ICAR-IIFSR - Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research

The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP)

The Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), funded by ICAR, aims to enhance nutritional security and economic profitability of tribal farmers. The program is implemented through the STC component in the area of Integrated Farming systems in the tribal-dominated cluster of three villages: Thari, Veerpur Tara, and Mallapuri of Ramnagar block, covering 100 tribal households during August 2017 to March 2021 of Uttarakhand with an approved budget under AICRP on IFS- Tribal sub-component.

The program focuses on targeted farming interventions such as crop intensification through introduction of improved varieties of paddy (PB 1718, PB 1728, PB 1509) and wheat (HD2967, HD 3086, DBW 173, WB2), crop diversification through integration of pulses (blackgram (PU 31) lentil (PL6, PL8)) and oilseeds (RH 725, RH 749) Diet, nutrient and health management in animals: mineral mixture (12 kg / year) calcium mixture (5 litres /year), vitamin mixture (400 ml/year), medicines (aniwormer and antiticks) as per need, introduction of improved breed of backyard poultry (CARI Nirbheek) alongwith mixture+calcium+vitamin mixture+drinkers), round the year nutritional kitchen gardening including fruits (improved varieties of Mango (Chausa/Langra) guava (Pant Prabhat) lemon (Pant Lemon 1) and litchi (Rose cented) and vegetables (radish, spinach, fenugreek, coriander, carrot, green /red podded French bean, genetically Bio fortified Vitamin A rich Golden sweet potato, brinjal, bottlegaurd, cowpea, ridgegaurd, okra), IPM techniques including trichocards/pheromone traps in Basmati rice, pulses, fruits and vegetables, use of improved tools and implements (manually operated seed drill, transplanter, wheel hoe through creating custom hiring services, secondary agriculture including vermicomposting, year-round mushroom production (button, milky oyster) processing, and value addition(chilly/turmeric/coriander powder/maize flour) alongwith capacity building initiatives are undertaken. During this period, farmers were supported with critical physical and technical inputs through conducting different capacity building programs, including field level demonstrations, mass awareness, and skill development programs, benefiting 450 tribal farmers on various aspects of Integrated farming systems. Impact assessment was conducted during 2021-22, during which no physical and technical inputs were provided, in order to understand the farmers' capacity to practice the interventions. For the successful implementation of the plan, results were communicated to the Directorate of Agriculture Uttarakhand to develop a regular supply chain for inputs and outputs.