WELCOME

Manarcadu Social Service Society

PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ACADEMY

FOR FAIRTRADE AND ORGANIC FARMING

Organisational ProfileManarcadu 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

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.

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%

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

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.

Academy Aim & ObjectivesPhase 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.

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

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 .

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 .

Estimations 1. Campus Area) :(4 Acres)2. Buildings 3. Farm Equipments 4. Electricity , Water, IT etc 5. Solar Plant for generation of power6. Water harvesting units7. 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

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 .

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 .