Fairtrade under its mandate focuses on the empowerment of farmers and workers through driving climate resilience and increased focus on creating decent livelihoods through its programs and strategies. Environment sustainability has been one of the prime focuses of Fairtrade NAPP for 2022 and much emphasis is being laid on Climate Change risk mitigation strategy and initiating relevant climate-resilient projects and programs that can create decent livelihood opportunities for the community members.
Afforestation as an effective method to slow the impact of climate change has been considered by Fairtrade NAPP for its Producer Organisations in North and Central Asia where producers grow multiple products such as Rice, Sugar, Cotton, Cereals, Oilseeds, Herb, etc. The Project will not only help create climate stabilisation and decent livelihood opportunity but also address other environmental issues, such as barren land and soil erosion. Approx. 20 Producer organisations will be benefiting from this initiative.
The Project aims to :
- To provide an alternative source of tree products to the farming members to increase their income portfolio in the long run.
- To help in developing biodiversity and provide environmental benefits to the members and the community.
- The output from the planted trees could be used as a raw material for the value addition projects leading to an additional income proposition.
- The Project will help prevent environmental issues & challenges – related to soil erosion, watershed improvement, climate stabilization, or global warming issues to some extent.
- A Community-led initiative to ensure a long-term project owned and managed by youth/ women and other members.
Implementation
Invitations were sent out to producers to participate in the Tree Plantation project. Each of the producers are being given the option to select the Tree species they would like to grow. The distribution of the tree species will be sponsored by NAPP while the producers take care of monthly care and maintenance costs. There are regular follow-ups to understand the future requirements and make it a long-term project owned by the producers.
The project will play an important role in climate change mitigation and reducing the risk of natural calamities in high-risk areas thereby contributing to soil conservation, reducing carbon emission, increasing crop productivity and quality, local food and nutrition, and security providing food such as fruits, nuts, leafy greens for both human consumption and fodder.
It will help increase the local biodiversity, providing plants and animals with a favourable habitat, food, and protection. The farmers and producers will receive an opportunity to diversify their income stream and generate an additional source of income. Fairtrade NAPP highly encourages youth and women from the organisations to participate. This will lead to a new generation taking ownership of the environmental and climate change-led movement.
Tree Plantation Drive by Gwalior Boswelia Serrata Producer Company Ltd; FLO ID 40070
Gwalior Boswelia Serrata Producer Company Ltd; was the first organization to start the Afforestation Project in the area of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh for 50 members who are a group of wild collectors with lower levels of income.
Shivpuri known for its glorious history, in the past, was part of the Scindia Kingdom and also its summer capital. The area in and around Shivpuri was full of dense forest where the famous Madhav National Park is located. Its natural beauty and historical monuments have been a major tourist attraction. However, over the years its forests have shrunk, hills denuded, water resources reduced and its wildlife is vanishing. Shivpuri now faces a host of problems.
These unnatural and unfavorable developments have the worst effects on its tribal population and tribal economy. As such the majority of their population is dependent on their source of livelihood generated from the Boswellia Serrata gum tree. The exploitation of this tree species is also on extreme levels leading to a risk of its deterioration or extinction in the years to come, which will eventually close down the source of livelihood for the tribal community.
Therefore, GBSPCL with the support of Fairtrade NAPP launched the pilot Afforestation project to help the farmers improve their income and livelihood by reducing their dependency on the single livelihood option of collecting Boswellia gums from the forest. The organization has planted 1500 fruit trees – 1000 Gooseberry and 500 Guava saplings in the Salliya Village, Shivpuri district.
The approx. the average value of the output per tree is calculated at 30 to 40 kg/ guava tree and 50 to 60 kg/ gooseberry tree. The Gestation period is 03 to 04 years after plantation and the production can be expected by the year 2024.
“ The afforestation project is a great support for us as we will be able to earn some extra money by selling Guava and Gooseberry plants increasing our income- Suresh Yadav, Farmer member; Village Panihari
The project provides the tribal communities with various social, environmental, and economical benefits:
Social Benefits:
It promotes the plantation of fruit trees as a source of income for other villagers and the community. It builds community spirit and unity and educates SPO members and the community about the benefits of fruit trees and nature. Trees provide food (gooseberry and guava) and benefit the people living around them by having a positive impact on their mental health and overall well-being, thereby reducing stress.
It increases the sustainability of the organization by the trading of Guava, Gooseberry, and Boswellia Serrata and with the increase in income, the SPO members get better living standards. It promotes gender-based contribution to the community’s development through women’s participation in income-generating projects.
Economic Benefits:-
It will help 50 members to develop a new source of livelihood and income. Since both the products are in demand due to their medicinal and other properties, this shall act as a supporting primary source of raw materials for the secondary organization leading to larger market access for the SPO.
Environmental Benefits:-
The plantation of trees will help remove carbon footprints from the air, create wildlife habitat, and provide oxygen, prevents Soil erosion. The barren lands of the village would be rightfully used to support creating supplementary income and environmental responsibility.
“ This project supported us in planting fruit trees which are helpful for medicinal purposes and also for self-consumption. Additional benefits will be reaped through selling Guava and Gooseberry as fruits. We are thankful to Fairtrade for such initiatives
Suresh Adiwasi, Farmer member; Village Salliya
Tree Plantation Drive by Nature Bio – Foods Ltd. – Fair Farming Foundation Jammu; FLO ID 39170
On 5th June 2022, World Environment Day. Nature Bio-food Ltd in Jammu started the registration of small & marginal farmers interested to plant a minimum of five trees saplings of mango and lemon. The response received was huge but due to the limitation of plant numbers, they managed to complete 271 enrollments meeting their target of 1500 tree plantations with 90% survival assurance.
“Our planet’s challenges are well-known, and the need of the hour is human-centric, collective efforts and robust actions that further sustainable development. The greatest gift to mankind and all life forms is water and air and each of us needs to conserve them. With the support of Fairtrade NAPP, Nature Bio Foods Fair farming foundation benefited 271 small and marginal farmers of the Jammu region and planted fruit trees on their farms which will help to protect the environment and improve the livelihood of these farmers. I hope together we can make our village, society, and planet more beautiful, safe, and sustainable for all.
Vivek Shahi- Regional Manager, Nature Bio Foods
The organization conducted the plantation drive from 8th to 10th August 2022 and covered 271 farmers and planted 900 grafted mango plants and 600 grafted lemon plants at the farmer’s field. A monitoring team of 7 people has been assigned to verify the progress of plant growth every 15 days.
“Now our children will get to eat good quality mangoes from the trees. It is being sold at the market for100 – 120 INR/ kg which we cannot afford. The trees also provide shade in the summer which helps us to rest. We have access to clean air and the leaves will help us fertilize our organic farm. Seeing all the benefits the farmers have become aware of planting trees and next time we will have more people partnering for this noble cause.
Janak Singh, Farmer member; Village Chack Rama, Jammu
