SVM Monthly Newsletter- May 2024

In This Issue

Empowering Ri Bhoi Ginger Farmers with Good Agricultural Practices | A New Publication on Creating Smart Villages | River Cleanup Initiative featured on MyMeg | World Bee Day Special Blog

Dear SVM Friends & Supporters,

Welcome to the May edition of our Smart Village movement newsletter. This month, we’re excited to share several noteworthy updates with you.

Read about how we’re empowering ginger farmers in Ri Bhoi with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), revolutionizing their methods and enhancing yields. Our river cleanup initiative with Clearbot’s AI-powered robotic boats and Greentech Foundation Was featured in My Meg’s social media, spotlighting our commitment to environmental conservation and community engagement.

We are delighted to introduce a new resource on Creating Smart Villages. A recent publication, “The Do-it-Yourself Toolkit for Building Smart Villages”, co-authored by our Nodal Officer, Mr. Ram Kumar, and the Executive Director of the Center of Growth Markets at UC Berkeley, Solomon Darwin, focused on SVM’s model and success in Meghalaya. The book provides information and resources for effective coordination and communication among stakeholders in executing and scaling successful pilot projects. And as complementary reading, we think you would enjoy an SVM blog: SVM’s Open Innovation Model of Rural Development: Better Together. As it is World Bee Day on 2oth May, we have added another blog on Beekeeping in Meghalaya at the end.

Stay tuned for these inspiring stories and more as we continue to drive positive change and empower communities through the Smart Village movement.

Thank You,

Smart Village Movement Team India & USA

If you are a company, NGO, or solution provider that would like to participate in pilots, or if your firm’s CSR objectives align with our work in socio-economic development, we’d love to hear from you! Please connect with our Director of Communications: anna@smartvillagemovement.org

Meghalaya, celebrated for its distinct agro-climate, is a beacon for ginger cultivation, fueling the local economy and supporting rural livelihoods. Yet, the path of Meghalaya’s resilient and determined farmers has been strewn with unique challenges. Despite the land’s inherent promise, farmers in the region have faced obstacles like pest outbreaks, diseases, and limited access to premium inputs. Nevertheless, these challenges haven’t wavered their commitment to optimizing yields and fostering sustainable farming methods.

To address these challenges, the Smart Village Movement partnered with Bharat Rohan for a pilot project. Recently, we organized a training workshop to educate farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, aiming to enhance their agricultural knowledge. We also conducted village-level meetings as platforms for knowledge exchange and capacity-building. Through these efforts, farmers gained insights into the significance of adopting GAP and IPM practices to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity. READ MORE

A new publication on Creating Smart Villages, “The Do-it-Yourself Toolkit for Building Smart Villages”, co-authored by our Nodal Officer, Mr. Ram Kumar, and the Executive Director of the Center of Growth Markets at UC Berkeley, Solomon Darwin, focused on SVM’s model and success. The book provides information and resources for effective coordination and communication among stakeholders in executing and scaling successful pilot projects. (Link to Amazon)

Discover how Smart Village Movement leverages Open Innovation and Collaboration to drive impactful development projects, fostering sustainable growth and community empowerment. Read our Blog: SVM’s Open Innovation Model of Rural Development: Better Together

Our project, highlighted once again in My Meg, features the collaboration between Smart Village Movement (SVM), the local NGO Green-Tech Foundation, and Clearbot. It aims to revolutionize river cleanup at #Nondien River in #Nongstoin. This initiative utilizes AI Robotic Boats with a 200kg capacity and locally crafted bamboo traps.

The Green-Tech Foundation team manages the boats’ daily operations, ensuring an organized approach to waste collection and disposal. The target is 30kg of waste collected per day. Local rag pickers are actively engaged in the project, sorting recyclable materials for proper processing weekly.

Watch the Video

The Sweet Buzz on Meghalaya Honey and the Beekeeping Mission
Meghalaya honey is esteemed in India for its unique floral diversity, resulting in distinct flavors. The region’s pristine environment and traditional beekeeping methods contribute to its exceptional purity and quality. A groundbreaking report from the Center for Science & Environment in 2020 revealed that 10 out of 13 major honey brands in India were using rice and sugar syrups imported from China. This shook the honey market and prompted Le Organica to pivot towards a new standard of transparency, purity, and ethical sourcing. They aim to provide consumers with not just honey but trust in every jar.

Some aspects of beekeeping that make Meghalaya honey special include:
-Indigenous Bee Species
-Traditional Beekeeping Practices
-Honey Varieties
-Market Significance
-Cultural Significance
READ MORE

To learn more about all our projects, please visit our Website or our SVM Annual Magazine and join our SVM Platform

SVM is a nonprofit with 80(G) certification and is also registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. The tax-deductible contributions go directly to fund rural development and empowerment of village livelihoods in pilot areas.

What is the SVM Platform?

The Smart Village Movement platform provides a digital platform for Governments, Educational Institutions, Business Organizations, and Village Entrepreneurs to come together in a collaborative effort to find innovative solutions in rural communities and build ‘Smart Villages’.

Please sign up and access our platform engage with our movement and help us with creative & innovative solutions. Together we are all ‘smarter’.

Visit SVM Platform

Visit our new website and connect with us on our Social Media to learn more about us

www.smartvillagemovement.org

View as Webpage

SVM prides itself on the privacy of its patrons. You are receiving this email because you are a member, opted in via our website, donated to SVM in the past, attended an event, volunteered for us, or are a connected associate with any of the members of this foundation. If you would no longer wish to receive these emails, please let us know using the link below.