Nachhaltige Landbewirtschaftung in Meghalaya - Zuschusskomponente Sustainable Land Management in Meghalaya (Grant Component) Das Vorhaben Nachhaltige Landbewirtschaftung in Meghalaya (Zuschusskomponente) dient der Vorbereitung und Durchführung eines landesweiten Programms zur Förderung agrarökologischer und organischer landwirtschaftlicher Anbaupraktiken samt Absatzvermarktung im Bundesstaat Meghalaya und in Indien (Darlehenskomponente). Während der wirtschaftliche Beitrag des Agrarsektors von Meghalaya in den letzten Jahren deutlich gesunken ist, sind 83 % der Bevölkerung (mehrheitlich marginale landwirtschaftliche Haushalte) immer noch von der Landwirtschaft abhängig. Die meisten Agrarprodukte werden ohne oder mit wenigen chemische Zusätze angebaut. Die Nutzung chemischer Düngemittel und Pestizide ist jedoch in kleinen landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben vergleichsweise hoch. Viele Produkte werden ohne weitere Wertschöpfung verkauft oder konsumiert. Viele Landwirte haben zudem keinen Zugang zu Informationen, produktionssteigernden Technologien, geeigneten landwirtschaftlichen Betriebsmitteln oder Viehfutter. Das Projekt zielt darauf ab, mit Hilfe effizienter und funktionaler Unterstützungsstrukturen nachhaltige Landmanagementpraktiken und Wertschöpfungsketten zu etablieren. Das Vorhaben unterstützt die Einrichtung einer funktionsfähigen Projektmanagementeinheit mit qualifiziertem Personal, modernen Betriebsverfahren, Leitlinien und Kooperationsvereinbarungen. Weiterhin sollen Packages of Practices für traditionelle, agrarökologischen Grundsätzen entsprechende, Anbaumethoden wichtiger Lebensmittel eingeführt werden. Zuletzt unterstützt das vorbereitende Vorhaben den Aufbau funktionierender und tragfähiger Wertschöpfungsketten für mind. zwei Agrarprodukte der Region. Die Zielgruppe des Projekts sind marginale landwirtschaftliche Haushalte in 11 Distrikten in Meghalaya. Projektträger ist die Meghalaya Basin Management Authority (MBMA). Die Gesamtkosten für die Zuschusskomponente belaufen sich auf umgerechnet 6,45 Mio. EUR, wobei 4,49 Mio. EUR aus einem FZ-Zuschuss finanziert werden sollen. The project on sustainable agriculture in Meghalaya (grant component) serves to prepare and implement an overall project aimed at promoting agro-ecological and organic agricultural cultivation practices including marketing in the state of Meghalaya and in India (loan component). While economic contribution of Meghalaya's agricultural sector declined in the past years, 83% of the state's population is still dependent on agriculture (with a majority of small and marginal farming households). Most of the produce is naturally grown with little or no chemical inputs. However, consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is comparatively higher in small and marginal holdings. Furthermore, agricultural produce is sold or consumed with little or no value addition. Many farmers lack access to information, production enhancing technologies, suitable agricultural inputs and livestock feed. With the help of efficient and functional support structures, the project aims at establishing sustainable land management practices and value chains. Therefore, the project supports the establishment of a fully operational Project Management Unit (PMU) with qualified staff and state-of-the-art operating procedures, guidelines and cooperation agreements. Furthermore, Packages of Practices (PoP) for traditional farming methods on key commodities which comply with acknowledged agro-ecological principles are to be introduced. Finally, the preparatory project supports the establishment and development of functioning and sustainable value chains for at least two agricultural products.The target group of the project are small and marginal agricultural households in 11 districts in the state of Meghalaya. The project executing agency is the Meghalaya Basin Management Authority (MBMA). The total cost of the grant component is the equivalent of EUR 6.45 million, of which EUR 4.49 is to be financed from an FC grant. Increased OF/NF/Sustainable farming coverage contributes to stabilized household incomes as well as to improved soils/natural resources The project on sustainable agriculture in Meghalaya (grant component) serves to prepare and implement an overall project aimed at promoting agro-ecological and organic agricultural cultivation practices including marketing in the state of Meghalaya and in India (loan component). While economic contribution of Meghalaya's agricultural sector declined in the past years, 83% of the state's population is still dependent on agriculture (with a majority of small and marginal farming households). Most of the produce is naturally grown with little or no chemical inputs. However, consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is comparatively higher in small and marginal holdings. Furthermore, agricultural produce is sold or consumed with little or no value addition. Many farmers lack access to information, production enhancing technologies, suitable agricultural inputs and livestock feed. With the help of efficient and functional support structures, the project aims at establishing sustainable land management practices and value chains. Therefore, the project supports the establishment of a fully operational Project Management Unit (PMU) with qualified staff and state-of-the-art operating procedures, guidelines and cooperation agreements. Furthermore, Packages of Practices (PoP) for traditional farming methods on key commodities which comply with acknowledged agro-ecological principles are to be introduced. Finally, the preparatory project supports the establishment and development of functioning and sustainable value chains for at least two agricultural products.The target group of the project are small and marginal agricultural households in 11 districts in the state of Meghalaya. The project executing agency is the Meghalaya Basin Management Authority (MBMA). The total cost of the grant component is the equivalent of EUR 6.45 million, of which EUR 4.49 is to be financed from an FC grant.