Case Study – Sambandh India

Water Harvesting structure in Uttaras village.

At the foot hill of similipal Biosphere and upper catchment of Khairi river this Uttaras village is situated. Socially all the 68 nos households are tribal of very aboriginal origin belonging from Kolha & bhumija. Total area of this village is 346.24 Acres out of that 285.96 acres is net cropping are. Total agriculture land is fully dependent on rain-fed. There is a semi perennial stream called as, “Chiruanali” runs through the village and drains to Khairi river. During rainy season it cause flash floods & damages the crop field as there is no storage system or to check the run off. In due course of time the excess water wash out the top soil of crop filed and make the area barren.

With support from EDELGIVE foundation, SAMBANDH planned with the villagers to construct a low cost Water Harvesting Structure. The community contributed Rs.12800/- as labour and the project support was Rs.98400/-. With this a new WHS with canal of 300 running feet was constructed for water irrigation. Pondage area created for water storage Now 27 Acres of 31nos farmer assured for Kharif season. Again foundation paddy like BINA & 1110 variety supported to those31nos farmers and they cultivated it in Command area of that structure. Construction of this structure proved to be a great support to the farmers during kharif paddy. Though it is not possible to irrigate all the lands at a time the farmers use the water on rotational manner. This activity converted 1 Ha barren land to mono cropping land and another 26 Acres assured for crop as immediate output. People of this village are thank full to SAMBANDH & EDELGIVE foundation for this support.

Bibhisan Behera- Essence of a Progressive Farmer.

This story illustrates the picture of a marginal farmer who has made progressive changes in his livelihood pattern through active involvement in Farming practice in Barren land. Bibhisan Behera, aged 58 years, a Marginal farmer with 2.5 acres of agricultural land is a resident of Sapchira village in Dhalabani GP having 8members in his family. Bibhisan used to cultivate only kharif paddy in his 2.5 acres of land as it is total un-irrigated and dependent on the mercy of monsoon.

With the yield of his field he is hardly able to support his family for six month and he used to work as potter to fulfil his basic needs. Also there is not a very good market to sell his Pot. After the intervention of EDELGIVE project we motivate and persuade him for up season vegetable cultivation. Bibhisan took 2acres of land in lease basis nearby his village which was laying down barren for several years. Seeds and other technical input was provided by SAMBANDH to Bibhisan. In last kharif he cultivated Brinjal, cow pea, chilly and maize and sold an amount of Rs. 55,000/-. Again he planned for Tomato, Cauliflower and cabbages for this Rabi season and raised the nursery by his own savings. The plants are in growing stage. Through this initiation Bibhisan could able to meet the demands of his large family of 8 members. Also 2 acres Barren land converted to agriculture land. Now his family can add fresh vegetables to their daily diet. All these initiatives have led him towards a better living standard. Bibhisan is now recognized as a progressive farmer and has become an epitome for others in his community to emulate.

Bhaliaguda WHS: A boon for agriculture to fight against drought…..

Bhaliaguda village, with 42 households occupies 215.30 hectares area of EDELGIVE project. Net cropping area in this village is 140 hectares. The community is fully dependent on rain-fed agriculture. A semi perennial stream namely, “Bhadusole” runs through the village and drains to the waste lands. There was an old and damaged structure (WHS) constructed in 2005 in the upper region of the stream which was inept to channelize the water towards the farm lands. During the implementation it is planned to repair, restore and make proper utilization of the water for irrigating the agricultural lands.

The damaged WHS is repaired & facilitate the water to flow in proper channel. Construction of this structure will be proved to be a great support to the farmers during kharif paddy in 15 Hactors. Since, it is not possible to irrigate all the lands at a time; therefore an agreement among the farmers to use the water on rotational manner. The paddy lands are irrigated through pipe and diesel pump sets. There are also 2ha of cultivable waste land at foot of the WHS. In this kharif it is planned to promote Millate with a convergence activities with agriculture department in 1 Ha and in another 1ha the farmers himself sowing upland paddy in this kharif. This activity can convert 2 Ha barren land to mono cropping land as immediate output.

