CROPS 4 HD

A Panchayat Level Seed and Food Fair was organized at Hingalganj on 11th June 2024 at BankraHaat in collaboration with MATIR SRISHTI DIPANJALI Project (Implemented by DRCSC & Supported by Govt of WB). In this festival all the potential stakeholders participated i.e, MCGs, Seed Bank, FPC, Processing Unit, Local Administration (ADA, BDO, Panchayat), Health Workers, Market Committee, Schools & Local NGOs. Total 18 numbers of stalls were put in this occasion to demonstrate and show case local seed (33 type) and food diversity among the consumers. Also conducted a Cooking Competition on Moringa as the theme crop(moringaleaves recipe preparation by 7 participants). Approx. 2000 population attended the fair.

3 days training and exposure programme for FPC BoDs was organized from 19th to 21st June 2024 at Hingalganj cluster and Haroa Block, North 24 Pgs. Mr.SharukMolla, Director of Ichhepuron FPC, Haroa, was the resource person for the same. Asst. Director of Agriculture of Hingalganj&Haroa Blocks were present in the prog and they provided useful informations on scope for convergence with Govt. Schemes & programmes. During trg& exposure BOD members learnt the basics of organization management and business ideas & plan development process. They were also exposed to different farm bank machineries that could be taken up in a centre for farmer support. A follow up action plan has also been prepared.

Women Leadership Development training was organized at Kolkata from 6th to 7th June'24 where women leaders from seed banks, FPC, MCGs attended. Discussion done on vision building, leadership competencies, connect between gender, institution and leadership etc. Action plan developed to identify gap areas around self and institution building. Participants will submit a follow up action plan for both clusters.

The final event PMCA-3(Participatory Marketing Chain Approach) namely 'Launching Event of Neglected Nutritious Crops' was organized on 7th June 2023 with total 80 nos of stakeholders from various sectors. In the event joint innovation products (greengram whole and grinded, lesser yam dumpling and moringa leaf powder) is launched and presented in-front of all stakeholders present and media to generate future marketing scope of the above products.

DRCSC organized Seed and Food Fair (Panchayat Level) on 28th April 2023 at Ganjer Bazar, Ramganga, South 24 Pgs. The objective of the programme is to showcase crop diversity, exchange of opinion among farmers to promote use and conservation of traditional seeds. Local Administration, High school, Health workers, village level and community Level seed banks, Media, social worker, representatives from Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology, Farmer Producer Company, Retailers from local area and MCGs, Producers, Consumers and influencers of local area participated in the fair. 5 stalls are showcased and exchanges and selling of NUS and others crops done along with demonstration of desi seeds.

DRCSC organized Seed and Food Fair (Panchayat Level) on the occasion of International Seed Day on 26th April 2023 at Kathabari More, Hingalganj, North 24 Pgs. The objective of the programme is to showcase crop diversity, exchange of opinion among farmers to promote use and conservation of traditional seeds. Local Administration, High school, Health workers, village level and community Level seed banks, Media, social worker, MLA ( Hingalganj constituency) Retailers from local area and Kolkata, MCGs, Producers, Consumers and influencers of local area participated in the fair. Approx. 20 stalls were given to showcase, exchanges and selling of NUS and others crops, desi seeds & also demonstrated and tasted different types of NUS recipes like:- Green gram BARFI, GUGHNI of Lab lab bean seed, Lesser yam CUTLET, Amaranthus leaf Fritters and Moringa leaf Fritters within the participants.Total number of footfall was 700 (Approximately).

Celebration of World Health Day and Nutrition Education Campaign was conducted on 7th April 2023 at 9 No. Sandeler Bill, Hingalganj, North 24 Pgs. Rally was organized and slogans were given on healthy & sustainable living along with promotion of safe, chemical free & nutritious foods. Community members along with women & men, adolescent boys & girls etc. attended the rally. Anganwadi Worker, ASHA worker, local Panchayat member etc. attended the programme and delivered speech on 'Health for All' and sensitize people on increasing consumption of safe, chemical free, nutritious foods including Neglected & Underutilized Species (NUS) crops.

