Perhaps the most innovative component of the project was the selection and training of BPL youth from the same villages where the project was implemented. These youth who were school dropouts and socially and economically depressed were the spearheads of the project and were called Master Trainers (MT). in the last four years these MT have become a driving force of not only the compost program or Organic programs but an important extension link for the development block.

A total of 1440 swarojgaris were strained in the technique of Composting for income generation. A service provider was appointed to provide the technology as well as the necessary inputs like inoculums for the program.

Haridwar TTDC ‘Composting program’ has developed into a profit making Common Facility Center (CFC) for more than 100 swarogaris in block Bhagwanpur. The total turn over of this CFC was Rs15 lacs in the last tow years. Compost from here is sold in Himanchal and UP. These BPL farmers have now applied for a registration under the Self Reliance Cooperative Act. In Dehradun and Nainital five SHG’s continue to sell their compost to nearby cities and government farmes.

Seeing the success of the compost project the Rural Development Department FRDC branch prepared a compost project for income generation for BPL families for 52 blocks of the 10 ,mountain districts of the state to Government of India. 9th Nov 2001 the Government of India sanctioned the project for income generation. A total of 5310 swarojgaris were trained in the project in 52 blocks of the 10 districts. Instead of having 10 district level market centers there was one district market center and two block level markets as well as storage centers in each district thus providing for 52 markets and supply infrastructure for the mountains.

The compost project besides creating a source of income generation (where all raw materials are already available and negligible investment on forward linkage were required) provided scores of small groups of BPL farmers effective composting techniques. The project also demonstrated how improvement in agriculture production can take place with little or no investment. Two Service Providers (SP) were appointed to provide the technical expertise as well inputs for the program and covered the 10 districts along with 64 MTs.

The compost program was restricted to BPL families and certain blocks; a number of farmer and blocks expressed interest for similar projects in their regions. The compost program was implemented in the Intergrated Watereshed Development Project, Women Dairy Coopreative in pilots. The project was well received and the reports as from the fields were encouraging.

A rate contract (sale price) of the ready compost produced by the BPL families has been made by the Secretary Horticulture, FRDC branch at Rs 1.50 per kg at the farmer’s road head. Every year horticulture farms, agriculture farms, govt. nurseries have been buying compost from the BPL farmers.

Meanwhile the DASP Bio-village program was leveraged in the three districts of Dehradun, US Nager and Nainital. The Agriculture Management Center (AMC) IIM Lucknow Impact Report of 2001 showed that farmers acceptance towards all Organic programs in Bio-village was above average. It was decided by the government to strengthen Organic Farming in agriculture department under the no-going Macro Mode project. Thus Bio-villages were mainstreamed and form a mere 16 villages in the districts to 5 in every block, to increase at the rate of 2 villages every year. Presently there are 667 bio-villages covered under agriculture department. Bio-villages in DASP till 2003 were being developed on extremely generic guidelines. The term bio-village needed to be focused and needed to be target oriented. Packages of Practices were to be standardized, markets were to be addressed and certification regime was to be placed. With the State Agriculture University Still speculating on the question of Organic Agriculture. The FRDC branch prepared a proposal for a Center of Excellence for Organic Farming titled Center for Organic Farming (COF) for financial assistance to Sir Ratan Tata Trust Mumbai, which was agreed by the Trust.

As per the project proposal COF was to be anchored with an NGO in the state. As the trust members went ahead to settle the proposal with few identified NGO’s the process took time and the approved COF could not be activated. In May 2003 the proposed Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board was registered and was anchored with the State Seed Certification Agency on an ad-hoc basis.

The UOCB is registered under the societies act 1860. The UOCB Board consists of ten members seven members from the government and State Agriculture Universities, two members as experts and one from the farmer’s community. The COF Steering Committee comprises of FRDC, Secretary Agriculture, Representatives from SRTT, University and NGO representatives .

It was decided by the by the Steering Committee to anchor COF with the Board. Since COF were set up. COF had a recurring budget a separate administrative office for the UOCB and COF were set up. COF had a well-designed staff budget and Ms. Binita Shah was appointed as Program Manager , soon other COF staff was recruited. Subsequently the committee approved the work plan of COF in 2003-04. The two entities UOCB and COF had the same mandate but separate short term and long-term goals. While COC had dedicated staff for the Technical and marketing assignments UOCB personnel’s went ahead in preparing project proposals, installation of ICS for certification, training sector, carry it forward programs and creation of innovative programs. Another program COF II started in the year 2005 , taking the activities of COF I a little step ahead.The activities of the COF II included reasearch and development, establishment of training centre , e-commerce support for marketing, product development etc.

The UOCB/COF has traveled great distances. The fledgling organization has already to its credit guiding force to a 20,000 strong force of Organic farmers. Export of Organic Basmati, product development proposals for export for sesame, kidney beans, and millet baby pillows. More than 45 commodities are in the market and end retailers approach UOCB/COF everyday. UOCB has guided the state governments of Mizoram, Sikkim and Karnataka to formulate their Organic Policy. UOCB has to its credit initiated the debate- that mountain regions of the country must Go Organic. To a great extent the shelved GOI National program for Organic Farming was sped up by the speedy follow up by the UOCB and the State of Uttarakhand.

UOCB/COF has delivered market plans, virtual markets, technology, extension, training, project preparation, conferences, exhibitions and events without any assistance from state finance.