“Determination and willingness can change the fate” A case study of Smara Singh: -

This is the story of Samara Singh, a beneficiary of Chardipahadi village, who has a family with 4 members his wife and two children. They have 2.5 acres of land which are rain fed. Out of this land, he was harvesting paddy in 2 acres of land during rainy season which did not meet the food requirement throughout the year. Hence, Samara was working as daily labour moving village to village or sometimes he was going out of town for work.

After the initiation of EDELGIVE project, agricultural training on Line transplanting method was organized for the progressive farmers. They were taken on exposure visit to nearby village implemented by SAMBANDH which helps them in upgrading his skill in farming activities. He had an unused farm pond in his farm land; with motivation he renovated it which raised the water table. Thereafter, Samara expanded his cropping land and followed Line Transplantation method for summer paddy, it offered him much profit than before in production quantity as well in income. Since last two years, he is growing various vegetables in about one acre of land during this season like, Tomato, lady finger, Brinjal and Sponge gourd and vending these vegetables in local market twice in a week. He is now getting approximately Rs.5, 000/- to 6,000/- per month. Subsequently, Again we converged his family with other project and supported 20 nos of Duck for rearing. With his own effort he has established himself in the society and became an exemplar for others. His wife is no more going for daily wages she helps Samara in his farm. These actions have not only improved his economic standard but also ensured the food security for his family.

CHITA SINGH: A SUCCESS STORY OF A MIGRANT LADY

Chita Singh, a lady from Chardipahadi village used to be a migrant labour. She has only .5 acre of land which is not sufficient for her livelihood. During our project intervention we supported her Chick pea to cultivate in Rabi season. As she was habituated to go outside during winter for searching of works. With this Chita ploughed her field with the support of her neighbor and sown the chick pea seeds in her .5 Ac field. Again some micro nutrient like Humic acid and agribor applied in her crop field. The VWC members and the staff of SAMBANDH took regular follow up and inspired Chita to ensured her livelihood from this small piece of land. At last her labour and our effort became success. She harvest a good quantity of green Chick peas from her field. Chita used to sell this in local market Rs. 10/- per plant and as total she earned Rs. 15000/- in one season by selling green Chick pea plant. She is no more interested to go out side for work and also very much thank full to SAMBANDH & EDELGIVE. With her hard labour she has been able to rouse his living standard.

Birendra Padhuria ….

Birendra Padhuria is an unemployed youth having 4 nos family members from Bhaliaguda village. He has 2 acres of land from which one acre land is up land or cultivable waste land. During implementation of this project he used to earn his livelihood from subsistence farming. Through this project we have motivated him for small scale commercial vegetable cultivation and he also agreed. We supported him improved variety of seeds, micronutrient and a poly vermin compost. We trained him on preparation of vermin compost and other organic manure like liquid and magic compost. In last winter season he had cultivated Cauliflower, Cabbage, Radish & Tomato in systematic manner. He has given his effort to produce good crops and as a result he also succeeded. In last rabi season Birendra has sold more than Rs.25,000/- of Cabbage & Cauliflower and more than Rs.5000/- worth of tomato. With this money in hand Birendra started buying vegetables from other farmers and selsl it in local market regularly. He has been getting more than Rs.150/- per day from this business which is additional to his income.

Sukura Ho….

