Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Nursery establishment
In 1993 the group established a nursery to produce tree seedlings. Groups of
between four and 10 women were organized to produce the seedlings. The
women provided the raw materials, including seed and site, while the polythene
bags were provided by the project. In its first year, the PLEC women association
raised nearly 20,000 seedlings. These were eventually used in their agroforestry
and watershed programme. The number of seedlings increased over 80 per cent
between 1996 and 2001. The nursery project and sales of seedlings have led to a
sustained increase in village-level incomes and reduced the overall economic
dependence on farm produce.
Agroforestry establishment
Traditionally women in the project area obtained their fuelwood from farmlands.
The women's need for fuelwood was used to ensure protection of the plantations
and to secure women's participation in agroforestry activities. Agroforestry on
farmlands has been proposed as a viable approach to the problems of fuelwood
shortage and decreasing soil fertility.
Institution of formal savings
Experience elsewhere (Tuteja, 2000) has shown that an increase in a women's
income does not necessarily provide them with better development opportun-
ities. This is due to the constraints of existing social structures and cultural
practices found within the village and family. Traditionally, women have very
little control over their incomes. To combat these and other problems and also
to provide the women with training in understanding the operations of national
banks and post offices, the Jachie women were encouraged to open savings
accounts in their local “rural” banks. The PLEC women association has used
its savings to:
•
purchase planting materials
•
hire labour
•
purchase animal stock for rearing, and nursery materials for raising seedlings
to enhance agrobiodiversity.
This has given women self-confidence as they have control over their own
money.
Participation in workshops
Various workshops have been organized for the women to help them acquire
skills to help in the management of their resources. They have been trained
