ACTIVITIES:
5. ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency)
6. IAMWARM SCHEME, GOVT. OF INDIA
7. AGRI BUSINESS CENTRE (ABC) PROCUREMENT FACILITATOR
9. FORMATION OF MILCH ANIMAL COMMODITY GROUPS - DIRECT SALE OF MILK
10. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMODITY GROUPS
12. HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, TOURISM ACTIVITIES OF GCF
GCF aims at promoting an equitable and ecological order of the environment. Sustainable Agriculture, Watershed Management and Development of Natural and Human Resources in a people participatory manner of rural areas are some of the important guidelines followed.
GCF has given due importance to afforestation and reforestation. This involves planting of large number of trees providing livelihood for the poorest of the poor. This also serves as a means of adaptation to the most vulnerable preservation of water-shed, thereby protecting soil and also bio diversity which in turn gives impetus ways of sustainable farming and encountering problems posed by global warming and climate change, in a wider aspect.
2. WASTE LAND CULTIVATION
GCF gives utmost importance to afforestation and reforestation by conducting awareness programme on beneficial effects of planting & growing of trees and also extensively growing the same alongwith the local people.
GCF lays emphasis primarily on plantation of fast growing trees. Globally it has been argued that fast wood plantations are beneficial as reforestation programme prevents soil erosion and flooding; it also reduces pressure on natural forest, combats climatic changes and offers employment in remote regions thereby alleviating poverty. Carbon dioxide emission, the prominent cause of global warming, is reduced, thereby improving the environment.
3. PLANTATION ACTIVITIES
GCF, in the year 2005-06, had successfully executed a tie-up with Tamil Nadu News Print and Paper Ltd., (TNPL) a Govt. of Tamil Nadu undertaking involving agreements for its association with its farm forestry project. These agreements bring the wasteland under cultivation through buy back arrangement and contract farming with TNPL, in the enlistment of farmers for planting of eucalyptus and Casuarina saplings in Pudukkottai and Sivagangai District, Tamilnadu.
GCF has produced a total of 30 Lakhs seedlings of Eucalyptus and Casuarinas to supply small and marginal farmers under subsidised cost in its own Nurseries during 2005-2008. A trend has been set as never before in the farming history of Tamilnadu State. GCF is the only NGO which has achieved 2,000 acres of wasteland cultivation amongst the NGO’s which participated in the programme.
a.)GCF,during 2004-05, was selected by DWDA (District Watershed Development Agency) as a sponsored NGO for CWP (Comprehensive Waste Land Programme) in Pudukkottai District and worked along with project implementing Agency of CWP in Annavasal, Viralimalai and Kandarvakottai panchayat towns of Pudukkottai District.
b.).GCF, during 2005-06, was selected as a sponsored NGO for NWDPRA (National Watershed Programme for Rain Fed Agriculture) for the 10th Five Year Plan in the Arimalam panchayat town of Pudukkottai District. GCF has also conducted PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) exercises, Farmers Training Programmes and Self Help Group formation work in the NWDPRA Scheme with state govt., participation..
c.)GCF, during 2008-09 had been selected in the 11th Five Year Plan of Watershed Programme and conducted Eleven PRA exercises at Pudukkottai District and also carried out two DPR (Detailed Project Report) preparations at Sivagangai District under NWDPRA Scheme.
d.)GCF, during 2009-10, carried out DPR and Action plan preparation for Fifteen IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Programme) Watershed Schemes in Pudukkottai District.
e.)GCF apart from above has been selected as PIA (Project Implement Agency). for two WDF (Watershed Development Fund) Schemes of NABARD (National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development), one at Pudukkottai District and the other at Sivagangai District.
f.)GCF in 2011 carried out DPR and Action plan preparation for Twenty IWMP Schemes in Pudukkottai District.
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5.ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency):
GCF, for the year 2006-07, has been selected as District Level NGO for ATMA and also one of its Governing member for which the District Collector is the Chairman. Till date GCF is a Governing member of ATMA. Under the aegis of ATMA, GCF has conducted several training programmes, field demonstrations, Inter and Intra state exposures and conducted farm schools for farmers on different crops.
a.) DISTRICT LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAMMES
GCF has successfully conducted several two days FIAC Farmers Training Programme in Pudukkottai District. Batches comprising 25 farmers each were given training and demonstrations were conducted on sericulture value added banana and maize.
b.) FARM SCHOOLS
GCF is now conducting 7 Farm Schools based on the principle of “Learning by doing” as well as “seeing is believing” in the field of harvesting on Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture Business field
c.)INTER-STATE EXPOSURE VISITS
GCF, during 2009, Pudukkottai District Farmers were taken on a National Exposure Visit to Delhi - “Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2009 FAC Meet under ATMA Scheme. This was repeated in the following year also not only to Delhi but also to neighboring states like Karnataka and Kerala.
d.) INTRA – STATE EXPOSURE VISITS
GCF, under the aegis of State Agricultural Business Department, has taken many district farmers on various exposure visits within the state like Madurai, Dindigul, Palani, Chennai etc.,to educate and widen the horizon of agricultural marketing in various products and in various locations.
