IDEI Capability Statement

PROFILE OF THE ORGANISATION

IDE India (IDEI) is a non-profit organisation working to “reduce poverty, hunger and deprivation.” Operating in India since 1991, IDEI has implemented programs in 16 states, including six states in Eastern India and the Northeast, three in Western India, five in Southern India and two in Central India. IDEI’s objective is to dramatically increase the incomes and agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers. IDEI seeks to achieve its goals through promoting entrepreneurial activities, which entails adapting technology to small-scale irrigation practices, developing and disseminating knowledge and practices to increase agricultural productivity, developing rural marketing strategies and offering business development services.

IDE India is uniquely situated to implement large and complex programmes throughout India. IDEI had operated in 16 of India’s 20 agro-ecological zones, covering 84% of the country. IDEI’s management structure in India includes its Central Coordination Office in Delhi and regional offices in respective state/ region and further in each state there are field offices. All strategic planning and support functions for the respective regions are based in each regional office. Regional offices support all IDEI field offices, work with local partners and provide the link between the field and policy decisions. Field offices consist of staff responsible for implementing developmental projects.

1.1 IDEI promotes technology and services under KB brand.

KB stands for Krishak Bandhu or Farmers’ Friend. The portfolio of KB technologies includes the Water Lifting Devices (WLD), Water Application Devices (WAD) and the Water Storage Devices. These technologies help farmers, mostly practicing rain-fed agriculture; to adopt irrigated agriculture and get at least three crops a year instead of one that they would get otherwise. The technologies are very suitable for vegetable and fruit crops that also provide better remuneration to small farmers. All these technologies continue to help the farmers earn on average, USD 400 in net additional income each year.

1.2 IDEI creates and develops sustainable market for low cost irrigation technology by working both on supply and demand dimensions.

IDEI follows the approach of using donor funds to build grass root entrepreneurs to stimulate a sustainable & free market. The technologies reach to the customers through a private sector supply chain, which is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the technologies, at fair prices, while ensuring that manufacturers and distribution network retain their share of profits. IDEI engages in creation and capacity building of supply chain players. Simultaneously IDEI takes up promotion of technology among small farmers by using various innovative tools of communication.

1.3 Stimulate a sustainable and free market

IDEI creates and develops sustainable market for low cost irrigation technology by working both on supply and demand dimensions. IDEI follows the approach of using donor funds to build grass root entrepreneurs to stimulate a sustainable & free market. The technologies reach to the customers through a private sector supply chain, which is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of the technologies, at fair prices, while ensuring that manufacturers and distribution network retain their share of profits. IDEI engages in creation and capacity building of supply chain players. Simultaneously IDEI takes up promotion of technology among small farmers by using various innovative tools of communication.

1.4 Professional base

IDEI has a wide variety of techno-managerial professionals with backgrounds in management, agriculture, engineering, and social work. The people with appropriate backgrounds are placed in each location to work efficiently.

1.5 Collaboration with Indian organisations

IDEI has sought to work in collaboration with other organisations/ agencies. It believes in mapping synergies and creating opportunities for mutual growth and development. IDEI has worked with several such organisations in the past; these include apex non-government organisations, grassroots non-government organisations, government departments, research institutions, academic institutions and companies.

AWARDS

For its efforts, to enable the small holder farmer emerge out of income poverty IDEI has been recognized and rewarded by several organizations. These include:

2. MANAGEMENT OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY PROJECTS

While IDEI has been operating in India’s diverse agro-ecological zones, it has gained valuable experience in tailoring projects to smallholder farmers needs and to a wide range of conditions including: climate, rainfall, soil, physiographic features, length of growing period available for crops, off-farm activities opportunities, and the integration of technologies in watersheds.

IDEI also has managed projects that include action research, promotion of entrepreneurial activities, capacity building, technology development, disaster management and impact assessment all of which have had a direct impact on the livelihood of farmers, food security, the environment and poverty.

