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Back to Rural Development
GRASS ROOTS ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT PROGRAM (G.R.A.S.P.)
1. INTRODUCTION
2. AIM
3. JUSTIFICATION
4. METHOD
5. CONCLUSION
1. INTRODUCTION:
1.1. PROPOSING AGENCY:
A Rural Development, Non Political; Non Profit; Non Government Organization: Khidmat Foundation. Duly registered with the Punjab Government. Engaged in Practical; Grass Roots; Rural Development. The Organization consists of Highly Skilled, Practical Specialists in the Fields of Agriculture/ Horticulture & Medicine (Emergency & Surgery). The NGO is entirely Pakistani and Self Financed. While dealing with Nutrient Manufacturers from the U.S. we are not obliged to any External or even Internal Agency. The problem of Rural Development has occupied us for the last 9 years. Many aspects have been closely studied and practically tried. We have evolved a Modern; self-sustaining; Management System for Rural Development. We are proud to state that the System WORKS! We have achieved 30 to 50 % increase in yields with improvement of produce to Grade A: International Export Quality. The emphasis is upon More Quality; More Healthy; More Environmentally Safe and More Quantity Agricultural/ Horticultural Produce. Practical Skills have been inculcated in a number of Contact Rural Youth. These skills include Technical and Agricultural/ Horticultural Skills. Armed with these skills the Contact Youth are well equipped to take on the challenges of Modern Technology and Practices to make for a better living. Needless to say when the basic building block of Society is enabled the entire Nations problems can easily be resolved. Micro Management of Rural Economy will prove to be the Single Most Important Factor in extricating Pakistan from the economic slump that it is facing. Generating and revitalizing the Economy at the Grass Roots level, especially in the Rural Areas, is the Key to the present day Malaise and Impasse that stares us in the face.
1.2. PROPOSED EXECUTING AGENCY:
The problems facing the Rural Area are socio-economic in Nature. A Holistic view has to be taken in order to balance the whole rather than tinkering with a few aspects. The approach should not be Paternalistic but Participatory. A host of International Agencies and Organisations are operating in the field with little impact in actual living conditions. Despite their expertise and vast resources they are unable or unwilling to change the present low level subsistence Agriculture that is the main stay of our Rural Economy. The Social Conditions pertaining in the Rural Areas are of such a Nature that any attempt to change conditions is promptly nipped in the bud. Most material benefits accruing from Development Work are either miss-appropriated by the Executing Agencies (Mostly Government with private Contractors) or diverted to line the pockets of the affluent classes. Poverty is begetting further poverty and this is the MAIN CAUSE of over population. It is common knowledge that the best contraceptive is Development. Despite this millions are being miss-spent on Population Control Programs. It has been found that the only individuals capable of taking on the task are Retired Armed Forces Personnel. In every District of our Country there are a number of retired personnel who are duly registered with the District Soldier Boards. Most of these individuals have access to some rural land. These highly trained and disciplined individuals are accustomed to working as a well-knit team. The endless possibilities inherent in such an asset are beyond counting. In the Abbottabad/ Haripur Region alone there are over 50,000 registered retired personnel. Very little in the way of funds and organization is needed in order to use this effective weapon for the purpose of basic economy generation.
2. AIM:
TO PROVIDE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT TO RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ACHIEVE BASIC ECONOMY GENERATION IN THE RURAL AREAS OF PAKISTAN, THEREBY EFFECTING GENERAL; LONG LASTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT.3. JUSTIFICATION:
There exists a Network of Retired Military Personnel throughout the Country. These skilled and experienced leaders are ideally placed to effect a Grass Roots Production Revolution. District Soldier Boards; Fauji Foundation; Army Welfare Trust and CMHs all over the Country are available to back them up. Yet this enormous Human Resource is not being tapped. Very little effort in Organization and Motivation is sufficient to bring their discipline to bear and overcome the dismal Rural Economic Conditions. They are ideally placed geographically; socially; mentally and physically and consist of mature, responsible individuals. Just such people are required to practice; demonstrate; transfer and provide back-up support for inexpensive, alternate systems; methods; equipment; inputs and handling procedures for modern Hi-Tec Intensive Agriculture/ Horticulture; Micro Industry and Poultry/ Livestock Production. The very process includes the Gainful Employment of Veterans as well as provides goods; services; employment opportunities; skills transfer/ dissemination to the entire rural populace.
