Workshop on Make a Difference in sustainable agricultrual development (MAD in SAD)

[rosaline]

Make a Difference in Sustainable Agricultural Development(MAD in SAD)

Capacity Enhancement Programme
Venue: New Delhi
Training Dates: 14th July to 15th July 2007
Duration: 2 Days

Context
India is today one of the six fastest growing economies of the world. The business and regulatory environment is evolving and moving towards constant improvement. A highly talented, skilled and English-speaking human resource base forms its backbone. The Indian economy has transformed into a vibrant, rapidly growing consumer market, comprising over 300 million strong middle class with increasing purchasing power. India provides a large market for consumer goods on the one hand and imports capital goods and technology to modernize its manufacturing base on the other.

With these development indices soaring up, India is falling apart and the graph seems to fall when it comes to food security, nutrition, bio-energy, environment and livelihood for rural India. Food security is determined by food availability, food access and is interlinked with livelihood. To meet the UN Millennium Development Goal of reducing the number of hungry people to half by 2015, there is a need to bridge the huge gap between attainable yield and average yields harvested by the farmers especially in developing countries under fragile environments.

Slow agricultural growth is a concern for policymakers as some two-thirds of India's people depend on rural employment for a living. Current agricultural practices are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable and India's yields for many agricultural commodities are low. Poorly maintained irrigation systems and almost universal lack of good extension services are among the factors responsible. Farmers' access to markets is hampered by poor roads, rudimentary market infrastructure, and excessive regulation. India is classified by FAO as a low-income, food-deficit country and has the largest number of poor, food-insecure people in the world. About 360 million people, 40 percent of India's population, live in chronic poverty, consuming less than 80 percent of minimum energy requirements. Integrated farming system, agro-processing and renewable energy, are essential both to meet food production targets for increasing food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation and thus livelihood security on sustainable basis. Besides, the ruthless exploitation of natural resources coupled with increasing industrialization is also leading to the energy and rural economy crises.

The incident of farmer's committing suicide due to crop failure and growing debt have made policy makers, civil society organizations and innovators rethink India's agricultural policy and prospects. Globalization of economies and liberalization of trade under WTO regime have economic, ecological, ethical, social and technological dimensions.

For Sustainable Development and livelihood security, development of economic and social infrastructure along with congenial policy reforms is equally important. Also, participatory research and knowledge management with farming communities using information technology needs strengthening to enhance productivity and income per hectare on an environmentally sustainable basis.

Seeing the criticality of the roles of Sustainable Agriculture in addressing livelihood issues and inclusive economic growth, Responsenet brings together individuals and organisations working in the area of research, Policy formulation, Capacity building of farmers, Outreach Programmes, farmer rights , Media Agencies, Corporate, government bodies and Communities on a single platform and share collectively, views and ideas to enable the creation of sustainable collaboration of various stakeholders through responsenet.org

Experts Profile:
Dr. Haridas V.R Caritas India,

Dr.Haridas V.R of Caritas India, has Over nine years experience with extensive hands on exposure to areas like Programme development, Execution and Monitoring, Training and related research and studies. His people management and administration skills experience especially cover Natural Resources management, Watershed management, and sustainable agriculture initiatives with various organisations globally.

Dr.Haridas V.R has written and compiled books i.e., Soil and water - the cradle of life, Shades of Green and Songs of Oasis.

His present capacity as Manager NRM Programme of Caritas India includes environment training and feasibility study of environmental projects, its monitoring and evaluation. Dr.Haridas has also done extensive research on topics like Litho logical mapping through remote sensing, Land use mapping through remote sensing, GIS Applications in Hydrogeoloical studies, Interpretation of Soil Resources and many other agriculture related studies.

Practical inputs for watershed management, Sustainable Agriculture, Environment Management of Asia partnership for Human development, Drought Management and impact assessment, Farmers Rights, are some national and international programmes that Dr.Haridas has contributed in the past. He has also attended many international forums and a member of international forums like the working committee of APHD.

Objectives:
a. To Strengthen and broaden partnership mechanisms supporting the implementation of the action plans and the exchange of experiences.

b. To Study the existing information dissemination channels used by both public and private organizations and current ICT initiatives for the agriculture sector.

c. Identify principles and approaches leading to policy, social, economic and institutional improvements facilitating the dissemination and adaptation of sustainable agriculture.

d. To analyze new trends in agriculture, and the means of making them available to farmers.

e. To identify long term challenges of food, bio-energy, livelihood security and formulation of strategies to achieve the UN millennium goal of reducing hunger by 2015.

f. To provide an opportunity, to exchange knowledge and technologies on sustainable agriculture in fragile environments.

g. Understanding the sustainability need during a disaster situation.

h. Cover Concepts of Sustainable Agriculture, Current scenario of Natural resources, Engineering measures for Soil and water conservation, Application and implication of Agronomic Measures, Integrated Pest Management (IPM ), Integrated Crop Management ( ICM ), Soil Regeneration Measures. (SRM), Case of Livestock Feed, Breed and Health Management, Globalization and its impact on the Indian Agriculture, Marketing strategies for the Indian agricultural sector and Corporate Role and Investment in the Agricultural Sustainability in India.

Methodology:

The training consists of structured learning exercises and case-studies. A participatory approach and a high level of interaction among participants and trainers are involved. Trainers and participants share experiences, good practices and lessons learned to enhance learning opportunities to favour the development of innovative approaches to solve problems. The following approaches are also used:

a. Lectures

b. Group exercises

c. Presentations.

d. Case Studies

e. Interactive Sessions

Target Audience:
a. Entrepreneurs

b. Developmental professionals

c. Non-Governmental Organisations

d. Financial professionals and Bankers

e. Governmental Agencies

f. Policy Makers

g. Agriculturists

h. Scientists and researchers

i. Financial Institutions
Participation Fee & Mode of Payment:
Rs. 5000/- (Inclusive of Training Manuals, 2 days refreshments, and stationery).
Seats are limited and thus advance registration is suggested. To be sure of participation, we request you to send the nominations at the earliest along with the participation fee. For registration, kindly use the registration form at the bottom of this mail.

Modes of Payment:
Payment to be made either by Demand Draft or by Cheque to be drawn in favor of 'Response Net' and to be posted to the below given address:

"Make a Difference in Sustainable Agriculture Development"
Responsenet
E - 13, Anand Niketan,
New Delhi - 110021, India
Tele: 011-65422890

Local Accommodation for Non Delhi Participants:
For local accommodation, outstation participants are requested to make their own arrangement and for any assistance, you may contact Responsenet Team at:
++91 11 65422890
Enquiries and Suggestions
If you have any questions or suggestions for the training or nominations, please contact Mrs. Angela or Ms. Rosaline at:
Tele: 011-65422890
Mob: 9810872748 / 9899134103

E-mail: capacities@responsenet.org or k.angela@responsenet.org or rosaline.osana@responsenet.org

For more details and information for registration Forms and Programme please click

Response Net: Make a Difference in sustainable agricultrual development (MAD in SAD)