Daringbadi: Braving all odds is probably the best way to describe Suranjan Pradhan, a farmer living in Padmapali village under Badabanga panchayat of Daringbadi block in Kandhamal district. Despite not getting any assistance from the Odisha government for farming, he has gone ahead and constructed a tiller by using abandoned bicycle parts and scrap iron. And with it, he is working on his farmlands. Earlier, he had tried to get government aid.
However, when that did not materialise, he decided to fight his battles alone. The state government has initiated various welfare schemes for benefit of farmers through the Agriculture and Horticulture departments. There are programs like training the farmers and teaching them the proper use of fertilizers and manure. These, however, have stayed out of bounds for Suranjan. However, that did not deter him from realising his goals. To fulfill the requirement of water for his farmlands, Suranjan has also dug up a pond. The equipment he needs for farming, he has made them on his own. Now he produces peas, cauliflowers, cabbages, and tomatoes on his farmlands.
However, despite digging up a pond, there is always a shortage of water due to the lack of irrigation facilities. Suranjan lamented that if he had sufficient water for his farmlands, he could have produced quantities that would give him substantial profits. Now, due to the lack of water, at times, his crops go to waste and he suffers losses.
However, now he has managed to obtain a power tiller at government subsidised rates and he said this would go a long way in increasing the production on his farmlands. Suranjan informed me that if he gets some help from the Agriculture, Soil Conservation, and Horticulture departments he can increase vegetable production manifold. When contacted and informed about Suranjan’s plight, Assistant Horticulture Officer, Nilachal Panda assured of all support. Daringbadi BDO Gadadhar Patra said he will take steps to help Suranjan dig up a pond or well for his farmlands under Centre-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).