BiodiverSO & NHOI Goa
Role of Local Groups in Capacity Building
The following writings are excerpts from the Academic Dissertation titled “STUDY OF EXISTING FRAMEWORK FOR WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT IN GOA” written as part of the program of Master of Architecture in Sustainable Habitat under the guidance of Dr. Aniruddha Pawar, Ph.D., IIT Roorkee, HOD of Dept. of Sustainable Habitat; and co-ordinated by Dr. Nupur Mistry, Ph.D., Pondicherry University, Assistant Professor at Goa College of Architecture with additional guidance from Ar. Snehalata Pednekar, Planner & Dr. Vishvesh Kandolkar, Vice-Principal, Goa College of Architecture. The field research was conducted in collaboration with TERI Goa Division and Zonal Agriculture Office, Dharbandora, Goa.
BiodiverSO
While productivity has increased as a result of intensive agriculture, agro-biodiversity is trending downward. It has been observed that the so-called "green revolution" in agriculture, which replaced genetically diverse landraces and regional variations with contemporary, scientific approaches to plant breeding, signified a time of shrinking biodiversity.
The RDP of Administration of Puglia Region in Italy funded the cooperative project BiodiverSO, which focuses on the issue "Diffusion and protection of genetic resources in agriculture." Beginning in April 2013, the 48-month project involved fourteen partners from multiple fields which are genetics, agriculture, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, biochemistry, plant science, and engineering etc., from academic institutions, research centres, governmental consortia, and private businesses. The University of Bari Aldo Moro's Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science oversaw the study.
The objectives of the BiodiverSO project, eight distinct Work Packages pertaining to the conservation of regional vegetable varieties in Puglia were planned and scheduled.
The work packages (WPs) are as follows:
WP 1-History. This task involved conducting a thorough bibliographic search and conducting a territorial inquiry to gather data on the genetic resources in the area. Retrieving the provenance, history, distribution, and customs surrounding the use and production of regional cultivars was the main objective.
WP 2-Recovery. Research and the subsequent gathering of propagation material for the regional types found in Puglia served as the foundation for the recovery effort. Reproducible materials, such as seeds, were collected from the field together with pertinent data regarding product applications, growing methods, and regional customs.
WP3-Ex situ conservation. This involves the conservation, outside the natural environment, of seeds and/or plant parts suitable for multiplication, sowing and/or planting, revitalization, propagation and management of the material, to ensure the use of germplasm, safeguard varieties at risk of genetic extinction and attempt a subsequent reintroduction.
WP 4—Characterization. This is aimed to assess genetic, agronomic, morphological, quantitative and nutritional traits of the recovered genetic resources by using several tools and techniques.
WP5—Sanitation and registration in national catalogs. The first aim of this activity was to obtain protocols for producing virus-free genetic resources for conservation, breeding, and production. Moreover, the registration of local varieties and related products in the “List of Traditional Agri-Food Products” (LTAFP) of the Italian Department for Agriculture was carried out.
WP6—Databases. All information and results obtained through each project activity were catalogued and used to create inventories regarding sampling sites and data on the recovered genetic resources.
WP7—Datasheets writing. This activity was carried out for each genetic resource with the aim to create standardized systems of identification, characterization and recognition of local varieties.
WP8—In-situ Conservation. In situ conservation of genetic resources needs to be based not only on institutional programs, but mainly on the possibility, especially for young growers, to use these resources for productive activities which would imply a real income. Moreover, the potential strategy of integrating institutional programs with research and development projects, could be a model useful to preserve the biodiversity of vegetable crops.
Image Source: Renna et al, 2018
For more information visit https://biodiversitapuglia.it/
NHOI Goa
Revoking art around river and water usage through art is a unique way of community building around water that has demonstrated by the program created by NHOI Goa. program groups like NHOI can play an important role in rural capacity building which is essential to the success of any community driven program. Because, for project of such magnitude which requires participatory planning to succeed, a certain understanding of common interest between all stakeholders is necessary. The budgetary allocation within the WDC PMKSY 2.0 (Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna 2.0) framework affirms this importance of community activities. The stakeholders will not be easy to be motivated to work for a common goal unless the awareness about that goal is created and the goal itself may be of existential importance as art is one of the most effective ways to spread awareness.
Begun in 2018, NHOI Goa in association with Bookworm has been able to bring the community together on a common platform of art creation and community story documentation in the form of River Draw initiative. Indigenous knowledge is also an important resource required for the survival of sustainable habitat of current and future population both in rural as well as urban areas. Its importance has been underlined in the International Commitments for Sustainable Development.
In the words of Ar. Rhea D'Souza, the convenor of NHOI, "Through our Librarian workshop we strengthened and tested that if we were to attempt a conscious reflection on the river with the community, it had to be done through stories and drawings." Further she says, “Nhoi, which means river in Konkani, emerged out of a need to raise social consciousness about our rivers in Goa and to find a medium and a process that activates social engagement through existing spaces like libraries.”
During the course of the discussions with her, a common ground on understanding was also established that rural population has lot of knowledge about the ecology and it’s working. They also possess all the necessary information about their natural resources and importance of conservation of these resources for their survival. And, although not well conceived, but the rural and urban settlement is intricately inter-connected. As understood through various planning theories, the urban areas feed on its rural counterparts. The survival of urban settlement is supported by the rural areas. For example, the city of Panaji completely depends on River Khandepar for all of its 21 MLD (CCP, 2015) drinking water needs. The plant located in Opa, more than 40 kilometres supports the survival of Goa’s capital city.
For the survival and development of urban areas, the development of rural areas is extremely important as these natural resources are protected by rural communities. Speed of implementation of development projects in rural areas is largely dependent on success of capacity building activities. That is where NGOs like Bookworm’s NHOI Goa program has been successful, to bring together a community and create a cohesive group of stakeholders who can be directed to implement planning measures very effectively, as they have demonstrated through their successful delivered campaigns of meeting their objectives.
“There was an intent to represent the nature of the River. At present there are 121 State run libraries in Goa. So, we began with mapping out all the libraries and to seek connections with the ones that were along the Mandovi. To do this we collaborated with the Goa State Central library which invited around 27 librarians from along the Mandovi to be a part of our first Library workshop in February 2018. Through our Librarian workshop we strengthened and tested that if we were to attempt a conscious reflection on the river with the community , it had to be done through stories and drawings. We worked with a participatory and open format with each Library space where we would evoke memories around the river. The three main questions were, What are your Memories on your river ? What is your Knowledge of your River? What is your Vision for your River?”-Ar. Rhea D’Souza, Fr. Agnel’s Call, September 2022.”
For more information visit : https://www.bookwormgoa.in/collective/nhoi-the-goa-river-draw/
So, in conclusion, the watershed development program has to bring on board such NGOs who can vitalise the process of public participation. Because not only that is an expertise that is readily available, but government agencies and private partners have been observed to be having non-neutral image in the eyes of the stakeholders. The private agency, even a non-profit one, will not be able to go beyond their financial obligations while the government agencies have a protocol to follow. Both of these approaches have their limitations on ground effectiveness, where a community program, especially art, can make a huge difference by plugging in that gap, benefiting all the stakeholders in the process. Institutions in the framework, whether private or public, that may be research organizations like TERI or Project Implementing Agency like Agriculture Department need to get such NGOs on board for capacity building which will fasten the pace of implementation of projects.
Final Dissertation Presentation Video. For interactive presentation visit : https://gautamparwar.github.io/watershedframework/ (It may have some loading time on slower network)
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