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Nominee Information

Institutional Information
Member State India
Institution Name Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmer Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat
Institution Type Public Agency
Administrative Level Regional
Name of initiative Centre of Excellence for Horticulture Value Chain
Projects Operational Years 3
Website of Institution https://agri.gujarat.gov.in/index.htm

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 15: Life on Land
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
.
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
1.a Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions
1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed
2.a Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 16 Aug 2015

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? The website of UNPSA.

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 15: Life on Land
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
.
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
1.a Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions
1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed
2.a Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 16 Aug 2015

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? The website of UNPSA.

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative

Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.3 Promote partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, skills, technologies and financial resources to support the poorest and most vulnerable
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas

Question 3: Implementation Date

Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 16 Aug 2015

Question 4: Partners/Stakeholders

Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 5: Required Supplemental Documents

Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 6: UNPSA Awards

Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 7: Other Awards

Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 8: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 15: Life on Land
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
.
1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
1.a Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions
1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed
2.a Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
6.a By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets
9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

Question 9: Validation Consent

Do you have any objections to us inquiring about the initiative for validation purposes? No

How did you know about UNPSA?

How did you know about UNPSA? The website of UNPSA.

Nomination form

Questions/Answers

Question 1

Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
The Center of Excellence has been established to provide holistic development of horticulture sector by providing bridge gap technological support to the important commercial crops like vegetables and flowers under protected cultivation along with post- harvest handling and cold chain support to minimize post-harvest losses and value addition. Located in the Vadrad village of Sabarkantha district, the CoE has been operational since August 2015.
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
The overall objectives of the initiative are as follows: -To establish a demonstration, applied research cum training center to mitigate the issue of low yield, post harvest losses, input loss & seasonal availability of vegetable crops with technologies of vegetable plug nursery, protected cultivation technologies, irrigation and fertigation management and post-harvest management. -To carry out Applied Research which helps provide solutions to the problems being faced by the farmers. A major aspect is to map the challenges faced by the farmers and bring in technological changes which suit the local conditions. -Field Extension Officers to be made the linking elements who are responsible for bridging the gap between the researchers and the farmers. -To create role model farmers in the society who are progressive & implementing the technologies demonstrated at the Center. These role model farmers can then help to create awareness in the community & encourage other farmers to implement these advanced technologies. -To make the center a self-sufficient platform in the aspect of human resources, accumulated knowledge & operating capabilities.
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
The initiative fits within the selected category as it targets holistic development of horticulture sector by providing bridge gap technological support to the important commercial crops like vegetables and flowers under protected cultivation along with post- harvest handling and cold chain support to minimize post-harvest losses and value addition. CoE aims to produce three different sets of products and services addressing the needs of farmers targeting the vegetable / spice market, production and sale of quality vegetable seedlings and building knowledge and skills among the potential entrepreneurial farmers on the latest technologies in vegetable production through classroom sessions backed up with demonstration of the technologies at CoE.

Question 2

The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
-The CoE provides quality seedling of vegetable crops, refinement of vegetable production technology with minimizing scarce inputs and irrigation and fertilizer usage. -The technology supports clean cultivation of horticultural produce to minimize the health risk and create awareness and attempts to improve nutritional security to minimize the risk of malnutrition.

Question 3

The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
-The country has ensured food security and the prime requirement now is to improve nutritional security. The CoE provides extension support to the vegetable growers, to improve the availability of vegetables. -The Centre provides technology to produce modern micro irrigation systems and protected cultivation so that production of quality vegetables is made possible in the water scarce area.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
-The vegetable cultivators have been benefited largely by supplying quality planting material. About 3500 farmers were supplied vegetable seedlings. -The technology of seedling production is innovative and farmers, entrepreneurs and groups of tribal youth have been adopting the seedling production technology and have adopted this model to improve their livelihood and income. -The protected cultivation technology allows farmers to produce crops during the off-season and thus ensures higher income. -Availability of vegetables in the markets has increased.

Question 4

The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
- Adoption of vegetable cultivation in insect proof net and poly houses increases per unit area production by five fold as compared to convectional cultivation practices. -Concept of Plug Vegetable Production technology is quite new to the region. In earlier times vegetable seedlings were being produced on soil beds, but the technology demonstrated by the Centre of Excellence in soilless conditions on benches prevented soil borne infestations. This technology has been adopted and supply of seedlings through plug trays has minimized soil borne diseases and pest in crop production and this has helped farmers to reduce their investment on plant protection chemicals.

