19 Apr, 2023
Biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining and sustaining different agroecosystems. In addition to this, it improves soil health as well as crop health and thereby improves the quality of food products. It minimizes the incidences of pest and disease attacks by increasing resistance and reduces dependency on agrochemicals.
Biodiversity is the basis for Agriculture. Increased use of agrochemicals, increased monocropping, use of pesticides, and insecticides has affected the agroecosystems adversely. Biodiversity supports the livelihoods of food producers while also reducing negative impacts on the environment. By providing important ecosystem services, like pest control and nutrient cycling, biodiversity reduces the need for costly and harmful external inputs. Thus, there is an urgent need for conservation of biodiversity in the spices sector.
The DPP GIZ-AVT McCormick project works closely with UEBT (The Union for Ethical Bio Trade). UEBT is internationally recognized for its work with companies on ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity. UEBT is a partner in developing Biodiversity Action Plan for three spice crops i.e Cumin, Turmeric, and Cardamom in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala respectively.
The Project jointly organized a one-day training on Biodiversity Action plan for Turmeric farmers with UEBT in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. Around 45 Lead farmers from Erode, Gobi, Modakuruchi, Kudumudi, Thalavadi, Coimbatore, and Madampatti participated in the training. Few interested farmers from Chamrajnagar, Karnataka participated in the training as well.
Mr. Ashok Nair, Head, Sustainable Agriculture Operations, AVT McCormick elaborated on the project, while Dr. Poonam Pandey, Project Manager, DPP GIZ-AVT Spices, explained in detail the importance of Biodiversity in agriculture. Furthermore, she introduced the UEBT team Ms. Simona and Mr. Sureel Singh to the participants. Mr. Sureel briefed the participants about UEBT and the vision of the organization as well as work areas of the organization. He also explained the process of development of the Biodiversity Action Plan for the three spices.
Ms. Simona interacted with the farmers and did a group exercise to analyze the understanding of farmers regarding the risks for Biodiversity in the spices supply chain. Farmers presented the results of group exercise with a lot of experience from the ground. This was followed by the second group exercise on identification of solutions from the farmer’s perspective on risks to Biodiversity in Agriculture. Ms. Simona collected information and concluded the group exercise with recommendations on how smallholder farmers can integrate biodiversity on their farms. She presented different methods identified in the group exercises e.g., intercropping, cover cropping, cultivation of green manure crops, trap crops, mulch crops, and buffer cropping etc. which are useful examples to integrate biodiversity in farms.
Participants also learned about good agricultural practices i.e. sowing of Turmeric on raised beds to avoid water stagnation and rhizome rot infestation in Turmeric crops. They were also enthusiastic to learn and practice efficient post-harvest processing practices which will further reduce the loss of biodiversity e.g pressure boiling of Turmeric rhizomes, and slicing of bulbs etc.
As a follow up, participants were asked to work on conserving biodiversity by implementing a Biodiversity Action Plan in their fields while the project team will support them with continuous guidance.
Photo Credits: Pradnya Thombare/GIZ
Photo Credits: Pradnya Thombare/GIZ
Photo Credits: Mr. Vallath/AVT McCormick
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The ‘Enhancement of Smallholder Spice Farmer’s Capacities in Sustainable Farming’ aims to strengthen the production of cardamom, cumin, and turmeric in four states of India - Kerala Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan - to increase the capacities of spice farmers to make production practices more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.
The project is part of the develoPPP.de Programme implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The lead executing agency for this project is AVT McCormick. develop.PPP was set up by BMZ to involve the private sector in areas where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap. Read More
For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de
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