Bhadrak: Bhaskar Mallick, a resident of Nalanga in Bhadrak, has become an
example of sorts for farmers in the district. After retiring from a job in the Railways in 2009, he has dedicated his life to agriculture.
In recognition of his hard work and success, he has been honoured by the Orissa and Gujarat governments. From early morning till late evening, Mallick is always found working in his 3.5 acre farmland.
After retirement, he thought of making good use of his time and valuable land. He took a loan from a bank and invested in paddy farming, poultry, dairy, apiary, fishery, grass culture, horticulture and betel farming.
“I have 25 cows of different varieties and sell over 300 litres of milk on a daily basis in the local market,” Mallick says. He has dug out three big ponds in two acres of land where he has been carrying out pisciculture. Significantly, he had earned a name in betel farming and apiary, which have been supplementing his income.
As an innovative farmer, Mallick has made provision of light in the time of load shedding by making use of a biogas plant which is run by cow dung and urine.
However, he is aggrieved over the migration of labourers to other states. “People from Orissa go to other states in search of livelihood. It is an irony that they prefer to give their farmland to others and work as labourers.”
“Unemployment can be removed and people can achieve self-sufficiency if they lay stress on agriculture. They can provide livelihood sources to several others,” Mallick observed.
As one of the leading farmers, he had once represented the state in an event at a Hyderabad-based university.
In 2013, he was honoured and awarded `10,000 by the state government for his outstanding achievement in farming. The same year, then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had feted Mallick as a leading farmer and gave away a cash award of `51,000.
Mallick, who was also adjudged the leading farmer in the district in 2015, batted for change in agriculture policy, introduction of advanced farming methods and training of farmers.
Now, he aims at growing pulses and oil seeds on a large scale. PNN