Short description of the best practice

Under the livelihood activities of UNDP project in the Sidhi Forest Division, MP, identified poor households for preparation of bamboo sticks for Agarbatti making. A large area of degraded bamboo forest exists nearby villages of poor families. The family members are involved in rehabilitation of bamboo forest of an area of 640 ha allotted by the MP Forest Department.32 poor families were allotted 20 ha area to each family  of degraded bamboo forests nearby their villages. The families involved in making sticks for Agarbatti preparation gets bamboo from the nearby forests at nominal cost and earn an additional income for their livelihood|

Location

Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh|

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Red loamy to rocky. The soil moisture control and remain dry in some parts for 90 days or more per year.
The climate is generally dry except rains during June to September. The cold season is from December to February followed by hot season from March to Mid June.
Undulating topography of Satpura range.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Most of the families do not have land.10-15% population have very small holdings. The area is facing problem of severe erosion and low moisture retention.
Earning from brick making and agriculture labor.
About 80%  population are below poverty line including 2/3 of the tribal population.

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

About 4200 families from 32 villages are involved in making of Agarbatti from the sticks obtained from the rehabilitation  of degraded bamboo forests. The discarded bamboo clumps are normally used for making sticks for Agarbatti preparation. The Forest Department has provided trainings and necessary infrastructures and equipment. On an average each beneficiary is earning Rs.100/- for working 5-6 hours per day which was very essential for their livelihood.

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Increase in wasteland by diminishing bamboo forests
|Decline in forest area and vegetative cover

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

The forest based life support system dominates the life style of the undulating land of the area and degradation of these resources adversely affect livelihood of local communities.

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Poverty alleviation  through rehabilitation of degraded bamboo forest
|Enhancement of income and livelihood option for the poor communities in the area
En plantant le Mucuna utilis on reduit les espaces destinees aux cultures tout en augmentant la productivite des terres jadis improductives grace a la fertilisation par le Mucuna,on peut ainsi preserver des espaces reserve a la protection de la biodiversite
- amelioration de la capacite de retention en eau du sol,en favorisant la stabilite des sols,amelioration de la production primaire et du recyclage des elements nutritifs des sols;la sequestration du carbone du sol ou encore la conservation in situ de la biodiversite|
L'introduction de la plante permet de sequestrer le carbone terrestre par rapport a l'adaptation grace a sa resistance au stress hydrique et au fait qu'elle contribue a la renaissance du couvert vegetal|
Les populations rurales de Kenge1 et Kenge2 ainsi que de Sadiba ont ete selectionnees,sensibilisees pour etre les populations pilotes dans l'utilisation du Mucuna Utilis et surtout la mise sur pied de pepinieres d'experimentation.
La maintenance est assuree par le CRAVEC,ce qui demontre que cette pratique a ete appliuee de facon participative en incluant toutes les parties prenantes impliquee,n'oublions pas le Ministere de l'Environnement par le biais de la Division Desrtification qui en assure la visibilite sur le plan national et international|
B.P.:16 239 Kinshasa1
ongfief@yahoo.fr
mangandaernest@hotmail.fr
2-les populations situes aux environs immediats du site commencent deja aussi a utiliser le Mucuna
2-l'introduction de la plantation de Mucuna Utilis a permis d'ameliorer les rendements et la productivite
Ce qui entraine l'amelioration des conditions de vie des populations et diminue la pauvrete
Populations rurales de Sadiba|
pour la fertilisation,la stabiisation et la rehabilitation des terres improductives a Kenge dans le district du Kwango,province du Bandundu|
Transposable avec un certain degre d'adaptation
Seance de formation,demonstrations sur le terrain,montage des pepinieres d'experimentation,sensibilisation des autorites locales|
ONG accreditees (Femmes Environnement,Fondation Heri,Sante pour tous)Division Desertification/Direction de Developpement
Durable,Ministere de l'Environnement,Conservation de la Nature et Tourisme.

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Improvement of  living standard of the  tribal poor communities
Characterizing potentials of local resources and scoping exercises for optimal uses of resources

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

9 inch size node to node bamboo of good quality will provide better quality stick for preparation of Agarbatti.

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Madhya Pradesh Forest Department|Divisional Forest Officer, Sidhi Forest Division, PO-Sidhi, District-Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh

Was the technology developed in partnership?

No

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• National initiative – government-led

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

1. Government Department
2. Community members

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

The local community members have crucial role in the initiative. The community leaded all efforts at local level. Community members have role in planning, implementation and management of the plans evolved. Establishment of resource centre by the Forest Department, MP is important to perform function of design and delivery of the services directly or through facilitation linkages with existing government programme.|

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

By means of what?

• Participatory approaches

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

The degraded areas reclaimed  under the development programmes  and utilization of discarded bamboo for useful purpose like making sticks for Agarbatti
The marginal as well as poor tribal groups got opportunities to improve their livelihood
Restoration of the ecologically degraded bamboo forests
Sustainable use and management of local resources ensured with community participation

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Bridge the gap between the local communities and Forest Department by articulating the common objectives of both the stakeholders

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

No

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

Two districts of Madhya Pradesh: Betul  and Chindwara

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Yes

Specify which type of incentives:

• Policy or regulatory incentives (for example, related to market requirements and regulations, import/export, foreign investment, research & development support, etc)
• Financial incentives (for example, preferential rates, State aid, subsidies, cash grants, loan guarantees, etc)
• Fiscal incentives (for example, exemption from or reduction of taxes, duties, fees, etc)

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

Better market opportunities, demand from the local as well as from other states like Meghalaya, West-Bengal and Maharashtra.|

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• National
• Regional

Related to human resources

The local communities have developed capacities to train other communities in Agarbatti making, build confidence, marketing knowledge and quality improvement |

Related to technical aspects

Impact assessment may be carried out