Agricultural Training, Production and Micro-credit programs, Pakistan
Low-income children in Pakistan. Photo: CWS |
Trust for Rural Development (TRD), was created and registered in 1997. TRD envisions a society based on human virtues such as truth, non-violence, and self-realization and works so that people can realize their own potential for self-reliance and coexistence among their neighbors based on tolerance, competence, and belief in general good.
Sindh Province has suffered from drought, creating a need for farmers, small landholders, and women who head households to come together and address several economic and agricultural issues that are gripping the area. The negative impact of the drought is clearly reflected in the agricultural field – in terms of scarcity of food resources, influx of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and the promotion of a culture of high interest loaning by the landlords to the poor peasants of the area. The Trust for Rural Development (TRD) aims to address this situation by assisting the peasant communities of the District of Kakar through community organizing and setting up a partial micro-credit scheme to enable cash-strapped farmers and women to be able to buy new equipment, seeds, and fertilizers to grow crops on sustainable grounds or start new small scale enterprises.
The Agricultural Training/Production/Micro-Credit project is located in the province of Sindh and implemented by Trust for Rural Development, CWS Pakistan’s partner in the area. The direct beneficiaries are 100 individuals and 7,000 people who will benefit indirectly. This project aims to educate small farmers and women on agricultural issues, train them in micro-credit activities, introduce new varieties of seeds, and demonstrate eco-friendly pest management techniques. This project will empower 100 farmers, small landholders, and women who head households to engage in organized income generating activities. Church World Service, through the TOOLS OF HOPE & BLANKET Program, supports this project. CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan and Trust for Rural Development will jointly carry out an ongoing monitoring plan, and the evaluation will be used for further improvement of the project.
TRD's project objectives include: 1) organizing farmers, small landholders, and women around agricultural issues; 2) training the members in the areas of credit and savings; 3) arranging exposure visits-cum-trainings; 4) introducing new varieties of seeds; and 5) introducing eco-friendly pest management techniques. To insure the sustainability of this project, the following steps are being taken: 1) administrative costs are kept at a minimum; 2) community's participation will be enhanced through planned activities; 3) small fundraising activities are being done; and 4) diversified funding partners will be explored.
Support for Church World Service and the TOOLS OF HOPE & BLANKET Program helps make this program possible.
Updated 10/11/04
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