The following matrix shows the number of IDEI projects belonging to various categories:

Type / Impact	Action Research	Promotion of Entrepreneurial Activities	Capacity Building	Technology Development	Disaster Management	Impact Assessment	Total
Livelihood	2	30	5	5	2	1	40
Food Security	1	13		1	1		16
Environment	4	3		7		1	15
Poverty	1	30				1	31
Total	8	76	5	13	3	3	102

3. WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT

Normally, IDEI works as a catalyst and builds the capacity of existing organisations to implement its programs. In India, IDEI already has partnered with more than 150 NGOs, 30 state Government departments, 1,500 borewell mechanics, 50 manufacturers and 1,000 dealers. These agencies need to be trained in several skills: installation, maintenance, agronomy, training, manufacturing, promotion etc. IDEI has developed several manuals, modules and training programs for its partners.

3.1 North Bengal Terai Development Project– Phase III (1994 – 1999)

The North Bengal Terai Development Project phase III was a bilateral program. It was commissioned to Euro-Consult and they in turn commissioned the programme to IDEI. The objective of the programme was to improve the standard of living for small-scale and marginal-scale farmers in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Darjeeling district. The purpose of the sub-project was to establish treadle pump technology in the area, to encourage the private sector to manufacture treadle pumps, and to build the capacity of the concerned people so that treadle pump promotion is sustained beyond the project period. To implement this activity, IDEI established one regional office, three field offices and a team of seven professional staff and 15 field staff.

3.2 Promoting private sector participation in drip irrigation among sericulture farmers of Karnataka (1997 – 2002)

Seri – 2000 is a collaborative sericulture development program that was funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The sericulture and the silk industry had excellent potential for the development of the rural farm and non-farm sector, and poverty alleviation for large sections of the disadvantaged population. IDEI was hired to promote private sector participation and to introduce drip irrigation in mulberry cultivation.

3.3 Implementation of micro irrigation and improved agricultural packages in BERI Project Area

The project was implemented with support from the Government of India, Government of Karnataka, Global Environment Facility and UNDP. In addition to successful demonstration of a 500 kW gasifier-based power plant, fifty-one group biogas plants serving four to five families per group were installed and fifty-six bore wells with submersible pump sets and drip irrigation were set up in the village cluster sites as part of the project.

3.4 Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project (2009-10)

Department for International Development (DFID) made a visit and observed the activities of the livelihood project w.r.t irrigation products in use in two districts (Mandla & Dindori) in M.P. and made recommendations that call for discontinuing with the provision for providing subsidies for diesel pumps to the farmers. It strongly recommended the use of low cost manually operated treadle pump or similar technology. It highlighted the qualities of treadle pump along with specification of its use. It encouraged farmers to purchase these technologies and also calls for the Gram Sabha (local governance body) to provide loans to farmers who cannot purchase the technology on their own.

3.5 Integrating markets, products and partners

An Action Research to Explore & Develop a Management System for Linking Tribal Communities to Markets Through Value Addition- This project was funded by Department for International Development. It was designed to use management principles, further building on IDEI’S approach, to explore technology and livelihood interventions for the tribals and to further explore and build a series of relationships that can support and sustain technology development and supply, markets and the integration of poor people into these market and technology systems. As a result partnerships with Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) were established to work with different forms of value addition trials with the crops grown by the tribals; trained SHGs to produce different forms of valued horticultural produce(s) such as osmo-dehydrated pineapple slices; established linkages with private food processing industries like M/s Arren Foods Pvt Ltd and OMFED for bulk procurement of horticulture produces (both raw as well as processed produce) like pineapple, lemon, seedless tamarind etc. In addition formation of a federation of the growers was facilitated. This federation was a key player in the system to facilitate trading, value addition activities as well as look into capacity development of the growers and; a one-day state level workshop on Crop Post Harvest Options and Market Potential for the sustainable livelihood of the small and marginal farmers was organized. The objective was to share the outcome of the project and the important learning with NGOs, private sector processors, technical agencies, Govt. Departments etc.

4. WORKING WITH NGOs & CBOs

IDEI has worked with a large number of NGOs in building their capacity to implement rural livelihood projects. Some of the key projects include the following:

4.1 Supporting IntermediateTtechnology Consulting (ITC) for the project on “Low Cost Micro Irrigation Technology for the Poor” in India (1999-2003)

This was Knowledge and Research Project funded by DFID to identify and address constraints of adopting low-cost, improved, non-surface irrigation technologies by poor farmers on a commercially sustainable basis. Intermediate Technology Consulting, UK, was the lead institute for this project. IDEI was the principal collaborator that (a) assessed the need of the farmers and adapted the micro irrigation technology to their needs, (b) studied and documented the micro irrigation marketing program in Western India.

