Patepur Farmer Training Centre

Located 38 kilometres from the state capital Patna, the 34 families of Musahar Tola in Gram Bishunpur Kwahi are below the poverty line and do not have adequate resources to provide for basic household expenditure. Consequently, not a single child in the Tola goes to school. Without access and ownership of productive assets, the residents suffer not only from a lack of sustainable economic opportunities but also from crippling forms of social ostracism. Pucca decided to renovate the only pucca building in the vicinity of the tola, into a farm extension center that can be used to train the residents of Musahar tola and other adjoining villages to become skilled farm workers. At times of harvest, the building can also double-up as a warehouse for agro-produce for local farmers. The centre serves as the nodal office for providing training and crop advisory services for over 150 farmers in the region to help improve farm productivity and increase incomes. The centre incorporated local vernacular elements of design and construction, primarily bamboo and mud construction.

 

Rationale and scope:

 

In collaboration with partners, Pucca has aided in the design, implementation and management of the Patepur farm centre to help farmers in the region improve their productivity, switch to horticulture crops, gain access to improved irrigation facilities and diversify their livelihood opportunities. Pucca also liaisons between different government agencies and research organizations to ensure regular farmer training programs and organizing exposure visits for farmers to learn new technological applications.

 

Features of the Training Centre:

 

Duration of the project: November 2018 to present

 

Funded by: Philanthropic entity