Introduction

Kerala's Coastal belt falls under the west coast plains included in the Planning Commission's recognised Agro climatic zone 12. The state's plain area, a narrow strip wedged in between the Sahyadris and the Lakshadweep sea, is sharply demarcated for most of its 550 km. length. The area, with a soil type of coastal sand posses resultant problems of excessive leaching of water and nutrients. Soil health problems plague vast area of this coastal plains, Field application of technologies to increase the income from monocropped farms existing here requires to be taken up on an area basis, involving community action by farmers.

Eleven out of Fourteen Districts hold such coastal plains, where territorial boundaries touch sea coasts. The District Thrissur shares to have about 250 sq.km. of sandy tract. Here the problem of poverty gets talked about a population of roughly 3 lakhs covered by 3 Community Development Blocks namely Thalikkulam, Mathilakam and Kodungalloor.,

Poverty alleviation

Successful implementation of the State's Land Reforms Act resulted in no or minimum landless population especially in farm front. But average per capita land holding accounts to 0.02 Ha. Poverty of about 60,000 families with an average holding size of less than 0.02 Ha. begins here. Feasibility for cropping confined in coconut alone due to very poor solid health, keep the mass below poverty line. Scope for income from non-agricultural sector is very scarce because of the underdeveloped potentiality for sources other than farming now prevailing. There is no awareness even today of the extent of poverty faced by about one lakh farm women. It is at this juncture, the small farmers Agribusiness Consortium intend to intervene.

Area identified

Based on personal experience and observation and studies in the coastal plains of Chawakkad and Kodungalloor Talukes of Thrissur District, the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) witnessed depth of poverty felt by nearly 50000 farm women. 13 Panchayats plus a portion of Kodungalloor municipality enlisted in the proposed development programme, are covered by three Community Development Blocks.

Current Land use

Coconut is the principal crop raised and looked after (Table 7) with no other crops either as main or as intercrop. Monocropping system is traditionally followed because of prevalence of least potentiality for exploiting any parameters favourable for other species.

Pandanus

Not only in this area but in almost all coastal plains of the state, patches of greenery is seen created by clusters of plants named 'Pandanus'. Among the eight species of Pandanus Pandanus veitchii, Pandanus amaryllifolius and Pandanus battostii are of economic importance with large unrealised potential.

Unique Features

Demographic particulars (Table 1) shows higher ratios of female population and higher density of population per Km2 and this is on upper side when related to District figures. Almost 90% or relatively smaller establishments of small scale cottage industries that too rendering very. poor job opportunities are located on eastern part of the area; thereby exist least employment potential in the project are (Table 8). So also, any appreciable level of requirement of agricultural labor does not exist under very thin cropping pattern. Such a situation naturally converted Locals to a lowered income mass. Vast majority of male members are at mercy of sea, with fishing. To supplement the family income, the farm women choosed mat weaving, the only possible mean. In mat weaving they observed certain advantages like, carrying out work in their own residence, the availability of raw materials locally least capital investment etc. Total unawareness in marketing, highly scattered producing centers etc. lead to exploitation by intermediaries. In the absence of any other source of income, these farm women pull on days with what they get, under such an unorganised set up. These unique features made the farm women gifted with a skill, to call for their empowerment

While assessing the so far unattended section, the coverage of Pandanus plants were noticed in all the coastal plains of the state. Mat weaving noticed in part of other Districts also, but not so intensively on an area basis . Incidentally; in Thazhava, Karunagappally location of Kallam District, Screw pine weaving from the leaves or Pandanus amaryllifolius is seen as a modified version. The peculiar arrangement of leaves on the main stem similar to the design of thread of a screw made to call the plant ‘Screw pine’. To the question why can't screw pine weaving be extended in the project area, the cross sectional representatives of weavers attended the group discussion to discuss their problems, on 8-02-1997, responded positively. Screw pine weaving is also slowly retarding.

It is futile to hope for any dramatic change in this field. The only hope lies in the result of the proposed programme designed as a pilot PROJECT.

THE PROGRAMME

SFAC's intervention begins in expanding Pandanus cultivation after imparting knowledge embedded in its economic importance. By creating organised and institutional support and motivating co­operative tendency, the farm women will be lifted above poverty line by generating self employment avenues. SFAC's role will not cease with trendsetting for value addition to the farmer's products, but will continue to augment this Agribusiness through research support

Present details of size of farm women engaged in works for supporting income to their families, production particulars, quantum of raw materials consumed etc. are given in Annexure II. Out of 39,188 farm women, more than 20% are solely dependent on Pandanus for their livelihood and so they exist in a very hard economic crisis. The project aims to increase farm income through whole hearted co-operation of fellow farmers. As mentioned earlier, since all those involved in the arena are females, the whole project is programmed for farm women as participatory beneficiaries.

The ecologically desirable technologies generally involve substitution of knowledge for capital. New information technologies make it possible to spread "techniracy" which means acquisition of the latest technical do how at a fast pace. For arranging value addition, the self acquired skill will have to be refined further and directed to produce double layered mats , and such other new frontiers of products untapped so far, rad1er than confining in the existing practice. The training component incorporated in the project is to equip farm women in the trifolded fields of ‘General Farming’, ‘Development Skill’ and ‘Management and Group activities’. A total 5,000 selected farm women will be trained in -batches of 50 in packages of 6 days; during first year itself (Appendix 3)

Particular stretched population over a distance of 30 kms compel to form 8 societies to cover 13 panchayats and one municipality area. Moreover, area based activity based population makes it and unviable to operate under one or two or three organizations. Capitalised provisions are made for building in own land, vehicles, training expenses, initial marketing promotional activities, revolving funds for self contained programmes in procurement of raw materials and finished products. Because raw materials and mats requires stocking during rainy seasons, pucca storage facilities are essential for systematic involvement in this Agribusiness. This concerted effort need expect only zero financial participation by d1e poorest of the poor beneficiaries. Therefore these items are capitalised in the project for external sources of funds (Appendix 4). Nevertheless provision is made to contain shares of fellow women farmers also, for their active participation.

There is great potential for utilizing mats in the neighbouring states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - among rural public and farmers, as cheaper bedding, as spreads for post harvest handling and curing of agricultural products, as packing material etc. An inter-state marketing network system can be established under the roof of SFAC.

PROJECT COST