Following two books were released on the 16th June 2012  by the Chief Guest, DSC Directors and Shri Harnath Jagawat, President, Sajjata Sangh:

1) Enhancing Rural Livelihoods by Enriching Practice and Influencing Policy – It documents the experiences of DSC in field implementation, capacity building, research and policy influencing. This document provides interesting learning for the practitioner, trainer, academician as well as policy makers.

This Handbook release by Chief Guest Mr  B K Sinha  IAS, Secretary, Department of rural Development,  Government of India and Dr Hans Van Vliet, First Counsellor, Head of Development Corporation Section, Delegation of the European Union to India.

Click here for more details.

Development Support Centre Ahmedabad and its partner farmers federations organised  Krishi Melas at Modasa and Visnagar towns of North Gujarat under RBS Foundation assisted LEPNRM project in March 2010. The Modasa programme was held on 10th-11th, March 2011 followed by Visnagar programme on 15th March 2011. The main focus krishi Melas was for outreaching successful best practices of farmers and their groups on agriculture.

About 130 representatives of irrigation cooperative from 90 villages of Visanagar, Vadnagar, Kherula, Satlasana and Unza taluks attended this Mela.  In the beginning of this mela, Mr Sunil Kumar of RBS Foundation, Mr Sachin Oza, Executive Director of DSC, Mr N B Patel, Superintending Engineer, Research Scientist Dr  V Aaglodiya, Executive Engineer K P Patel, President Irrigation Society Mr Jashubhai Patel and DSC¡¯ representatives Mr Mohan Sharma, Mr Rajubhai Patel, Mr Bharatbhai Patel were remained present.

The Farmers Organisation, Kisan Clubs, Watershed Associations, Water Users Associatioins, Producer Companies  and women SHGs, set demonstration models/ stalls on various farmer managed  technologies that help in cost reduction, risk mitigation, productivity enhancement, value addition and marketing in agriculture. The FOs displayed various demo models on vermi compost, low cost drip irrigation system, seed processing, potato contract farming, farm implements, PIM, watershed, green house, spice and ginger processing, kitchen garden, soil testing etc. The soil and water testing mobile van was also demonstrated on this occasion. Some reputed private companies were also participated in the mela with their stalls like mini tractors, seeds, organic inputs, micro irrigation systems etc. Print and a/v communication material was also distributed to the visiting farmers in the Mela.

More than 50 individual farmers and some Farmers Organisations were honoured by DSC and RBS Foundation for exemplary initiatives in agriculture, watershed management and PIM on this occasion.

Another mela was also organized at Modasa organized by DSC and irrigation societies. This was inaugurated by District Officer, Sanjaybhai Joshi and chaired by the District Agriculture Officer. The Collector, Deputy Sabarkantha also paid brief visit to the Mela. The main focus was on enhancement of agriculture production by using lesser seeds and get more production - for example rice crop. Other displays were conservation of rain water i.e. rainwater harvesting, usage of vermin-compost, women¡¯s credit and saving schemes.  Many people including farmers from villages such as Malpur, Meghraj, Dhansura, Himatnagar etc. attended this mela. The agriculture experts also shared their expertise and knowledge about how to increase production, mitigation of risk and expenses, value added crops and the good management of marketing. To make success of this mela, too much efforts were put in by the DSC team leader Shri Chandrakant Patel, Mazum and Gujarat Irrigation Society, Sangam Mahila Saving Mandul and Dhangovan Watershed Mandal.  Mr Joshi was very much overwhelmed by such mela and considered DSC¡¯s efforts as revolutionary in enhancing the crops production.

Both the programmes were received well by the farmers, government departments and private companies. About 4,200 farmers including men and women participated in Modasa and more than 13,000 farmers participated in Visnagar from 150 villages.

The local press and electronic media such as E TV, Doordarshan and Divya Bhaskar, covered news of both the programmes.

The Govt. officers liked the concept of Krishi Mela wherein the progressive farmers display their best practise rather than private companies and departments. They said that this mela is more live than the  other typical Krishi Mahotsavs.

Since its inception in 1994, Development Support Centre has made a major contribution at the State and National level for promotion of various programmes in natural resource management such as Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Watershed Management (WSD). 
Field implementation is a major source of learning for DSC and forms the core for providing inputs to its other services. At present DSC has two field units promoting PIM - Mazum and Guhai irrigation schemes in Sabarkantha district. Similarly the organization has one field unit promoting the watershed projects in the Meghraj block, Sabarkantha district. These units have ably demonstrated people¡¯s strength in planning, implementing and managing their own natural resources to enhance their livelihoods and the inter-relationship between technical and social interventions. DSC¡¯s work at the field level has received recognition at the district, state and national level.   

At the district level, the concerned departments of the Government such as the Irrigation Department and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) often utilize the services of DSC¡¯s field units for hosting field visits and as resource agency for conducting training programmes. Looking at the expertise of DSC, there is demand for carrying out documentation of successful cases, produce and disseminate communication material and conduct workshops to create awareness on best practices, orientation of Govt. programmes etc.
Considering the current opportunities, response of the district administration and its own strength, DSC initiated  Resource Centre at the Sabarkantha district.

Functions of the District Resource Centre in Sabarkantha

The DRC would perform the following functions:
Work as an Information Centre for programmes related to livelihood enhancement  such as   watershed management. PIM, agriculture development, drinking water management and micro-finance.