Sukura Ho is a marginal farmer age about 35 having 6nos family members from Bhaliaguda village. He has only 3 acre of land from which one & half acre is purely up land. He used to cultivate paddy only in Kharif season 1&half acre & another 1.5 acre remain barren for years. It is very difficult for him to manage his family from agriculture so he started a small shop in his village but the business was not good. Through this project we have motivated and persuade him for small scale commercial vegetable cultivation and he also agreed & he developed 1.5 acre of upland and started cultivating in last Kharif. We supported him improved variety of seeds, micronutrient and trained him on preparation of organic manure. In last Kharif he had cultivated Radish, Ridge guard, Ladies figure &Tomato in systematic manner. He has given his effort to produce good crops and as a result he also succeeded. In last season Sukura sold more than Rs.60,000/- of radish , Tomato, chick pea & other crops. With this money he has expand his land and purchase a diesel pump set for irrigation. Through this process a farm pond was constructed in his land where the contractor took soil for road work & we also motivate to Sukura for fish farming in that pond. Again with support from EDELGIVE Sukara was given a solar irrigation system & drip so that he could able to harvest vegetables in regular basis now his earning is more than Rs. 100000/- . Sukura also started cultivating Cauliflower, Cabbages & Brinjal in this Rabi with his own effort.

Chatiram Murmu….

Chatiram Murmu is an old man age about 65 having 6nos family members from Bhaliaguda village. He has only one acre of land from which is medium up and he used to cultivate paddy only in Kharif season. It is very difficult for him to manage his family from this piece of land. So he started a Cycle repairing shop at his village square but the income is not enough. Through this project we have motivated and persuade him for small scale commercial vegetable cultivation and he also agreed& he took half acre of upland in lease basis and started cultivating in last winter. We supported him improved variety of seeds, micronutrient and a 0.1 HP Solar Pump. We trained him on preparation of vermin compost and other organic manure. In last winter he had cultivated Cauliflower & Cabbage in systematic manner. He has given his effort to produce good crops and as a result he also succeeded. In last Rabi season Chatiram has sold more than Rs.30,000/- of Cabbage , Cauliflower. With this money he has expand his Cycle store in village and in regular basis his earning is more than Rs. 200/- . Chatiram also started cultivating Maize & vegetables in this Kharif with his own effort in that lease land. This can help him to maintain his family in a good condition.

Raicharan Sing….

Raicharan sing is a marginal farmer age about 30 having 4nos family members from chardipahadi village. He has only 2 acre of land from which one acre is purely up land. He used to cultivate paddy only in Kharif season 1& half acre & another .5 acre remain barren for years. It is very difficult for him to manage his family from agriculture. Through this project we have motivated and persuade him for small scale commercial vegetable cultivation and he also agreed & he developed .5 acre of upland and started cultivating in last Rabi. We supported him improved variety of seeds, micronutrient and trained him on preparation of organic manure. In last season he had cultivated Tomato in systematic manner. He has given his effort to produce good crops and as a result he also succeeded. In last season Raicharan sold more than Rs.40,000/- of Tomato crops. With this money he has expand his land and purchase a diesel pump set for irrigation.. Raicharan also started cultivating radish, Cow pea & ridge gourd in his land in this season with his own effort. This can help him to maintain his family in a good condition.

Jambhira Alda….

Jambira Alda is a marginal farmer age about 50 having 5nos family members from Chardipahadi village. He has only one and half acre of land from which is medium up and he used to cultivate paddy only in Kharif season. It is very difficult for him to manage his family from this piece of land. Through this project we have motivated and persuade him for small scale commercial vegetable cultivation and he also agreed & he developed half acre of upland in his back yard and started cultivating in last Kharif. We supported him improved variety of seeds, micronutrient and trained him on preparation of vermin compost and other organic manure. In last Kharif he had cultivated Raddish, Ridge gaurd, Ladies figure &Tomato in systematic manner. He has given his effort to produce good crops and as a result he also succeeded. In last season Jambhira sold more than Rs.18,000/- of raddish , Tomato & other crops. With this money he has expand his land & took another half acre in lease basis in his village and in regular basis now his earning is more than Rs. 250/- . Jambhira also started cultivating Cauliflower, Cabbages & chick pea in this Rabi with his own effort in that lease land. This can help him to maintain his family in a good condition.