Feb 2009: Seeding of the ideas

One of the few learning of CInI, from IWMI Tata Water Policy Program was, to work on Kharif crops in tribal regions to discourage starving tribal families from taking up forced migration. CInI, also taking learning of 'Kharif Paddy Stablisation' a similar program taken in east, started organising its thoughts for western regions of central India. CInI took note of Maize, which is being consumed in tribal areas of these regions as staple food crop and on whom food security of tribal families depend a lot.

1. CInI prepared basic concept note on Kharif Maize Stablisation, based on its desk research. It reflected the performance and potential of maize in national and international market; state wise performance of maize in India and problems of Central Indian Tribal areas and finally vision of KMS.
2. CInI started search for a suitable[1] person as KMS resource person.
3. Got CVs or references of four to five persons -Mr. Arun Joshi (Head NLRI), Dr. Rangnekar (Independent Consultant) , Mr Dixit (…)
4. Desk Research was done to graphically plot fluctuation in KMS production in Tribal districts of Maize growing Central western states.
5. Meeting was done with Dr Rangnekar, who expressed his extreme busyness in proposed consultancy period.
6. Dialouge’s when done with Mr. Dixit, impressions came that he is not so passionate to participate in this program.
7. Discussion was done with Mr. Joshi at NLRI, sharing with him basic concept note. Mr. Joshi suggested not to follow any PoP of University but introducing a farmer friendly strategy in-front of farmers and understanding what is feasible for them. He recommended to start with composite varieties. He showed his extra interest in the assignment as he had great passion for the crop and had worked for same crop for last 20 years.
8. Discusion with Dr. Dhatt (SRTT) – suggested some important points in maize cultivation. He too recommended to start with composite varieties in consultation with farmers, local traders and KVKs about the most suitable ones.
9. Mean while CIMMYT International communicated with SRTT to initiate a collaborative work around Maize. This communication was forwarded to CInI. As CInI shared with him its wish to address food insufficiency situation by enhancing the maize yields, CIMMYT denounced it asking – why composites when Hybrids have high potential for increasing the yields.
10. Second round discussion was done with Mr. Joshi who gave an account of yellow maize promotion program done in Rajeev Gandhi’s era. He told that farmers in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are so much particular about the taste and colour and as the programs were not participative it failed in terms of adoption. And as the tribals in this region are not in habit of replacing the seeds annually Hybrids would show results in first year but in next season their would be a risk of farmers going back to sow their own seeds.
11. Based on this clarification was done to CIMMYT that composites have been taken mainly for three reasons (1) It will allow farmers to remain assured about seeds for next three years. (2) The aim is to make agriculture less costly, as farmers don’t have enough money to purchase hybrids year after year. (3) Composites in comparison to Hybrids are low input responsive and thus farmer won’t have to worry much about costly inputs.

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[1] Suitablity of person was to be judged by one’s knowledge in the subject and specifically experience of putting programs on ground. Besides one’s attitude and willingness to come one step ahead by reflecting one’s passion and commitment to own program was also to be looked. This was done by reviewing of CVs asked by reference and talking in phone and then meeting them.