OUR PARTNERS
SELF HELP AFFIRNITY GROUPS
MYKAPS has promoted 1303 sAgs as on 31st March, 2015. These are savings and credit institutions of chiefly women. There are 19164 women and 1684 men as members. These sAgs are linked to banks, sanghamithra and NABFINS. The age of these sAgs ranges from 3 years to 28 years. The capital managed by older group ranges from 10 to 20 lakhs.
BETTER COTTON LEARNING GROUPS
MYKAPS has promoted Better Cotton Learning Groups under a project namely; Better Cotton Initiatives Project. Members of these BCILGs are chiefly small and marginal farmers involved in cultivating better cotton by following production principles namely; Crop Protection, Water, Soil, Habitat, Fibre Quality and Decent Work as per the standards of Better Cotton Initiatives. These groups meet once in a fortnight / month and share the experience with each other about their learning in FFS. They are also trained in group dynamics and production principles. The farmers are oriented about banned pesticides, protection to be taken while spraying. They are also motivated not to use children in hazardous work and pregnant / nursing women in spraying operations. Self assessment is carried out as per BCI benchmarks. 208 BCILGs have been promoted as on 31st March, 2017 with membership from 7148 farmers.
ORGANIC FARMERS ASSOCIATION
MYKAPS has promoted four organic farmers associations in Nanjangud Taluk in Mysore District to promote organic farming with support from Dept. of Agriculture. 502 farmers are covered by these associations and 422.27 ha. is covered under organic farming. These OFAs have obtained membership in the federation which covers three districts namely; Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar.
SAG FEDERATIONS
These are federations of 20 to 30 self help affinity groups in a geographical area. These are unregistered representative groups. They meet once in a month in a fixed place. Two persons from each sAg namely; a representative and a book writer attend the meetings of federations wherein, the financial transaction of sAgs is reviewed such as savings, loans, linkages etc. This is also a forum for banks and MFIs to identify potential sAgs requiring credit and fix dates for assessment of groups. Training schedule of sAgs is also fixed in these meetings. A selected representative from federations is nominated as a member of board of management of Community Managed Resource Centre. 24 federations are in place as on 31st March, 2017. The Manager of the concerned CMRC and one or two board of directors attend these meetings.
COMMUNITY MANAGED RESEARCH CENTRE
Community Managed Resource Centres (CMRC) are independent, local level resource centres designed to help and guide the communities they are located in. A typical CMRC will support 30 villages (comprising 10000 people). The membership of a CMRC consists 100 to 125 self help affinity groups in a geographical location. They are registered as Trust / Society with Trustees/Directors selected from among the members of sAgs. The member secretary of CMRC is deputed by MYKAPS and is involved in day to day management of CMRC. These CMRCs have obtained exemption under Sec.12A and 80G of Income Tax Act. The CMRCs provide the required services demanded by the sAgs. They are also the service providers of Sanghamithra and NABFINS. CMRCs also provide social mobilization support to MYKAPS and are supporting MYKAPS to implement projects. They also provide faculty support to JDCIDOR and organize field visits.
VILLAGE WATERSHED COMMITTEES
These are registered associations under Karnataka Societies Act 1960 who are involved in implementation of watershed Projects. Funds from NABARD/ Watershed Development Department are credited to these associations for implementing treatment works. An elected representative of the Grama Panchayat normally the President of GP performs the role of Chairman of VWC who is also a co-signatory of bank account of VWC. Currently 4 Village Watershed Committees are functional namely; Nugunala, Badaganala, Mahakalamma and Kudrehundihalla.
TANK USER GROUP
These groups are formed where MYKAPS has taken up desilting of tanks. There are 12 to 15 members in a TUG. These TUGs are responsible for post maintenance of tanks desilted by raising contribution from the community. 122 TUGs have been promoted by MYKAPS in H.D.Kote Nanjangud and Periyapatna Taluks. 16 TUGs are involved in running agribusiness centers providing the required equipments to farmers such as sprinklers, Generators etc. 18 TUGs are also involved in wood procurement and supply wood to farmers at their door step for commercial purposes.
