About RARDS

Introduction

Kutch was affected by the severe drought in the year 1987. At that time, the relief works were carried out by not only the Government but Non-Government organizations also. The Mumbai based Kachchhi industrialists decided to help the rural people who were heavily affected by drought condition in Kutch region. They were not in favour of short term relief works of food and fodder but they thought that Agriculture and Animal Husbandry are the main source of livelihood of rural areas and hence, they want to build up the sustainability of rural communities through development of Agriculture & its allied fields by providing technological back stopping via research and extension services in the field of agriculture and its allied sectors in rural areas of Kutch district.

For such broad objective, the Rural Agro Research and Development Society (RARDS) – A Trust registered under Public trust Act & Society Act No. F – 159/Kutch and Guj. – 2/88 were established on dated 23-03-1988.

Late Shri Sumatichandra H. Mehta was founder trustee, who activated the trust activities in full flagged in and after 1992 at Mundra.

Trust Board

Specific Objectives:

To provide relief to farmers & rural population in every possible ways like giving cash, loan, grants in any natural calamities.
To raise funds for achievement of objectives of society by all legitimates means like donation, grants from govt. & non-govt. Sectors, loan/borrowing from banks, public – private institutions against society properties
To act as coordinators for relief works undertaken by various bodies in time of natural calamities and in its activities for rural upliftment’s.
To undertake any works to supply and distribution of drinking water in rural areas for human, agriculture and cattle.
To set up centers for providing animal husbandry / veterinary services / hospitals for improvement of livestock in rural areas.
To provide expert services to the farmers by providing all scientific agricultural practices for increasing productivity from their land.
To assist or undertake the rural development projects including soil conservation, forestry and plantations.
To set up or assist agro based or its allied industries in rural areas
To set up biogas, solar energy and wind mills units for harnessing energy / electricity for benefits of rural population.
To establish training centers associated with rural development, farming, dairy development and manufacture of argil Implements.
To undertake any programmes for promotion of social and economical welfare of rural communities.
To set up centers for rendering medical helps in rural areas including to run mobile dispensaries. Also, provide health centers for family welfare and immunization works.
To undertake one or more projects in any specific areas for all-round development of rural people.
To create employment opportunities to stop the migration of rural population in search of employment.
To well train local individuals or VLWs for facing the problems encountered in work of rural development.
To educate the farmers in advance practices like dry and hydroponic farming, soil conservation, fertilizer and pest-diseases management through organizing trainings, visits and farm demonstrations.
To assist/promote fodder development for cattle in rural areas.
To assist farmers in marketing their produce.
To establish, promote or assist others in establishing and/or run agricultural and scientific research centers and institutions.
To assist or cooperate with authorities like Government, public, institutions, associations to promote any agricultural and rural economic activities.
To undertake and promote research in locating the problems faced in work of rural development and to evolve solutions for such problems in scientific and economic manner.
To engage scientific research in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry, agro-based industries, water conservation and energy in rural areas by establishing the institutions.
To set up, promote or assist training centers, schools, colleges for agriculture to train students and farmers, overall, promote and development of agriculture and rural industries.

Present projects run by the society:

KrishiVigyan Kendra (ICAR)
Rain water harvesting programmes
Model farm demonstration unit
Dairy Demonstration unit
Soil and water testing laboratory
Community farmers’ service canter
Vocational canter for rural women

Brief activities report of the society (Year: 2019- 2020):

1	Rain water harvesting programmes
	Details of works	Water storage capacity (cu.m)			Total cost (Rs.)		People contribution (Rs.)		Remarks if any,
	· Deepening of village ponds – Lundhasar pond of Lifra village of Mundra block – Saivalu pond of Bagda village of Mundra block -Dhrabadivalu pond of Bagda village of Mundra block · Deepening of individual farm ponds in Lifra village of Mundra Block – Total 04 ponds · Earthen link canal work for drawing water from Namada canal to farmers’ fields at Balasar village of Rapar block · Removal of Vilayati babul and levelling of pond of sadau village of Mundra block	11437 27030 153640 1920 5250 cu.mt. earthen work 19.20 Lakh cu.mt.			158500 175200 131700 87700 28000 40000		475100 Cost of Diesel and drivers bared by farmers		In terms of Diesel, Tractors and labour charges etc. Irrigated land area 31 Acres after work Cost of Tractor Drivers bared by villagers
2	Model farm demonstration unit
	Crop	Area (ha)		Production (Kg)				Cost (Rs)		Income (Rs.)
	– Wheat Var. GW – 496 – Date palm Var. Local elite – Mango Var. Kesar – Ber Var. Gola & Umram – Sapota Var. Kalipatti – Vegetables Total	2.5 0.4 3.25 1.00 1.00 —		200 385 9880 2670 9280 75000 seedlings				24770 3250 152900 2850 21700 21400 226870		45000 9500 675000 12500 62500 75000 879500
3	Dairy Demonstration unit
	Animal			Numbers				Annual Milk Production (Lt.)		Annual Milk Income (Rs.)
	– Cow HF Cross – Cow Jersey Cross – Cow Kankrej – Heifer – Calves · Total Milk Income (Rs.) · FYM – Sale (Rs.) · FYM – Farm used (Rs.) · Gross Income (Rs.) · Total Input cost (Rs.) Net Income (Rs.)			03 02 02 03 01 — — — — —- —-				4710 3650 2680 — — 11040 — — — — —		155430 120450 88440 — — 354320 27800 36000 418120 296000 122120
4	Soil and water testing laboratory
	Particulars					Numbers				Value (Rs.)
	– Soil samples analyzed – Water samples analyzed Total					461 222 683				32320 13320 45590
5	Community farmers’ service centre
	Name of implements/Machine which service provided		Total Hrs. Used			No. of farmers benefited				Total Income (Rs.)
	– Automatic seeds cum fertilizers drill – Tractor operated Thresher – Rotavator – Reversible plough – Tractor operated sprayer – Tractor		29 32.5 39 16 12 428			04 03 06 02 02 —				169375
6	Vocational canter for rural women
	Particulars							Numbers		Beneficiaries
	Tailoring & Stitching for rural women (Villages: Moti Rayan, Gangapar of Mandvi, On campus, & Kidana of Gandhidham)							04		91

About RARDS

Introduction

Trust Board

Shri. Shantilal Nemji Meckoni

Shri. Damji Lalji Shah

Shri. Rajnikant Jayantilal Patwa

Shri. Amul Sumatichandra Mehta

Shri. Shamji Tokarshi Vora

Shri. Narendra Popatlal Patwa

Shri. Kamlesh Himatlal Sheth

Specific Objectives:

Present projects run by the society:

Brief activities report of the society (Year: 2019- 2020):