Agroforestry and environmental education project integrated with plantation, livestock farming, and agriculture in Mulshi, India

April 2001 - March 2002

During the tree plantation, contours were made for the first demonstration, watched by people. This is to catch the rain water and conserve it in the field. Plants are planted on the edges of the contours.

Project Overview

This was a project promoting agro-forestry, environmental education and afforestation in Khamboli cluster, Mulshi district, near Pune, India (4 hours east of Mumbai). It was the third year of work with the group of villages with our local partner, ICA Pune. Mulshi is one of the poorest block in Pune district, hilly and sloppy land washed out the soil and trees. And, local people are enthusiastic to take this opportunity to develop this place as a model.
The project objectives were 1) to improve the natural environment through tree planting, 2) to utilize local resources and increase the sense of importance of environment, 3) to develop the farmersÕ leadership for sustainable development, and 4) to share ideas and experiences and learnings widely through an international environmental conference.
The activities for above objectives were accomplished through 1) distribution of multi-purpose and orchard seedlings and make small plantations, 2) holding regular village meetings and leadership trainings, 3) introduction of alternative-energy including 210 smokeless stoves and also 3 bio-gas plants, 4) initiation of activities such as mango grafting training, educational trips, environmental and awareness camps based on villagerÕs needs, and 5) improving the sanitation in the villages by building 10 toilets. To promote environmental development on a broader basis, we sponsored an environmental conference and invite leading edge environmental and community development participants from villages, companies, government officials, NGOs, and international practitioners.
Farmers in Khamboli cluster finally planted 36,000 seedlings on 12 hectares of surroundings barren lands. Seminars, trainings and awareness programmes helped villagers to understand about agro-forestry. As a focus on womenÕ participation, we had one leadership training programme for women. Women were interested in alternative-energy programmes and small income generation activities. One result was that men and women were aligned to work for their developing future with much zeal, and they began offering their wisdom to three nearby villages.
This third-year of comprehensive development project has completed. We are watching this project to see that it is sustainable and independent, and preparing to work with 30 others villages using our successes as a model for wider scale development. And we plan to include watershed management in our next round of activities.

