Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli

Assistance to encourage innovative proposals

TIRUNELVELI: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has created a new fund, Rural Innovation Fund (RIF), to support innovative, risk-friendly, unconventional experiments in farm, non-farm and micro-finance sectors that would have the potential to promote livelihood opportunities and employment in rural areas and facilitating access to financial and business promotion services for the poor.

Speaking to ‘The Hindu,’ the Assistant General Manager, NABARD, J. Suresh said the activities must have the rural poor in their focus and must be innovative, experimental and demonstrative in nature leading commercial viability.

The activities funded may involve development of new products, processes, prototypes, technology, patenting and extension support. Appropriate action research and studies contributing to better understanding of rural development issues, policy and process implementation may be undertaken.

All innovations and related activities in the farm, rural non-farm and micro-finance sectors can have access to the RIF.

Assistance will be available for all activities such as providing technology and skill up gradation, inputs supply and market support leading to promotion of viable enterprises, sustainable employment, infrastructure development, improved flow and access of credit to rural entrepreneurs.

Proposals aiming at increasing productivity and profitability of operations of the farmers, artisans, handicraft persons and rural people in general, projects that help in reducing drudgery, improving access to market, projects that help better sanitation, health and hygienic conditions and environment in rural areas will be rightly rewarded.

Research studies for documenting the innovations already taking place in rural areas and examining issues concerned with rural cottage and village industries and proposals which improve rural credit, outreach, help in creating employment opportunities in rural areas, improve farm practices and help in conserving the land fertility will be considered.

Following areas or sectors will be considered for support from the fund: dry land / rain fed farming, innovative rainwater harvesting for rural dwellings, rural energy from biomass / agricultural wastes, techniques for increasing the value of crop residues and non-crop bio mass, community regulation of distribution and use of water and energy, storage devices for agricultural and rural products, innovative methods of managing Common Property Resources, materials and designs for rural roads and rural sanitation and waste disposal.

Besides, activities trying to bring in more innovative approaches / ideas with greater focus on the following areas will be supported: rural entrepreneurship / skill development, marketing strategy and networking, rural housing and habitat development - low cost and natural calamity resilient housing structures for providing safe habitat to rural population, rural service sector, financial inclusion, micro-finance to micro-entrepreneurship, financial and technological model for health care and hygiene, evolving package of products on rural tourism and culture and rural sanitation.

Individuals, NGOs, community-based organisations, self-help groups, farmer’s clubs, panchayati raj institutions and corporate, who have the expertise and willingness to implement innovative ideas for improving the quality of life in rural areas may apply.

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