GCF has also taken farmers to Agricultural Universities, to create interest and awareness on Marketing Intelligence, Scientific Farming, Modern Planting techniques and New Farming Machineries etc.,
GCF, from the inception of IAMWARM project in Pudukkottai District in the state of Tamilnadu, is the only NGO selected in the District by virtue of its past reliable performance for successfully working along with all the eight related Government departments.
7.AGRI BUSINESS CENTRE (ABC) PROCUREMENT FACILITATOR
GCF has been enlisted as a NGO to be involved in the assistance of running an Agricultural Business Centre as a pilot project by Agriculture Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu (First and the only one till date) at Thiruvarankulam, Pudukkottai District and also in assisting the procurement of Maize (Indian Corn) and Casuarina from the federation of commodity groups and Water users association (WUA) of Pudukkottai District.
GCF Chairman is the director for the Pilot Project to make market tie-up arrangement for the supply of maize with leading feed manufacturing companies located in and around Namakkal District. During 2008-09, 541 Metric Tons of maize was procured and directly purchased by feed companies for a very good price in the ABC (Agri Business Centre) without any mediators. This is the first and foremost Pilot Scheme promoted by the concerned department of Tamil Nadu State and Central Governments through IAMWARM and sponsored by the World Bank.
GCF was appointed as facilitator for ABC (Agri Business Centre) Thiruvarankulam in Pudukkottai District in forming commodity groups for different crop farmers and in tie up with entrepreneurs through buy back system.
GCF is the only NGO in Tamil Nadu to be given Contract Farming System by the Department of Marketing and Agricultural Business (Government of Tamil Nadu) and also by a National Bank- SBI (State Bank of India) under IAMWARM Scheme.
9.FORMATION OF MILCH ANIMAL COMMODITY GROUPS- DIRECT SALE OF MILK
GCF in terms of livelihood to get more income for poor and landless farmers, with Dept. of Agri Marketing and Agri Business ( Govt., of Tamilnadu ) under IAMWARM Scheme formed the Milch Animal Commodity Groups alongwith need- based Crops like maize ( Corn) .
GCF under the prevailing District Collector was nominated as Nodal NGO in the proceeding Order No.A.142/08 dated 9.1.2010. (1st & only one in Tamilnadu State till date) and accorded the status of facilitator & guarantor in the formation and managing of milch animal commodity groups. .
GCF initially formed five groups in Pudukkottai District in 2009. Members get a good price without mediators and customers get pure fresh milk, morning and evening; thus, both seller and buyer are satisfied to the fullest extent possible because the seller gets a higher price while the end consumer gets a lower price than open market price.
GCF along with State Agri Mktg., Dept., has provided vehicles for milk collection to bring the milk to the Uzhavar Santhai (State Govt., Assisted Farmers’ Markets) from various villages.
GCF in 2009 started with 22 Litres of Milk procured from the Milch Animal Commodity Groups through Dept. of Agri Marketing sponsored vans and are sold directly to the Consumer at Uzhavar Santhai.
GCF is now successfully collecting at Pudukkottai town 1200 litres from 18 groups (270 Farmers) from various villages through seven sales centers alongwith needy college students on part time basis.
GCF and State Dept., of Agri Marketing have also provided transportation logistics. This successful arrangement has served as a Pilot Project for State Dept., Agri Marketing of other Districts also to bring their farmers on an exposure visit to observe and learn the methods of the successful scheme at Pudukkottai.
10. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMODITY GROUPS
GCF is also involved in facilitating in arranging ,recommending loan sanctioning and repaying for commodity groups especially those of Milch Animals and Maize ( Corn) Crop and also in obtaining Insurance Policies and if required settling claims also
11. FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
GCF had also conducted a household survey, door to door, at Kuliperai village of Pudukkottai District on behalf of Indian Bank,. We acted as facilitator for the Bank and made all the villagers (620), to open an account in Indian Bank Branch at Kuliperai village through our introductions. As per Government of India’s aim that every individual should have a saving bank account in the country, we are striving to fulfill the same in all other villages also.
12. HISTORICAL, Cultural, Tourism Activities of GCF-
GCF interests are wide and varied. It has promoted Artistic, Cultural and Historical tourism at Sithannavasal, near Pudukkottai town, an ancient Jain Cave Temple Complex, where sculptures and coloured frescoes are exquisite and abundant to the extent of being called Ajantha of South India. In recognition of GCF multifaceted services, it’s Chairman, as an individual has been exclusively selected by the District Collector as a Lifetime Executive Member and GCF as an NGO, Administrative Member of Sithannavasal Development and Tourism Promotion Society.