Ms.Seline Lidia Friedli, Intern from FiBL Switzerland visited CROPS4HD project area during 4th to 6th April 2023. The purpose of the visit was to study the Community Based Seed Banks and its functioning, management, role etc. in promoting sustainable agriculture in the area. She visited Ankuralay Community Seed Bank at Hingalganjon 4th April'23 and Durbachati Seed Bank at Durbachati, Patharpratimaon 5th April'23 respectively and interacted with seed committee members, seed producers. She also visited in the seed banks and in the field areas and observe storage, preservation & conservation of indigenous seeds.

Development Research Communication and Services Centre (DRCSC) has organized a two-day (3-4 December, 2022) exhibition on Neglected and Underutilized Crops and Agro-Products at Bibek Nagar Youth Association play ground, Jadavpur, Kolkata. The main objective of the exhibition was to introduce neglected and underutilized crops and to promote chemical free, safe, nutritious food and to give a platform of interaction between producer, retailer and consumer.

The exhibition was inaugurated by local MLA Sri Debabrata Majumder and Councillor Sri Tarakeswar Chatterjee and Sri Dilip Kr Sarkar (Secretary DRCSC) and other honourable guests were present in the opening ceremony. Honb'le Agricultural Minister Sri Shobhon Deb Chatterjee visited the fair and given a valuable speech. There were 20 outlets of healthy, chemical free vegetables, indigenous rice varieties, pulses, seeds, food items, handicrafts etc. cultural programmes was organized in the evening.

Development Research Communication and Services Centre (DRCSC) has organized Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA) Phase 2 Event titled "Creating Business Opportunities for Nutritious Crops" on 4th of November 2022 at Hotel Regenta Orkos, Kolkata with 65 nos. of Stakeholders. The event was supported by SWISSAID, India and technical guidance from Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland.

The stakeholders came from different segments like Producer farmers, consumers, retailers, FPC members, Policy makers & Govt. personnelrecipe experts, Clinical Nutritionist, representatives from Super Market, other NGO etc. Mr. Jayanta Aikat, Joint Director of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of West Bengal, Mr. Atanu Kr. Gupta, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Mr. Dipak Sarkar, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Ms. Sharmila Basu Thakur, Columnist &Recipe expert, Dr. Ananya Bhowmik, Clinical Nutritionist & Columnist etc. attended the workshop. During this event demonstration was done on NUS based Products which came out From Different Thematic Group Discussion with stakeholders. Additionally a Recipe Booklet Vol. 1 was published. Demonstration was done on 8 nos. of Different Neglected Crop's Recipes (moringa leaf fritter, lesser yam cutlet, roselle leaf with prawn, amaranthus fritter, greengram laddu, guava jelly etc.) and conducted a testing and voting session. Three different thematic groups shared their journey from PMCA PHASE 1 to PMCA PHASE 2 and outcomes of Thematic Group Discussion.

Ms. Kavita Gandhi, Country Director of SWISSAID, India visited DRCSC project area under CROPS4HD project on 6,7 Sept'22 in both Hingalganj and Patharpratima clusters respectively. Visits have been done in lablab bean mother trial, baby trial plots and school nutrition gardens at Hingalganj

A Consumer-Producer Interface Event was organized at BankraHaat, Bankra, Hingalganj, North 24 Pgs under CROPS4HD Project supported by SWISSAID, India. Nearly 50 participants including producer who sell vegetables on local market, consumers, farmers, group members etc. attended the programme. Nutrition expert, Ms.Smita Sur explained about the importance of Neglected & Underutilized Species (NUS) crops focusing on nutrition value, multipurpose use etc. Different recipes of NUS crops, indigenous seeds, varieties of amaranthus leaves etc. were displayed in the event.