This proposal includes only a training on Financial management for POs in S-W Asia (event). Financial management remains a weak point in many RPOs, as we can see from external audit reports and financial reports submitted to Agriterra. We get the request for this type of training from several POs (often informal, during field missions). In order to enhance financial management and transparency of RPOs, a systematic and tailor made training for finance officers and managers of RPOs is needed. MANGO will facilitate the training in close collaboration with Agriterra. Objectives: 1. Strengthen the Financial Management Capacities of the staff of farmers' organisations in Asia 2. Establish good contacts between MANGO representatives in Asia, ACCU and Agriterra and explore options for further coaching of financial management of RPOs in Asia by ACCU and possibly MANGO Expected results: - Finance and Admin staff and the responsible manager (being CEO/president or equivalent) of farmers Organisations in Asia will be trained in Financial Management - POs will prepare an action plan describing how to improve their financial management

CKO will execute a variety of different activities, benefitting different types of farmers. Most important activities are described below: 1. Sustainable Agro Facilitation and ICT based individual farmers advisory service cum semi organic farming This activity will benefit farmer families involved in cashcrop cultivation and is partly a continuation of the programme Agriterra supported during 2005 and 2006. The ICT developments are however a new dimesion and have gradually emerged during 2006. It seems a promising way of supporting farmers in their access to markets, marketing strategies, access to and use of agricultural inputs, finally resulting in better production and better income. A detailed description of the ICT programme has been provided by CKO. Furthermore, there will be a mango programme, integrated training for agricultural and horticultural crops, community organization strengthening. The activities are directly benefitting mostly male farmers, indirectly their families as well. The budget requested for this activity is about 120.000 Euro for 3 years, excl. an own contribution of about 38.000 Euro. 2. Mango maximizing results (proposed 10 year intervention); Training for farmers on various aspect of mango cukltivation, marketing and post harvest technologies; improve marketing and explore export posibilities 3.Integrated training Training for agricultural and horticultual crops like paddy, pulse, cotton and maize 4.Sheep health improvement and shepherd capacity building program (training/vaccination etc.). The second activity will benefit mostly male sheep farmers, and is continuing the activities supported by Metro Cash and Carry (MCC) during 2005-2006. MCC will not contuinue their financial support (according to plan) and therefore, CKO has requested Agriterra to provide more support. The objective is to make the shepherds self reliant in their profession, even after withdrawel of the project inputs of CKO. The total budget requested for 3 years is about 70,000 Euro, excl. an own contribution of about 26.000 Euro. 5. Women thrift societies 57 Women thrift societies have been formed since 2005, and the number of members per groups should continue to grow to about 200 per group (total 10.000 women). Continued support is needed to coach and train the groups.It will enhance their economic position and capacities. 6. Women reading libraries The activity has partly been supported by Booksline and 17 groups have been formed till now. The number of groups will grow to 22 groups, having 15 women per group. It will enhance the general knowledge of women on relevant topics and strengthen their uniteness.

The Confederation of Kisan Organisations (CKO) is een federatie van lokaal opererende boerengroepen. De organisatie is geindentificeerd door de CTA Anil Kumar Epur als beloftevol met name in het vorm geven van versterkingsprojecten en activiteiten en programma's op het gebied van economische activiteiten op lokaal niveau. Agriterra's huidige partner in Andhra Pradesh, de Farmers Federation Association Andhra Pradesh (FFA-AP) heeft de afgelopen 3 jaren bewezen een effectieve bijdrage te kunnen leveren aan belangenbehartiging voor boeren op Staat en nationaal niveau. Op het gebied van ondersteuning van lokale associaties en het vorm geven aan lokale economische activiteiten blijven ze echter in gebreke. Voorstel is om FFA-AP in 2005-2006 voornamelijk te ondersteunen in haar functie en activiteiten als belangenbehartigende organisatie. In deze wil ik ook de activiteiten van FFA-AP op nationaal niveau uitdrukkelijk meenemen. Voor het ondersteunen van lokale initiatieven lijkt de CKO echter beter gepositioneerd. "CONFEDERATION OF KISAN ORGANIZATIONS" ? (CKO). Kisan is an Indian word for farmers. This is a farmers organization that evolved from an earlier Rural Development Society. It has been in existence for more than 4 years and has been concentrating on village level activities. It has been facilitating the setting up of farmers and rural women societies, providing them training and advice and facilitating their capacity development. It has on its board leading members of the cooperative movement, progressive farmers, distinguished scientists and educationists as well as well recognized social workers.A Preliminary request from this organization for financial assistance from AGRITERRA is ? 43.382 mainly for office equipment and salaries of staff; total project costs are: ? 50.382. Total outlay = ? 50.382 + ? 10.846 (25%) = ? 61.228