MESSAGE TO THE SOUTH PLACE MARLOW (ENGLAND) STREET PARTY (14 July 2007)* FROM THE AwF-BISDHRAMGANJ PROJECT IN WEST TRIPURA, INDIA
(*This summer party was organized for the second year running by a street committee that included AwF Director Sophie Varley to raise funds for the work of AwF. In 2006 the party contributed over £4,400 (~US$ 8,800) to AwF to help its work with poor people in developing countries)
Group photo of AwF Fish Farmers and Volunteers
Fish ponds are like “live banks” as well as a source of food for the people in the eastern part of India and Bangladesh, where AwF has concentrated much of its work. Farmers can harvest fish and sell them at any time, irrespective of the size, based on financial necessities. Our work focuses on poor people and, in particular, we have placed special emphasis on reaching those that are not reached through existing programmes of Government or other agencies. More than the material support provided, AwF focuses on building the knowledge of the poor and helping these people to use this to improve their livelihoods. Wherever possible, we have always used an integrated approach to help the farmers to recycle wastes and to utilize agricultural land efficiently by providing support to them in various aspects of agriculture. In addition, as we are generating a lot of information, this is being used to influence the policies and programmes of various institutions. For example, a focus on women in aquaculture had been almost non-existent before and we are gradually building information on how an investment in educating both men and women can pay rich dividends, instead of a gender-blind approach of focusing only on men.
With the support we have already received from all of you, we commenced our work in India with 30 farmers in the first year and increased this to 50 farmers in the second (current) year. We have already made reasonably good progress and have learnt many lessons. In this coming year we have decided to work with 75 farmers to celebrate the 75th year of the Founder Chairman of AwF, Michael New. His selfless commitment has been an inspiration to many of us here.
During this year, we also intend to complete the fish seed production facility (hatchery) with the St. Xavier’s Vocational Training Centre, with a view to earning a regular income and to self-financing our activities, at least after another two years. Most importantly, our aim is to provide quality fish fingerlings to poor farmers. We seek your kind approval to name the proposed hatchery after your street –
THE SOUTH PLACE MARLOW FISH HATCHERY
- and to dedicate it as your contribution to poor people to continue aquaculture in a sustainable way. We have an assurance from the leader of the training centre, Father K.J. Joseph, that he would set apart a portion of the income of the hatchery to provide support to farmers on a regular basis.
St. Xavier’s Training Institute trains young people (every year about 50 boys and 50 girls) in various aspects of agriculture including aquaculture. Our efforts have been influencing these young boys and girls in many ways, in addition to our field work with farmers around the centre. Our proposed fish seed production unit will complement the existing integrated fish farm facility on the farm and help these young boys and girls to learn the necessary techniques to spread aquaculture throughout the poor of Tripura State.
We are so grateful to all of you for your continued support, which is contributing to make a tremendous difference to the lives of poor people.
M.C. Nandeesha and B. Santhosh (AwF Volunteers)
Fr. Joseph opens the Indian Fish Farmers’ Day events
AwF fish farmers on a field visit (10 July 2007)