4. METHOD:
The method being advocated is the establishment of Technology Receiving & Transferring Centers in Rural Areas. This concept, called the Commila Approach, was used to great effect in ushering in the Green Revolution of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. A similar, if not greater, Production Revolution can be speedily realized through this System. These Centers will serve the following objectives:
• Establish Practical Demonstration Micro Projects in:
1. Low Cost Earth Sheltered; Ceramic Adobe; Passive Solar Housing.
2. Intensive Agriculture/ Horticulture.
3. Poultry/ Livestock Breeding.
4. Micro Industry.
5. Technical Training.• Serve as Income Generating Unit to make the Centre self-sufficient.
• Train Individuals, Transfer Technology through Practical Hands On Training while participating in an economic activity suited to and pertinent to the area as well as the individual.
Organise surrounding Communities and spread Development activities as Participatory Projects aimed at sustainability.
• Provide Inputs Materials.• Market/ Export Produce.
A total of 5 Administrative Staff and 35 trainees are envisaged to be constantly employed in the Centres. Interns can be fully trained in 1-2 years, depending upon Trade & Individual ability. The MISSING LINK that so far has been overlooked is proper Nutrition for Plants; Animals and Humans. The correct Nutrition produces amazing results. The first difference is 30 to 50 % increase in harvests due to the use of Hi Tec inputs like Liquid Nutrients and Hormones as well as Biological Soil Amendments. Along with correct Cultural Practices, the backbone of ample income from the land, makes all the difference in staying power and sustainability. These efforts have been extensively tried on small and large landholdings through out Pakistan and have proved to be most efficacious.
5. CONCLUSION:
From the foregoing brief account it will be obvious that a profitable venture can be launched with very little input and start yielding returns within 6 months. Every year at least 35 individuals will pick up Economy Generating skills. Secondly thousands of the surrounding rural populace will obtain valuable advice and see practical demonstrations of improved performance. Nutrients sale; ESCAPS Houses construction; sale of quality seeds and plantlets and fabrication/ assembly of Agricultural/ Horticultural tools and equipment: These are all designed for maximum impact upon the surrounding populace. Such a Nation wide venture can be launched after fine tuning one partially established Centre,near Bucheke; Thesil Nankana Sahib, District Sheikhupura,Punjab: Rs.6,00,000 expended and another in Haripur District, Hazara Division, Sarhad: Rs. 6,00,000 expended. Veteran input is available for Haripur. Rural Network of Veterans can be immediately involved with directions from concerned Authorities. The impact upon our Economy and the welfare and social cohesion of our people is dependent upon such an exercise. It is urged that due importance be given to the proposal.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY GENERATION
FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENTAIM:
Employment of Rural Youth, Irrespective of Gender.BY
Promotion of Intensive Agriculture & Provision of Training.· Introduction of Standardized and Certified Seed.
· Seed Treatment with Natural Hormones and Chelated Micro-Nutrients.
· Application of Soil Conditioners/ Adjuvants for better Nutrient uptake.
· Improved Agricultural Practices.
· Introduction/ Demonstration of Secondary and Micro-Nutrients; Natural Hormones; Soil Adjuvant; Erosion Polymers.
· Banding; Split and Foliar Application of Fertilizers.
· Safe Pesticide use/ Addition of Natural Carrier Surfactants.
· Storage and Care of Produce.
· Sales and Marketing of Produce.
· Growing for Export/ Export Promotion.
· Preparation of Training Aids/ Literature/ Films.We are engaged in the above activities and have operated from Upper Sindh to Northern Hazara.
We wish to extend our activities to the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir.
We have been successful in increasing Yields in a number of Crops by as much as 30 to 50 %. It is our claim that if the Khidmat Management System is adopted and followed, our Farmers can achieve Rs.5.00 for every Rs.1.00 expended. Secondly they will obtain Safe and Healthy Produce that is not hard upon the soil.