IlSP groups to be brought together

The livelihood groups and federations, formed under the Integrated livelihood Support Project (IlSP) being implemented with the support of State Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will be brought together for forming an apex body in Uttarakhand. 

This apex body will undertake the branding of mountain products of Uttarakhand by the name of Hilans (Highland Innovative livelihood Ascending Nature Sustainability). Hilans will include agriculture, dairy and eco-tourism products of the State.

According to IlSP knowledge manager Anil Maikhuri, the plan for forming an apex body to increase the business of the State’s farmers was discussed in detail during the Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Samiti (UGVS) executive meet held earlier this month. At present there are 72 livelihood cooperatives doing a business worth about Rs 16 crore per annum. 

Each such livelihood cooperative has about 50 to 60 village level producers’ groups with 10 to 15 members in each such village level group. These groups – with women constituting 60 per cent membership –  produce various agricultural products chiefly traditional produce, various vegetables like potato, tomato, ginger and dairy products. Maikhuri further informed that while 72 livelihood cooperatives/federations are presently active, 40 are in the process of formation with a target being set for increasing their number to a total of 200 such federations in a year. The apex body formed from these federations will undertake branding of the mountain-products of Uttarakhand under the Hilans brand on the lines of Amul in Gujarat. 

However, Hilans will encompass dairy, agriculture and eco-tourism products of Uttarakhand. He said, “This is an ambitious plan of the IlSP to tackle one of the major problems being faced in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand- migration. The apex body is expected to directly benefit about 1,10,000 farmers of the State especially as the farmers themselves will be managing the apex body without any government interference.