Nabarangpur: Farmers in most parts of the state are worried over drought while farmers in Nabarangpur district have managed to save their crops with dug wells in un-irrigated areas, a report said.
According to reports, even as lift irrigation points in certain areas are lying defunct, these dug wells are coming handy for farmers at this critical time. Such projects have become models for farming in other areas.
Significantly, the district administration has linked the rural job scheme MGNREGS with its programmes which entail agriculture infrastructure development.
Under the MGNREGS, scores of farm ponds have been excavated in the district. During the pandemic, pond excavation has reportedly created good scope for work and earnings for rural populace.
Take the instance of Bada Masigaon village under Sadar block. This is where Kusa Bhatra, a marginal farmer of the village has successfully made perfect use of the farm pond at this juncture.
He has two acres of land. The village is out of irrigation coverage. Farming usually depends on rains.
Kusa was always in the lookout for ensuring income from his farmland by making maximum use of his patch. He talked to Gram Rozgar Sevak Lingaraj Mishra in this regard.
He has dug a farm pond under MGNREGS at a cost of Rs 1.60 lakh by engaging co-villagers. “It took six months to complete the project. By using the pond water, I have raised paddy in an acre and vegetables in another acre,” Kusa said.
The farmlands have cracked open for want of rain while ponds have managed to feed water to farmlands, he observed, adding that his pond is also useful for vegetable farming in rabi season.
Kusa said small and marginal farmers should dig farm ponds in their farmlands which can save crops in dry season and drought time.
They can grow vegetables and flowers to earn enough for their families.
The government should encourage more farmers to dig farm ponds under MGNREGS which will certainly help them augment their incomes, he added.
PNN