as cleaning drives, etc.

The project improved the economic status of the locals, making a difference in their lives. Furthermore, SHGs express their gratitude to NERCORMP for enabling them to overcome other domestic issues in their family through NERCORMP's support and execution.

8-Feb-2022: AtmaNirbhar North East through Sustainable Agriculture- NERCRMS

Supyu hamlet is located in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, where most people are engaged in agriculture and labour work at farms. Due to seasonal nature of their occupation, the farmers rely on livestock as their primary source of income.

Since the low chilling varieties of apple have great potential in NER due to suitable agro-climatic conditions, the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS), Shillong took the initiative to introduce them in the region; under the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, GoI funded project title “Promotion of Low Chilling Apple Plantation in NER of India (2020 – 21)”.

The NERCRMS in collaboration with the Ziro Valley Charity Mission Society (ZVCMS), Arunachal Pradesh, organised a training programme on Pruning and Post-plantation Management of Apple Orchards at the Apple garden in Supyu village, Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Accordingly, 19 (nineteen) beneficiaries were identified from various Community Based Organizations (CBOs). They were trained in the pruning method of low-chilling apples as well as on how to protect plants from pests and diseases that affects the crop. They were further capacitated on how to give food supplements and medicines to increase the number of fruits.

Mr. Badonlum Tawsik, Sub-Division Officer, Old Ziro, Lower Subansiri District, graced the training programme as the Chief Guest. He acknowledged the initiative taken by the NEC and NERCRMS. Mr. Tawsik stated that training had been introduced to help CBO members to develop their skills and competencies required to start micro enterprises. He further highlighted that more such projects shall be implemented in the Ziro Valley in the near future.

Dr. Tasso Tabin, Scientist (PP) Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Yachuli, presided over the session as the resource person.

22-Dec-2021: Launch of Local Brand Namdapha Goodness

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council (NEC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Govt. of India. North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS), Meghalaya in collaboration with Changlang Community Resource Management Society (CCRMS), Arunachal Pradesh launched Local Brand Namdapha Goodness in Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh named after iconic Namdapha National Park located in the Changlang district, Namdapha.

This initiative is to boost the sale of locally produced goods of the CBO members, to improve the socio-economic condition of the rural populace and to generate sustainable employment opportunities among the village communities and unemployed youths through the manufacturing, marketing and distribution related activities.

Currently, a variety of products including edibles such as banana chips; spices such as ginger and turmeric powder, bakery items, locally spun clothes and sanitary napkins is being marketed under the brand. The products are distributed through a chain of local shops, village huts and marts of NABARD marts and private entrepreneurs.

8-Dec-2021: Setting up of Poultry Hatchery and Rearing units under NERCORMP Phase III

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council (NEC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), Govt. of India. The project named- Setting up of Poultry Hatchery and Rearing units under NERCORMP Phase III, which is implemented by NERCRMS, NEC, Govt. of India. The approved cost of the project is Rs. 998.00 lakhs and the NEC’s share is Rs. 998.00 lakhs. The project is located at Changlang, Longding and Tirap Districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Churachandpur and Chandel District of Manipur. It’s 100% ministry funded project.

The objective is to provide employment and income opportunities to the BPL families and hatchery and not so well-off households who otherwise fall under APL classification, to reduce the import of chicken meat from outside and to motivate the people of rural towards scientific poultry farming and hatchery through imparting training and exposure.

The output of the project will be establishment of poultry farms and hatchery units and its successful operations. The outcome would be a gainful employment of the rural poor thereby resulting in increase in income by at least 20% at household level.

17-Nov-2021: NERCRMS bringing Waves of Transformation in North East Region of India

North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) is a registered society under the aegis of North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The society is dedicated towards the transformation of far flung rural areas of North Eastern Region (NER)of India through different livelihood initiatives. The society, so far has covered four states of NER viz. Arunachal Pradesh (Changlang, Tirap and Longding districts), Assam Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts), Manipur (Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur and Chandel districts) and Meghalaya (West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts). The society, since 1999, has formed 8,403 SHGs (Self Help Groups) and 2,889 NaRMGs (Natural Resource Management Groups) in 2,532 villages benefiting 1,18,843 households through its project-North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP).

The overall objective of the project is to “To improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to preservation and restoration of the environment”.

The society adopted a holistic approach of development with two broad focus areas i.e. (i) social mobilization, organization and capacity building to tap and realize the great latent potential of the communities by employing time tested their traditional value systems and culture, and (ii) Intervene with the economic and social activities and infrastructure with predominant thrust on income generating activities to achieve economic transformation.

The strategy adopted to achieve the goals is:

1. Consistently promoting an inclusive development approach wherein women, weaker and the poorest participate on equal footing and platform and in the process realizing true participatory approach in letter and spirit.
2. Formation and establishment of viable and robust community based organizations namely SHGs and NaRMGs.
3. A deliberate and conscious approach to trust communities and entrust them with corresponding responsibilities.
4. Promote thrift and saving through revolving fund to SHGs to provide easy access to credit, who initially had mixed purpose of loaning both for consumption and income generating activities (IGAs), but later moved on predominantly towards IGA.
5. Ensure transparency and accountability at all levels; introduced and encouraged social auditing at all levels.
6. All village development fund managed by the communities themselves through bank accounts and in transparent manner.
7. Up scaling and enhancing the Income Generating Activities (IGAs) that are carried out with sensitivity.
8. Involving Traditional Institutions (TIs) and Social Institutions (SIs) in existence to achieve set goals and objectives through a formal agreement.
9. Capacity building and training on regular basis covering diverse areas. 
10. Provided space for people (both communities and team members) to grow and also encouraged creativity and evolvement.

Waves of transformation in North Eastern Region of India

1. Capacity building of communities and participating agencies: Institutional strengthening of community-based organisations (CBOs) and strengthening the capacity of participating agencies viz. NGOs, line depts. etc. on participatory planning, organisational and financial management, technical training on farm and non-farm activities, monitoring etc.

2. Economic and livelihood activities: Promote viable income generation activities (IGAs) for poor households through production of field crops, horticulture, forestry, livestock, fisheries, and non-farm activities using sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Also to support communities with introduction of new technologies, credit/revolving fund to CBOs for internal lending etc.
3. Social sector development: The specific objective of this component was to provide communities access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. This was to be achieved by constructing drinking water storage tanks, piped supply of water from a nearby spring or stream and construction of low cost toilets(LCL) with community participation.
4. Rural Roads and Rural Electrification: With the objective to enhance communities’ access to markets, health services, education facilities and energy, the components ought to construct common facility centres(CFCs), inter-village roads, culverts and suspension bridges and provide home solar lighting systems.
5. Community-based Bio-diversity Conservation & Communication: The specific objective is to protect and preserve the unique natural resources and rich bio-diversity of the region. The sub-components to achieve this objective were: i. bio-diversity conservation and research aimed at promoting community conserved areas(CCAs) as sacred groves, protected catchment areas and sanctuaries, (ii) forestry development to promote and demonstrate environmentally sustainable non-timber forest products (NTFP)and forestry production systems, and (iii) communication and knowledge management to facilitate information and knowledge sharing on good practices and production systems between communities.