4.2 Supporting natural resources international for the project on “Sustainable retailing of post-harvest technology to the poor: alternative institutional mechanisms for developing and transferring technology” in India (1999-2002)

This was a Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy project funded by DFID to develop strategies that improve food security in poor households through increased availability, improved quality of horticultural foods, and better access to markets. NR International, UK, was the lead institute for this project. IDEI was the principal collaborator that (a) seeks to understand the storage and packaging constraints of smallholder farmers supplying high value fruits and vegetables to markets, (b) reviewed existing storage and packaging technologies, their specifications, availability and appropriateness, (c) developed market-oriented products and information packages for low-cost, appropriate storage and packaging technologies, and (d) developed prototype business, marketing and implementation plans to deliver the technologies to the end users. IDEI used the “sustainable livelihood analysis framework” developed by DFID in this project.

4.3 Supporting the watershed NGOs of the semi arid states of India in developing a program to improve the effectiveness of rain water conserved by their projects (1998 –2003)

This project was funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation. A lot of resources were spent by SDC in conserving scarce rainwater in the states of Karnataka and Gujarat. The goal of the project was to assess the needs of the farmers in the watershed projects, develop suitable micro irrigation technologies, develop promotion packages and train NGOs in them. IDEI had established four regional offices, six field offices and a team of eight professional staff in these states to manage this activity. Through this project, IDEI built an extensive network with more than 200 NGOs involved in watershed development.

4.4 Action research project on the development of community managed water resources in the Himalayas (1999 – 2001)

This project was implemented in four mountain districts of India. The purpose of the project was (a) to understand the importance of water in the development of off-season vegetable farming by the poor mountain farmers, (b) to understand the issues relating to sharing stream water, (c) to understand the process involved in introducing offseason vegetables among the poor mountain farmers and (d) to understand the process of developing linkages for marketing off-season vegetables from the mountains to the vast market of the planes. This project was implemented in collaboration with the local NGOs working with the hill communities.

4.5 Capacity building for dissemination of water and irrigation technologies (1997 – 2000)

This project was funded by USAID with an aim at building the capacity of the organization for developing and establishing micro irrigation technology in the states of Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh of India. IDEI partnered with NGOs involved with rural development in understanding the irrigation needs of the farmers. IDEI also partnered with the drip industry to understand the technology and availability of components of the technology.

4.6 The Pembina Institute and IDEI collaboration

The Pembina Institute and IDEI collaborated to develop voluntary standard for carbon credits. Under the programme IDEI development a standard for carbon credits generated through different programme of IDEI.

5. CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENTS

IDEI has worked with a large number of NGOs in building their capacity to implement rural livelihood projects. Some of the key projects include the following:

5.1 Technical Assistance to Thardeep Rural Development Programme (2008-09)

Unilever funded the programme and they gave a consultancy project to IDEI. Under the project, during the mentioned period, IDEI provided strategic direction to Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP), a local NGO in developing its business model, providing technical & knowledge assistance so that it is able to reach out to smallholder farmers (in drip systems).

5.2 Promoting drip irrigation in Egypt

SDC gave IDEI a consultancy project. Under the project IDEI had conducted a study and recommended that low cost drip irrigation should be promoted as it will increase water use productivity.

5.3 Technical capacity building

IDEI was given a consultancy project to help the organisation in Madagascar. IDEI conducted a market scan and then guided the organization to reach out to poor farmers.

5.4 Test pilot of low cost, low pressure sub surface drip system in 2009-10

The project was commissioned by USAID (South Asia Region Initiative for Energy) and subcontracted to IDEI. The scope of the project was to test & develop a low cost, low pressure sub surface drip irrigation system to meet the irrigation requirements of specific water & energy deficient regions in India.

5.5 Field testing and Lab testing of low energy water application devices

This was also commissioned jointly to IDEI & to ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) by South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Grant Programme. There were two components to the programme- a) Field testing and; b) Laboratory testing.

5.6 Study on traditional water harvesting technologies in Azerbaijan

SDC gave a consultancy project to IDEI for conducting a study and then making recommendations on reviving traditional irrigation systems known as the Kahriz.

