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NGO on mission to increase food production
Statesman News Service
PURULIA, Nov 13: Kalyan, a youth welfare organisation in the district has started a 'Millennium Village' programme supported by German Agro Action in a small pocket of Purulia district since September 2006. This organisation falls under the umbrella of Ramakrishna Mission Lokasiksha Parishad, Narendrapur and their aim is to achieve certain developmental goals by 2011.
To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger there is emphasis being given on increased food production by producing more rice along with cultivating pulses, vegetables and other non-farm activities. The system of increased rice production may bring a revolutionary change in crop productivity in the project area. It proves, that the yield of paddy may double in comparison to the yield of existing farmer's practices in the area. It is affordable to the poor farmers and suitable in drought-prone areas.
As a result, the new system of increased rice production is growing in popularity for the poor farmers in Purulia district. In 2007, only four farmers practiced this system but in 2008 a total of 35 farmers adopted this practice in the project area and another 25 farmers adopted the system outside the project area.
The Kalyan Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Purulia Block II agriculture office is providing expertise on farm testing.
A farmer of Majhdhi village, Achintya Mahato expressed his satisfaction with the new system: “Look at my field which follows the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and compare it with the adjoining field which still practices the traditional mode of cultivation. There is a noticeable difference in the number of tillers, penicels and quantity of grains.” He added: “A good number of farmers are coming to visit my field.”
The project coordinator of Kalyan, Mr Phatik Mahato told The Statesman here today: “As a part of the Millennium Development Goal campaign, emphasis has been given on the capacity of building, information dissemination, networking and advocacy.”
Mr Amit Dey, an agriculture expert of the project informed: “The farmers in the project area are in the midst of an experimental learning cycle. They have realised the boons of SRI. Now they are confident enough to cultivate paddy through the System of Rice Intensification in future.”
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