Village Life
1. This is a typical cooking in a village in India. The walls and the floor are made of sand and cow dung.
2. This house has a stone floor and the walls built to last. The pots on the shelf are the pride of women, and is a part of their social status.
3. The view of Khamboli village from a nearby mountain.
4. Farmers are planting rice which is the main crop in this area. Neighboring farmers help each other to plant. They are using a new variety of rice for this year, so good yield is expected.
5. The Mountains during the dry season. Only a little green is visible. but if they had good watershed management, there would be access to water the whole year.
6. Ghanash Festival in the village. People come together with their own Ghanash statues. They walk to the lake while singing and dancing. This festival is one of the biggest festivals in West India, even in small villages.
Monthly Meetings
7. Mr. Lakshman Khengre, a leader, welcoming the participants, is giving context and handing over the meeting to the facilitator. They take turns to lead the meeting. Representatives of other two villages are also present. Women and men are equal in the meeting.
8. Another monthly meeting in which an expert in organic fertilizer was invited to make a presentation.
9. People use the Hindu temple for their meeting. Mr.Shankar JADHAV, who is the Director of ICA India, is in the middle-right. Ms.Meera RAJDA, who is the welfare manager from Forbes Marshall company, is on the middle-top, and Dr.Robyn TRIBHUWAN, who is the Director of tribal development from Pune district office, and came to present his experience, is on the middle-bottom. Partnership with people from various places reminds villagers that not only villagers but also other people can benefit from their environmental project.
Tree Planting
10. It was time to distribute well-grown seedlings to farmers. Workers moved seedlings from the main nursery at the Environmental Education Centre to the villages. They paid much attention to this work in order not to give damage to seedlings.
11. Ditches and contour lines for planting have been done by tractor.
12. During the tree plantation, contours were made for the first demonstration, watched by people. This is to catch the rain water and conserve it in the field. Plants are planted on the edges of the contours.
13. Women did the weeding at the tree plantation plots. This was second weeding in November.
14. Nursery workers at the Environmental Education Centre are taking care of seedlings. They are moving pots so that seedlings do not take root. Depending upon their work, the seedlings can survive after being planted, so they have to pay much attention to their work. They always prepare 10,000 to 50,000 seedlings by hand.
15. Eucalyptuses in the barren plot.
16. The staff of Cummins Diesel India Ltd participated in a tree planting workday along with villagers.
7. Purchased grafted mango plant is growing as part of horticulture tree plantation.
18. Tree plantation at the roadside. Each farmer receives and plants seedlings, but farmers work together to plant at community places. Multiple trees were planted at this roadside.
Nursery
19. Temporary nursery at Khamboli village with care takers that supplied over 36,000 plants to the villagers from the project area.
20. Another view of the Khamboli village nursery.
21. An afforestation nursery at the Environmental Education Centre. Papaya seedlings are in front, and Silver oak seedlings are behind. They are 7 months old.
22. Afforestation nursery in Environmental Education Centre, same as previous photo. Teak seedlings are in the right, and Eucalyptus seedlings are at the left. We can see Mango and Papayas are growing as samples.
23. Mr.Balu TAWARE, the local supervisor for the Khamboli cluster, is distributing seedlings to farmers. ICA trainer, Mr.Mukesh TAKUSANDE (Left) is inspecting the condition. Farmers can come to get whichever seedlings they want anytime. He keeps distribution record at hand, and informs regularly the condition to ICA India.
24. A local supervisor and nursery gardeners prepare to spray pesticide to seedlings. Since each farmer can not manage to buy pesticide, we spray it onto the seedlings before distribution. We hope the seedlings become big trees.
Bio-gas construction
25. The construction of bio-gas plant for Mr. Yeshwant Taware in Khamboli at the first stage. Family members, father and daughter, are helping contractors, handing them bricks and cement, etc.
26. The bio-gas plant is being constructed. Women of the family did the work of digging the pit. This is the main plant where the gas is being stored.
27. The bio-gas plant construction almost completed. Brick square on the right is where cow dung is poured in. It passes it into the main tank on the left hand side in the photo.
Installation of toilets
28. Ten toilets were constructed in three villages. A tested model requires less water for flushing it. The cost of construction is also low because cement blocks are used, so plastering is not required. Mrs. Rajda, a new ICA staff member, is visiting the project site and talking to a beneficiary.
29. This lady put white tiles in her toilet and is proud that she is using it.
30. Young generation find toilets very useful.
31. Toilet construction in Andhale village. This is the first family which came forward for this project. The family lives near their field.
Smokeless Stoves
32. Mr. Bhoomkar is explaining and showing a video on the use and benefit of smokeless stoves to villagers prior to launching the campaign of installing smokeless stoves.
33. Smokeless stoves are being made by skilled people, which are to be supllied to about 300 families from the project area.
34. Smokeless stoves manufacturing, same as the above photo.
Leadership Development Training
35. Mr. Bhimrao Tupe is explaining the leaders from 3 villages about alternatives of development approaches at a leadership development training program held at EEC Talegaon.
36. Same as above, at Youth Training in EEC. After having discussions, Youths presented their opinion about what kind of heritage should remain in the future. The person on the right is one of ICAÕs trainers, Mr.Bhimrao TUPE, who handles education programmes.
37. ICA Education trainer, Bhimrao TUPE told women about self-respect, money-saving and so on, and let women discuss about future direction of the villages.
38. An expert from Arupan who made liquid organic fertilizer is introducing the product.
39. Mr. Shashi Sharma from Cummins Diesel Foundation, a local partner to Khamboli village development, is making presentation during the leadership programme.
International Environment Conference
40. In the beginning of the International Environment Coference, Mrs. Shizuyo Sato, the director of ICA Japan made a greeting.
41. Mr. V. N. Mundhe, one of participants, made a an excellent speech about environment sustainability.
42. Mr. Patrick Munyao from Kitui Kenya is presenting the way of development of 30 villages in Kitui District. The program is quite extensive as it includes village planning, leadership training, credit and loan systems, agroforestry, organic agriculture, and health. A major focus is the drilling of borewells to provide savedrinking water.
43. Mr. Tatwa Timsuna is explaining village development in Nepal, and their role as trainers of facilitators and of village development committee members.
44. Mr. Lee Van Hao from Vietnam is presenting the conditions of life in the Northern Mountian region, and the forthcoming 400 commune Poverty Reduction Program. He is assisting with the design and immplementation of a pilot commune Program which is being used as a test laboratory for the large scale project.
45. Mr. Chomchuan from Thailand is explaining their way of spreading Organic Farming with a wide scale people.
46. Ms. Elaine Stover presented concepts of Sustainable Development used in the USA and which can be used worldwide.

47, 48.@Views of the participants and the conference venue.
49. A presentation on the principles of total sustainable Development, presented by Mr. Amiaya Sahu.
50. Mr. Robert Costa of WOTR enthusiastically presented their massive watershed project. Where they have worked, it is now raining more often than before, and the watershed villages can supply water to other villages even during the long dry season.
51. Mr. Shankar Jadhav of ICA India presented the basic principles of development in the economic, social, and cultural fields. This slide illustrates their Partnership approach to development.
52. This is the envvironmental center where the conference was held, and which was build with funding from JEC. The center was completely renovated just prior to the conference. The conference room can accomodate oveer 100 people, and their are rooms for 30 adults to stay for overnight learning events.

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