What is the Marcus Fund?
The Marcus Fund has been set up by Alf Bjørseth of Scatec AS, Norway, to support small and poor peasant families switch over from risky, rainfall dependent Field Crops, to more hardy Tree Crops that do not need timely rains.
Initially, the Marcus Fund is a € 90,000 grant, released over a 3 year period, to help 85 Member Coolie families to each plant 260 Tamarind or Mango trees on 1 Hectare of land, and water the saplings during the hot and dry summer months for 3 years.
Each of these 85 families will receive € 1,088, over a 3 year period, to prepare the land, plant Saplings, build Field Tanks, assistance to haul water to their Field Tanks, and annual Labour Compensation for watch and ward.
Marcus Fund Budget
| 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | Total | ||
| 1 | Cost of pitting, burning, red earth and sand for 260 pits per hectare family plot @ Rs 20 | 5,200 | 5,200 | ||
| 2 | Cost of 260 saplings of tamarind, mango, teak, neem, etc. per hectare family plot @ Rs 35 | 9,100 | 9,100 | ||
| 3 | Cost of replacing 52 saplings per hectare in the 2nd year @ Rs 35 | 1,820 | 1,820 | ||
| 4 | Cost of replacing 52 saplings per hectare in the 3rd year @ Rs 35 | 1,820 | 1,820 | ||
| 5 | Cost of building a 13,000 litre capacity field tank on family plot | 15,000 | 15,000 | ||
| 6 | Labour compensation for @ Rs 1,000 per annum x 3 years | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 3,000 |
| 7 | Planting agave on the boundaries of each hectare family plot | 500 | 500 | ||
| 8 | Fixed reimbursement of Tractor Hire for hauling water to fill the tanks during 5 summer months x 3 years | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 24,000 |
| COST PER HECTARE FAMILY PLOT | Rs 38,800 | Rs 10,820 | Rs 10,820 | Rs 60,440 | |
| € 699 | € 195 | € 195 | € 1,088 | ||
Progress to date
- A total of 148 families from 29 villages are participating in the Marcus Fund Project (against the planned 85 families from 15 villages).
- They have planted on 269 acres (against the planned 212.5 acres/85 hectares).
- A total of 24,703 saplings have been planted
- We have monitored and verified plant growth/survival of 99% of these saplings
- Survival Rate is 52%. This is an acceptable figure.
- 300 tub-type open top water storage Field Tanks of 2,600 litres capacity have been procured.
- 102 pits have been excavated, and as many Field Tanks have been installed on the fields. We will excavate and install the remaining Field Tanks after the rains stop.
- These 29 village CSUs are busy making “social fencing” arrangements to get village-wide agreements to prevent cattle from grazing on the horticulture plots.
- Preliminary discussions are under way to enter into watering arrangements with Bore well owners. These will be finalised by December/January, just before the onset of summer.
- Similar discussions are ongoing with Tractor Owners to fill the Field Tanks twice a week, from where family members will hand pour 30 litres of water for each sapling.
Expansion
You can participate in the Marcus Fund with a contribution of € 1,088 to assist a single Coolie family switch over from risky Field Crops to hardy Tree Crops on 1 Hectare of their land holding. Please contact Alf Bjørseth at alf.bjorseth [AT] scatec [DOT] no
Background
Please click here for a full description of our 22 year old efforts to assist Coolie cultivation in this region.