5.7 Western Odisha rural livelihood project

Under the project, several organizations were already working on watershed programmes. IDEI was asked to consult on promoting low cost water lifting devices for the poor farmers to increase the water use productivity.

5.8 Pembina Institute

IDEI was given funding to develop carbon emission reduction programme. Under the project IDEI developed a standard for voluntary standard for carbon credit.

6. SETTING UP PROJECT MONITORING AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS

IDEI has been working with highly reputed national and international consultants to conduct impact assessments on its projects on a periodic basis. IDEI also has designed a comprehensive internal Management Information System for its micro-irrigation programme, which is used for planning, monitoring and impact assessment. The system collects information from all the grassroots staff, which is collated at each field office. This data then is fed into the computers at the regional office, which is analyzed at the Central Office in Delhi.

7. IMPLEMENTING MULTIDISCIPLINARY HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

IDEI’s program has seen more than 200 staff from five different backgrounds, such as MBAs with NGO experience, social work graduates, agriculture graduates, agriculture engineers, mechanical engineers and borewell mechanics. To implement the program, several skills were to be developed: project management, rural marketing, installation, interaction with farmers, agronomy, gender sensitization, manufacturing, quality control, training etc. IDEI designed and implemented a comprehensive program comprising of several in-house and external trainings. IDEI also has developed personnel policy manuals for national and international staff.

8. IMPLEMENTING MULTIDISCIPLINARY CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Normally, IDEI works as a catalyst and builds the capacity of existing organisations to implement its programs. In India, IDEI already has partnered with more than 150 NGOs, 30 state Government departments, 1,500 borewell mechanics, 50 manufacturers and 1,000 dealers. These agencies need to be trained in several skills: installation, maintenance, agronomy, training, manufacturing, promotion etc. IDEI has developed several manuals, modules and training programs for its partners.

9. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

9.1 Water management

IDEI’s core strength is in the field of water management. The treadle pump is a lowcost, foot-operated water-lifting device suitable for high water table areas for millions of farmers who cannot afford to buy a pumpset. The drum and bucket kits are low- cost drip irrigation technologies suitable for small-plot horticulture for millions of landholders living in water-scarce areas. More than 1.3 million small–scale farmers in India have adopted these technologies. These have impacted the lives of more than 7 million people.

9.2 Farming systems

Through the treadle pump and micro irrigation programs, IDEI provides proper agronomic input to the farmers so that they reap the maximum benefit from the water technologies. IDEI studied best agronomic practices for the cash crops for these technologies. It has developed a number of tools such as manuals and booklets. IDEI also conducts technology demonstrations, and trains NGOs and farmers in this knowledge.

9.3 Common property resources

In the Mountain Marketshed project, IDEI has been promoting the use of micro irrigation to improve the efficiency of stream water, which is usually shared by the community. IDEI trains the entire user group to use micro irrigation, making more water available for everyone. IDEI also deals with issues of leadership, water sharing, timesharing, and conflict resolution.

9.4 Income generation

In the treadle pump and micro irrigation programmes, small-scale and marginal-scale farmers are the ultimate target group. However, to make this happen, IDEI helps to create a range of micro entrepreneurs such as assemblers, retailers and installers. Assemblers typically are block- or district-level entrepreneurs responsible for producing the technology and earn between INR 75,000 to INR 1,00,000 a year. The retailer is a panchayat or block-level entrepreneur selling the technologies and earns between INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 a year. The installer is a village-level entrepreneur providing installation and maintenance service to the farmer and earns additional income upto INR 20, 000/year. IDEI has provided business development support to all these entrepreneurs.

9.5 Rural energy

In 1998-99, IDEI conducted test marketing in the eastern states of India for a project called “Commercialization of solar photovoltaic lighting systems for rural communities” funded by USAID to Winrock India and through them it was given to IDEI. Under the project 100 lanterns were promoted in India. Through the years, IDEI has been working on similar projects. In 2012-13, IDEI collaborated with NEC Japan for testing three different types of solar panels that could be developed by NEC and commercialized for the smallholder farmers in India. Because of these projects, IDEI is quite familiar with the photovoltaic technology, its constraints and related government programs.

10. IDEI’s STRATEGY

10.1 Water management

IDEI aims at finding solutions, which would help the smallholder farmer fulfill their farming solutions. Knowing that access to irrigation water remains a critical impediment for the growth of the smallholder farmer, IDEI has been working towards developing and providing these smallholders with solutions to overcome this problem.