Work in close co-ordination with Govt Depts and prepare a comprehensive livelihood plan for the district. 
Document and disseminate information on programmes and best practices on livelihood enhancement.
Conduct workshops, training programmes and exposure visits for Govt functionaries, NGO staff and FOs within and outside the district.
If needed,  provid hand-holding support to NGOs, Government and FOs.
Prepare communication material ¨C print/audio visual/street plays etc for creating awareness.
Undertake impact assessment and other issue based studies.

Provide appropriate feedback to respective departments for quality enhancement of their respective programmes.    

Activity initiated by DRC

Training need assessment in Watrak, meshvo and vaidi irrigation project on PIM
Exposure cum training on PIM conducted for ICs and ID officers of Watrak irrigation project through DRC.

Date :12/01/2009 || Participants : 45 || Venue : Khadayta Hall, Modasa || Place visited : Rahiyol and Bhesawada

On the basis of training need assessment, the Sabarkantha District Resource centre has organized one day exposure cum training programme for Ics and ID officers of Watrak project. Around 36 farmers representatives and 9 ID officers participated in this programme. During the training programme the participants visited two experienced Ics- Rahiyol & Bhesawada and interacted with farmers and visited canal site. During the exposure visited they tried to understand the process of PIM adopted by experienced Ics of Mazum. After completion of exposure visit the participant met at Modasa and shared their observations and learning from exposure visit and prepared action plan. The Deputy Executive Engineer remained present during training programme

Exhibition of PIM stall during state level celebration of Republic day in Ghodhara district. The Irrigation Department invited DSC`s Sabarkantha District Resource Centre setting up an PIM stall in State level Republic Day Function of Govt. of Gujarat organized in Ghodhara district where the Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi made the High canal to public at Shehra town. About 5000 farmers visited DRC`s PIM stall and benefited with various important information on PIM and functioning of Water Uses Associations.

Development Support centre has been providing capacity building and research support to Andhra Pradesh PIM since 1998. Before 2009, It has  organized 6 training and exposure programmes for about 150 Government officers, farmers and the NGO representatives over the years from AP to Gujarat.

On the request of Commissioner, CADAM, Government of Andhra Pradesh, the PIM unit DSC organized two rounds of 3-day training cum exposure programmes for 70  participants including Govt. Officer, NGO leaders and Chairmen of Project Committee-DC and WUAs) at DSC training centre Ahmedabad followed by field visits. First programme was conducted for 33 participants between 7th and 9th January while second programme of 30 participants was conducted between 20th January to 23rd January 2009. The participants had come from different regions of AP like Godavari Ayacut, Nagarjun Sagar, Sriram Sagar, Tungbhadrasagar etc. The experienced farmers,  DSC programme staff and government officers facilitated session on Gujarat`s Govt.`s support to WUAs, DSC`s approach of PIM promotion, Capacity building of WUAs their roles and responsibilities in Gujarat,. The group prepared action plans of interventions to be taken by them in AP for improving the irrigation management by WUAs and their higher level Associations.

Workshop on how to increase productivity of  wheat
The above mentioned workshop   was organized on 4-5 November, 2008 at Sardar Smruti Kendra, Anand Agriculture University, Anand. Questions were raised  from the farmers associated with the Sajjata Sangh and which they felt need to be addressed in workshop. The workshop was co- sponsored by Anand Agriculture University under RKVY scheme. The workshop provided a platform to facilitate bi-lateral discussion with progressive farmers and resource persons such as  Mr. R. G. Bhalara, District Development Officer, Anand, R. B. Patel, Joint Director, Agriculture,  Dr. P. P. Patel, Director of Education and Extension. About 58 farmers, representatives from six partner organization from six districts  participated in the workshop. The farmers were made  aware about seed selection, seed treatment, land preparation, sowing, weed control, pest and disease management, bio fertilizer organic farming and micro nutrient management.

Upscaling Weather Insurance in Gujarat
Weather Insurance is an insurance cover against crop losses incurred due to unfavorable weather conditions such as deficit/excess/untimely rainfall, variations in temperature, etc. Weather insurance product is designed on the basis of location¡¯s agricultural and climatic properties and productivity levels over the last several years. Weather insurance provides a good alternative to farmers for mitigating their production-related losses.
Sajjata Sangh has initiated rainfall insurance in Gujarat. The Comprehensive research study supported by the Agakhan Foundation through the SCALE Programme was instituted by Sajjata Sangh with SAVA in year 2006 on Rainfall Insurance. On the base of the study, partners of Sajjata Sangh have piloted the scheme in coordination with Agriculture Insurance Company since last three years.
Achivements so far...

An experience sharing workshop on RAINFALL INSURANCE was organized at Development Support Centre, Ahmedabad, where the core issues such as problem in product design, timing in product development, pricing, dissemination, institutionalisation and policy were highlighted by Sajjata Sangh partners.
Agriculture Insurance Company has agreed that the product would be launched latest by 15th April 2009 for new crops like castor, maize including groundnuts and cotton for Kharif -2009 and nearest institutional meteorological centers would be authorized as weather stations for the source of rainfall data.

DSC, AKRSP(I), UTTHAN, Ambuja Cement Foundation, Prakruti Foundation, Sadguru Foundation, Samaj ane Sikshan Kalyan Kendra, SAVA have taken the challange to expand rainfall insurance in (285 villages) 19 blocks of 8 district of Gujarat for the Kharif year 2009-10. Minimum 5000 farmers would be cover for the policy from which 800 farmers would be women and 1500 farmers would be small and marginal farmers.