2. Manarcadu Social Service Society
PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP
INTERNATIONALSUSTAINABLEACADEMY
FORFAIRTRADEANDORGANICFARMING
3. Organisational Profile
Manarcadu Social Service Society (MASS)
Promoted by Plantrich and incorporated in 2001 to promote smallholding
farmers and to adopt Organic and Fairtrade standards for coffee, cocoa ,
herbs &spices and many tropical fruits and vegetables.
Setup benchmark by reinvesting the premium amount for many projects
to enhance quality and productivity and empowered more than1600
farmers covering 4000 hectare of organic certified land
4. MASS formulated many programs for small farmers to take care of
health, education ,environment, forest, biodiversity by adopting best
agricultural practices including irrigation, soil health, use of self
developed organic bio-fertilisers and safe use of bio pesticides etc.
MASS got well recognised and supported by Govt of India ,Coffee ,
Spices Commodities Board , National Centre for Organic Farming
(NCOF), Ministry of Agriculture, and Government of India for
Participatory Guaranteed certification In India.
5. Why farmer's Suicides ??
Failure of cash crops ( coffee, cotton , fruits &Vegetables Etc ) 29%
Price Crash 14.7%
Family problems with spouse, others 13.27%
Chronic illness 5.31%
Marriage of daughters 4.42%
Borrowing too Much (Private chits ) 4 %
Political affiliation 2.65 %
Property disputes 2.65 %
Debt burden 2.65 %
others (multiple reasons ) 26%
6. Academy Need Assessment
In India we have 1 millions of farmers and workers are under fair-
trade umbrella and 8 millions of farmers are under organic agriculture
and the industry showing 12% growth every year. Even government also
brings up at new schemes and initiations to promote organic agriculture
but reach to field level is challenge and having limitations in
implementing the schemes.
India we have 1000 of Organic Certified Producers and 85 of Organic
& Fair-trade Exporters. In coming Future by 2018, it will be three fold.
Same way Global status is 10% growth for organic & fair-trade
Industry. We need trained employees who are different from
conventional industry
There is lack of research & development, trained professionals, proper
marketing and lack of sustainable supply chain from many of organic /
fair-trade exporters
Lack of IT technologies or having challenges in collecting and analysis
of field data due lack of trained professionals
7. Productivity and quality issues, food security and climatic change
issues & continuity of Sustainable agricultural practices based on crop
and local need to be addressed.
Small farmers and workers are handling highly poisonous chemicals
and being victims of deadly disease like cancer including children
cerebral palsy both in plantation sector.
Farmer suicides in Kerala, India is 3 % rate per 100,000 people in
the state (survey 2012), which is highest in country, through learning
and knowledge sharing and fair prices we can impact happy farmer
family.
Practical training to Farmers and workers children in modern
farming and their rights and safety.
Lack of women farmer to become leaders and entrepreneurs.
8. Academy Aim & Objectives
Phase I :
To offer internships for National and International students by exchange programs
To Conduct Three Months Certificate courses offering for all segments of the
organisations including field staff, project managers, ICS managers, Marketing
staff, data collection and analysis team.
To conduct various levels of training for farmers and workers according to fair-
trade and organic standards to adopt sustainable agriculture and to promote agri-
business particularly with fair-trade vision.
To develop and implement IT enable services for easy and accurate certification
process.
To conduct various level workshops along with crop cycle including Coffee, Tea,
Sugarcane, Tea etc.
To empower women farmers and to train women to become entrepreneur in
agriculture business.
9. Phase II : To strategise an exchange of technologies from western countries/
Universities to enhance productivity and quality of organic produces including
sustainable Supply Chain.
To demonstrate field activities to teach practical knowledge for small farmers
&workers with modern technologies .
To conduct awareness programs for farmers to anticipate with climatic changes
and equip producer to think globally and act locally.
To conduct R & D for promotion of Nano technologies, Green Energies in
organic agriculture.
Academy Aim & Objectives
10. Location
The campus is proposed in lush green area near Udumbu chola Taluk of
Idukki District, Kerala, India having an elevation of 1960 Ft from sea level .
The hilly area is covered by many organic farms( Mixed Crops like Coffee,
Cocoa, Spices, Tea, Fruits, Vegetables coconuts and many tropical food
products ) and Villages( incl. Tribal villages) and covers 777 Sq KM of
Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest where the biodiversity and rich Flora and
Fauna of Western Ghats are extravagant.
The location ideal for any students, because from Cochin international
Airport its only 4.5 hours travel by car / 6 hours travel by public buses .
11. Expectations
To be affiliated with any one of the international University to accredit of
student curriculum courses.
To Partner with Fairtrade Organisations globally to work for fair-trade vision.
To set up R & D campus with associations from international research
institutes for Nano & Bio Technologies.
To associate and partner with funding agencies /donors to set up the
infrastructure .
12. Estimations
1. Campus Area) :(4 Acres)
2. Buildings
3. Farm Equipments
4. Electricity , Water, IT etc
5. Solar Plant for generation of power
6. Water harvesting units
7. transportation vehicles incl tractors
8. Human Resources
The total estimated budget aprox . Around 2 million USD including fixed cost and
recurring cost.
Funds Arrangements :
• 15% by Manarcadu social service society through bank borrowings / premium
investments
• 85% funding agencies as denotations or grants
13. Promoter Profile
Mr.Bijumon Kurian, President Of Manarcadu Social Service Society is a vibrant and
charismatic leader and an out of the box thinker who relentlessly strive for getting the
fruits of Fairtrade to under privileged farmers, workers and women. He always wanted
to create awareness amongst the youth about Fairtrade and organic farming.
Dissemination of knowledge is very important. He believes that when new generation
understands what is fair-trade and the benefits of Organic farming then they will own it
and will become ambassadors of Fairtrade and organic farming which will eventually
transform the world to be a better and safe place to live in. Towards this objective,
submit herewith this project proposal for starting an INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE
ACADEMY FOR FAIR-TRADE & ORGANIC FARMING IN INDIA .
14. Mr. Bijumon Kurien has been honoured with the BIGGEST FAIRTRADE FAN by
Fair-trade International, Germany for his achievements towards attaining extra
miles to Fairtrade vision. He is the General Secretary of Indian Fairtrade Producers
includes 89 Fairtrade Certified Producers of Coffee, Cotton, Tea, Sugar, Cocoa
and fruits and vegetables. He also In the Board of Fairtrade Asia Pacific as
Treasurer .
