Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan (ABSSS) is implementing a 3-year (2011-13) “Bundelkhand Rural Poverty Alleviation Model” (BRPAM) development Project in 40 villages of Tikamgarh block of Tikamgarh district, MP, with support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trust. The goal of the Project is to:
“enhance the livelihood security and wellbeing of marginalised poor and women through sustainable natural resource management & better access over rights & entitlements”
Specific objectives of the Project include:
- To form and build capacity of community organizations especially of women and marginalised social groups for democratic realisation of entitlements.
- To enhance participation, savings, role and decision-making power of women in household and community development.
- To enhance income & living standards of the people of target group from land and agriculture through scientific natural resource management and improved agricultural practices & animal husbandry
To realise the third objective, the Project needs to have a sound understanding of existing income-earning activities of the target community, particularly from land and other natural resources. Hence, in 2011-2012, two separate value chain studies were initiated, to :
- To understand economics of cultivation of major crops, and identify scope for value enhancement
- To understand economics of income from tree produce and herbs, and identify scope for value enhancement
The present study is the second of the above-mentioned two studies.