Community Launching of the ICT Project

The Pragati-Digital Green Project entitled “Ensuring Livelihood Security of Small and Marginal Farmers Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT)” was formally launched on 25 May 2010 at Ektaguda village in Mahadeiput Panchayat of Koraput Block.

The Pragati-Digital Green project aims to improve the cost effectiveness of current people-based extension systems in field by improving operational efficiencies and increasing the rate at which farmers adopt better agriculture practices. This will be accomplished through production of videos in local language and mediated video disseminations. The Project will be implemented in 150 villages of Koraput and Nandapur Blocks. For its initial phase (April to September 2010), the project shall cover 40 villages of Koraput Block for its initial phase.

An Odiya booklet on the details of the Pragati-Digital Green project was also presented and distributed during the event. The public presentation of project details, including costs, is a regular activity of Pragati as a measure of transparency and to highlight stakeholders participation.

The event was attended by the district government officials, the media, and some 200 community members from the Mahadeiput, Mastiput, Kendar and Manbar  panchayats. The guests of honor included Sri R.K. Sadangi, Deputy Director of Horticulture; Sri Narayan Murmu, Block Development Officer, Koraput; Sri Surendra Masti, President of Koraput District Forest Federation. The Secretary of Pragati, Sri Prabhakar Adhikar was also present, as well as the Program Coordinator Smt. Luna Panda

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Video Production Training for Digital Green Partner Organizations

The Digital Green Foundation (Digital Green )conducted a video production training in Bhubaneswar last 9 to 11 May 2010 for its Odisha partner organizations, Pragati and VARRAT.

The three-day training covered the various stages of video production, from conceptualizing and writing storyboards, to shooting and editing the video. Lectures were complemented with demonstrations and actual practice sessions for the participants. Films produced by long-time Digital Green partner organizations were also shown as case examples.

The training was also a venue for Digital Green to further level off expectations from its partners. Included in the program of activities was a planning meeting with the chief strategist of Digital Green, Mr Vinay Kumar.

The training was attended by the heads of the two organizations, as well as their staff who will be involved in the project management. Attending the training from Pragati were Secretary, Sri Prabhakar Adhikar; Program Coordinator, Smt. Luna Panda; Project Area Coordinator, Arpan Das; Forest Network Initiative Coordinator, Prashant Ku. Tripathy; and VSO volunteer Nancy Endrinal Parreño.

In April 2010, Pragati entered into a partnership with the Digitial Green Foundation to produce 150 films related on organic farming and System of Rice Intensification (SRI). These films will be shown to 150 villages in the Koraput district as part of the community education and extension services of Pragati. More than 8,000 farmers are expected to be reached by this community education and extension service.

The Pragati-Digital Green project, entitled “Ensuring Livelihood Security of Small and Marginal Farmers Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT)”, is expected to run for 30 months.