KABINI ORGANICS FARMER'S PRODUCTION CO. LTD.
The company was registered under Companies Act on 30th May, 2010. The company is managed by 10 board of members and a CEO who is deputed by MYKAPS. The Executive Director of MYKAPS is a co-opted member of the committee of directors of the company, who is constantly guiding the company in its management. The company has obtained PAN, TAN and GST and licensed by regulated market committee to transport produce of members. The company has 1301 shareholders and raised share capital of Rs.1,471,200/- as on 31st March, 2016. The company is involved in supply of quality organic seeds to the members and also in procuring produce such as cotton, turmeric, marigold, vegetables and chia. The company has promoted chia and quinoa crops, a nutritious produce in about 500acres which has good international market. The company is recognized as ISO 9001 company. The company is assisting the farmers to certify their lands under organic certification with support from IMO Control. The company has established relationship with export agencies such as Suminter with a formal agreement.
VANDHANA AGARBATHIES
A Producer Group namely; Vandana Agarbathis has been promoted by MYKAPS in Shyanubhoganahally with support from Jnanachiguru CMRC, Hunsur. The members from 4 sAgs namely; Yashaswini, Gayathri, Nandini and Sharada MSS started the producer’s group with initial capital of Rs.30,000/- from each group. Subsequently, they raised capital Rs.1,000,000/- under SGSY loan/subsidy scheme in 2007. Zilla Panchayat, Mysore has constructed a common work shed for the group at a total cost of Rs.700,000/-. Various trainings were provided by MYKAPS under MEPA and other programs to the group. The group has mobilized ragi cleaning and powdering machine from the Agriculture Dept. The group is involved in condiments making, hiring of chairs and shamiyana for weddings, functions etc. Zilla Panchayat has provided a TATA Ace vehicle to the group to transport goods. Vandana Agarbathies represents in many exhibitions such as Dasara Exhibition, Cauvery Saras, District Level Women Farmer’s Meet, Jathra, Urban Haat- International Exhibition, Swadeshi Mela, Kashmir Haat, Srinagar etc. The producer unit has been registered under Karnataka Societies Act 1960. The FPO is supported under Produce Fund – Promotion Of Farmer’s Producer Organization of NABARD.
KAVERI RURAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
Kaveri Rural Development Cooperative Society is a FPO registered under Cooperative Act of 1959 which is chiefly promoted to support better cotton farmers to procure inputs and to assist them to sell their produce in the BCI Supply Chain. There are 872 members with a share capital of Rs.471,600/-. The FPO is supported under Produce Fund – Promotion Of Farmer’s Producer Organization of NABARD.
JNANADEGULA CIDOR
An institution namely; Jnana Degula Centre for Institutional Development and Organizational Reforms (JDCIDOR) has been established by MYKAPS to build the capacities of various institutions promoted by MYKAPS. It is registered under Indian Trust Act and exempted under 80G and 12A on Income Tax Act. The president of the trust is also the chairman of MYKAPS and Executive Director of MYRADA is an Ex-officio Trustee. The Executive Director of MYKAPS performs the role of Managing Trustee and there are other interested persons who are the members of the trust. The Training Coordinator performs the role of member secretary. The primary activities of JDCIDOR are conducting training, assisting the CMRCs to conduct trainings, consolidating all trainings conducted by MYKAPS and CMRCs. JDCIDOR is also involved in conducting studies, evaluations and participatory planning such as participatory learning methods. JDCIDOR conducts approximately 300 training sessions per year. It has well equipped training halls boarding and lodging facilities for up to 70 people at any one time. JDCIDOR has developed various training modules for training of sAgs, farmers groups and producer organizations. JDCIDOR is involved in training of NGOs, Bankers, Nationals and Internationals. JDCIDOR attracts internationals from African Countries namely; Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ireland and also from other countries such as Bhutan and Combodia. Students form Oberlin University, Japan visit JDCIDOR once in two years for a cultural exchange program. JDCIDOR has a trained street theatre group which is involved in conducting street plays related to sanitation, SHG development, better cotton cultivation etc.