The smallholder farmer instead of relying on rains, laborious hand pumps or expensive diesel pumps to draw water is able to irrigate their land as per the requirement using KB Treadle Pump. In the arid/ semi arid regions of the country, which face acute water shortage, the introduction of the low cost, customizable drip systems have helped the farmers save their dying crops during the summer months.

With the introduction of KB systems, the farmers have been able to move from one cropping season to three in a year, thereby not only increasing the farmers ability to increase crop yields but also their income earning ability.

10.2 Increasing productivity

IDEI is aiming to build the capacity of its farmers base to increase the productivity/ yield per acre land substantially. Four vegetables have been identified and an effort to increase the productivity between 30-50% per acre is being made.

10.3 Linking poor into market systems

In order to get maximum productivity and therefore higher cost for the produce, not only does the farmer require knowledge on effective farm inputs, but also access to the right markets to be able to demand the correct price. IDEI in its endeavour to provide to the smallholder a complete package of services has undertaken several initiatives.

11. IMPACT

11.1 Outreach

IDEI has promoted its technologies and more than 1.3 million farmer households have adopted these technologies. This results in more than 7 million people benefitting from it.

11.2 Economic impact

Economic impact entails wealth generated at the household level. It concerns itself with the production and use of income by the smallholder farmers. More than 1.38 million households have adopted IDEI promoted technologies. These farmers have generated more than $ 7.3 Billion (PPP) as net additional income. Each user household generates US$ 400 as net additional income annually throughout the life of the technology. This disposable income is used for debt repayment, children education, and asset creation like livestock, accessing health services among others. IDEI works on the market based approach and establishes a network of manufacturers, retailers and village-based mechanics. These people manufacture the technologies, sell them at village level and install them for farmers.

Till date over 610 Million workdays has been generated at the on farm level (agricultural labourers) and 2.51 Million person days in the supply chain. When monetised it is more than $ 800 Million and $ 4.5 Million!

11.3 Social impact

Due to increase in employment within village, decrease in seasonal migration happens. There is an improvement in the quality of life with access to better health, nutrition and education. As a result of this there is an increase in ability to build assets.

11.4 Environmental impact

Diesel Savings: The adoption of Treadle Pump enables replaces the use of diesel pumps by the smallholder farmers. A total of 681.7 million litres of diesel has been saved in agriculture in India. When monetised this will be $ 545 Million!

Carbon Emission Reduction: Study conducted by The Energy Resource Institute concluded that each treadle pump offsets half a ton of CO2 every year. With the adoption of over 900, 000 treadle pump and savings of 681.7 million litres of diesel over 2.62-million tCO2 eq. has been offset. When monetised this carbon offset will be $ 18.3 Million.

Water Use Productivity: Water is becoming one of the most precious resources. This preciousness is strongly felt and understood by the farmers living in the water scarce regions of the country especially those living in the west and south of India. The concept of drip of ‘more crop per drop’ allows for increase in area under irrigation without adding more stress on this natural resource. Low-cost drip also raises the productivity of harvested rainwater in these areas, thereby making the watershed projects more economical and successful.

Over the years with use of drip irrigation systems over 6.6 Billion Cu Meters of water has been saved. When monetised it translates to US$ 2.3 Million respectively!

Electricity Savings: Decrease in input cost and energy use per unit area irrigated is the core issue of the water-energy nexus. It is estimated that 85% (India: Biomass Energy for Rural india; Global Environment Facility, UNDP, Dec 1999) of the energy requirement of a village is directed towards irrigation, with the balance 15% of cooking and lighting purposes. Low-cost drip irrigation will go a long way in reducing energy requirements in villages and also fulfill irrigation needs as it more efficient as compared to conventional flood irrigation. Water-soluble fertilizers can be applied through the drip system resulting in targeted fertilizer application, lower fertilizer and energy costs in delivering them to the plants and thus reduced harmful impact on the environment. Treadle pumps are manually operated and do not need any electrical or fossil fuel energy for operations, thus, lowering energy cost per unit area irrigated.

Over the years with use of drip irrigation systems over 880 Million kWh of electricity has been saved. When monetized it translates to USD 13.3 Million respectively!