Question 4b

b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
The Centre is an adaptation of the precision farming technologies available in the developed countries. The Centre has standardized innovative technologies for local crops.

Question 4c

c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
-The resources utilized are soilless media, water harvesting structures, micro irrigation systems, weather based crop advisory systems and human resources who were trained in Israel. -For implementation of this initiative, the Government of India has technical collaboration with the Government of Israel under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project. The Centre of Excellence in Gujarat was implemented under the Second Work Plan of this project. Government of India has funded the Centre of Excellence under the National Horticulture Mission which was implemented by the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Gujarat. Officers of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Gujarat were trained for different aspects of Horticultural Crop Production and management. The project is implemented on existing nurseries on government owned land. Different infrastructure were established for demonstration, display, and training purposes according to directions from the Israeli Experts who are frequently visiting the Center of Excellence as well as the fields of farmers for guidance and necessary resolution of their queries.

Question 5

The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
-Yes, the technologies were transferred to the self help groups, educational institutions and private entrepreneurs. Watershed cooperatives have established vegetable plug nurseries and are supplying seedlings to the farmers. -The role of CoE is not only production oriented but also employment generation and Self Help Groups have been trained by the CoE for high quality seedling production which are being managed efficiently. Institutions like Lok Bharati Sanosara in Bhavnagar district have also got technical collaboration with CoE and have started a Vegetable plug nursery. They are supplying vegetable seedlings to farmers of the nearby region and about 10 lakh seedlings have been supplied by them. Shri Ghanshyambhai Godani of Navsari district, Shri Raleshbhai of Mahesana district and Shri Mayurbhai Patel of Himatnagar are few entrepreneur farmers who have established Vegetable Seedling Production unit in a commercial way and are getting good profit. Some Non-Government Organizations like, Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction and Corporate Social Responsibility and private companies like, Pidilite Industries have also collaborated with CoE for transfer of technology to the contact farmers of their working area.

Question 6

The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
-Initiatives of precision farming with the support of the entire value chain have established successful models at the centre and across the state. Adoption of new crops, adoption of clean cultivation technology, monitoring of pesticide residues can be carried out. -Adoption of good post harvest management and good post harvest handling practices shall play crucial role for improvement of entire value chain. -The Centre has standardized precision farming technology according to the local needs and local climatic conditions, and has a good adoption rate. -More and more farmers are utilizing micro irrigation and mulching technologies taught by the centre. -The technologies of vegetable seedling production and precision farming adopted by the farmers shall remain in use. The technologies adopted by farmers are also being disseminated to other farmers in the area.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
The Centre is self sufficient for its day to day operations as it generates income through the following initiatives: -Sale of saplings of vegetables produced at the Hi-tech green house -Sale of produce i.e. vegetables and seeds produced in the CoE -Conducting in-house training programs for farmers, students and technical officers from all over the country on payment basis -Developing the project as a horticulture tourism hub

Question 7

The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
Yes, the Centre of Excellence has been evaluated by a Joint Inspection Committee formed by Government of India.
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
-In 2002-03 the area under Horticulture crops was 7.49 lakh hectares which has increased to 16.11 lakh hectares in 2016-17. -The production of Horticulture crops has increased from 66.86 lakh metric tons to 232.34 lakh metric tons which means the production has increased by four times. -Out of the total production of the state, the horticulture crops share is 20%. In the state the production of fruit, vegetables and spice crops is increasing rapidly. -The CoE has imparted 170 trainings and trained more than 10000 farmers and more than 45,000 farmers have visited demonstration of COEs.
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
-Increase in productivity -Reduction in the use of irrigation water and fertilizers -Minimizes hazards of pesticides -Improvement in value chain -Skill development and generation of self-employment -Increase in farmer’s income -Increase off-season availability of vegetables

Question 8

The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
-The initiative has holistic approach and involves stake holders, laborers, national level institutions and educational institutional and international collaboration with technology experts. -Demonstration and adoption of the technology involves students, researchers, cultivators and farmer’s self help groups.. The agencies involved are -National Horticulture Mission, Division of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Government of India: Funding Agency -MASHAV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Israel: Technical Partner -Directorate of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation, Government of Gujarat: Implementing Agency

Question 9

a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
The Centre of Excellence has evolved in the adoption of best technology from various institutions which need to be standardized prior to their commercialized adoption at different location. There is a scope to refine precision farming technology, vegetable grafting technology, sensor based automatic irrigation and fertigation technology and disease-pest forecasting technology.

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