Building Economic Capital

Agriculture and its allied activities have always been the backbone of India and its economy. However, as the population surges upward more and more stress is being put on increasing agricultural production. But because land is a limited resource, either land productivity needs to be increased or people in rural areas need to be educated and trained in alternative sources of employment and income generation. Through various interventions, TCSRD aims to provide farmers with the training and knowledge they need to make their farms more productive and profitable, while also helping people in rural areas develop the skills they need for gainful employment.

Farm-based livelihood (Unnati) Non-Farm based livelihood
Agriculture Interventions Skill Training programme (Badte Kadam)
Livestock Management Cluster & Rural Enterprise Development
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture & Farm Excellence (C-SAFE) Okhai Centre for Empowerment

Farm-based livelihood (Unnati)

  • Agriculture Interventions
    This programme is aimed at enhancing the income of target households through capacity building programmes, introduction of new and innovative technologies, improving land productivity (covered under Natural Resource Management), use of information technology, institution-building and market linkage
  • Livestock Management
    Livestock is an important resource for households that depend on agriculture and allied activities. Diligent management of livestock can complement agricultural production and also supplement the household income. TCSRD has been carrying out interventions to enhance milk production of milch animals, reduce expenditure on animal healthcare by adopting preventive methods, and promote fodder development.
  • Centre for Sustainable Agriculture & Farm Excellence (C-SAFE)
    Since it was established, all of the activities conducted by C-SAFE are aimed towards a singular goal - to experiment, pilot, establish and advocate SAFE models for driving value, safe environment, safe food creation. Every programme under this intervention is focussed on unlocking opportunities in the agri value chain in a manner that provides SMFs the most value.

    Visit website: C-SAFE

Non-Farm based livelihood

  • Skill Training programmes (Badte Kadam)
    The employment disparity in our nation has been a huge challenge to economic growth in the rural areas - especially because of low rainfall and unavailability of groundwater that limits agriculture and reduced demand for a workforce for agriculture and related activities. This in turn has led to migration of unemployed rural youth to cities where they fall prey to low-wage employment jobs. It is important that employment is generated in rural areas or the youth are trained to acquire new skills so that they get meaningful employment locally or in neighbouring towns and cities. In the present scenario of globalisation and technological volatility, skill building is an important instrument to increase the efficacy and quality labour for improved productivity and economic growth. To achieve this goal, TCSRD conducts various skill development interventions with an aim to provide employable skills to rural youth, providing a platform to generate employment and/or enterprise. Based on an assessment of local needs and opportunities, skills are identified.
  • Cluster & Rural Enterprise Development
    The Cluster & Rural Enterprise Development Programmes of TCSRD was initiated in the year 2003-04, with the objective of developing skills and empowering the rural youth to pursue self-employment by initiating small enterprises. With low rainfall and unavailability of ground water limiting agriculture, the programme worked towards alleviating poverty by providing women with another means of livelihood. The Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (REDP) helps individuals and self-help group (SHG) clusters set up enterprises. The aim is to enhance the entrepreneurship qualities and skills in the target population and thereby ensuring growth of enterprises. TCSRD has partnered with GRIMCO and other government programmes to help establish and support such SHG clusters. These include the leather and rexene cluster, as well as other clusters such as the bandhani cluster, block print cluster, bead cluster, Jute cluster, clay work, coconut fiber artisan group and paper clusters.
  • Okhai Centre for Empowerment
    The Okhai – Centre of Empowerment was set up by TCSRD in partnership with Tata Chemicals. Okhai, as a social enterprise, was the outcome of TCSRD’s successful handicrafts development programmes that helped the tribal artisans of the Okhamandal region that included communities such as Rabaris, Vaghers and Ahirs. In the absence of any other significant income earning opportunity for the rural women of the region, it became imperative to provide them with a source of livelihood. TCSRD, through Okhai, provided these women with the opportunity to earn for themselves and be economically and socially independent. Women of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) are trained in methods of modern handicraft production. Special training on skill development, design, costing and visual merchandising is also provided.

    The programme that started from Mithapur (Gujarat), has been scaled up in other states of India including, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra and the North East. Okhai has worked as a bridge between the artisans and the customers for scaling up the sale of their handicraft products by understanding customer needs, manufacturing the products with the help of the artisans and facilitating in sale through the Okhai website and its sales outlets.

    Visit website: Okhai

Impact 2021-22

  • 11,193
    Farmers supported under various programs
  • 57,434
    Animals examined and treated under livestock management program
  • 1,963
    Youth provided skill training
  • 27,830
    Artisans supported under Okhai
  • 255 (till now)
    Artisans supported under Cluster & Rural Enterprise Development
  • 1,423
    Sales of traditional handicrafts (Rs. lakh) - Okhai
  • 20
    Sales of traditional handicrafts (Rs. lakh) - Cluster & Rural Enterprise Development
Pravin Kolte

Name of Intervention: C-SAFE -Pulses Project

Name of Beneficiary: Pravin Kolte

Location: Selapur village, Motala taluka, Buldhana district, Maharashtra

I had been trying to get better yields for my crops for long, but with barely any progress. After enrolling in the C-SAFE Pulse Project, I received periodic guidance on better and more scientific cultivation practices. C-SAFE advisors called us and sent SMS-es with tips on new techniques every week, and sometimes more frequently depending on weather conditions. I could also reach out to other farmers and C-SAFE crop advisors nearby when needed, through group calls. By implementing their innovative methods, I was able to save Rs 2,200 per acre in cultivation costs for Tur dal. This also helped me get an additional market realisation of Rs 1,050 per acre, thanks to FPO procurement.

Name of Intervention: Skill Development-Trade: Forklift Training

Name of Beneficiary: Chavda Chandrika Pareshbhai

Location: Arambhada villag, Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat

I always dreamt of establishing my own successful enterprise. When I learned about the SAKSHAM - Forklift training during an awareness programme conducted by the Technical Training Institute (TTI) staff, I decided to take up this opportunity.

I chose the Forklift Operation course even though it is physically demanding and did not let my being a woman come in the way of my dream. The 45-day training conducted at TCSRD's TTI in Mithapur also helped me improve my interpersonal skills through the soft skills and computer literacy training that was given in addition to the technical training.

After completing training and receiving my license, I signed a contract with TCL as a forklift operator with a supply rate of Rs 1,100 for eight hours of supply per day. For this, I invested around Rs 50,000 and took a loan for the remaining amount. Taking the first steps in my entrepreneurial journey was a leap of faith, and I am now happy to have listened to my heart.

Chavda Chandrika Pareshbhai