Bhawanipatna: Kalahandi district, once the landmark of hunger in India’s political map, has now become an example for the entire country in agriculture and pisciculture.
Proud of its farmers and their success stories, this western district in Odisha is now attracting attention and making headlines owing to different types of rice cultivation in the area. Prana Ranjan Behera, a young farmer from Jayapatana block in Kalahandi district, is in the spotlight after he created a portrait of President Droupadi Murmu on his paddy field.
Apart from profiting through advanced rice cultivation techniques, Behera has captured people’s attention by creating national awareness through his innovative art in paddy fields. While various programmes have been organised in the state to revitalise Odia language, culture, tradition, an ordinary farmer has now become successful with his innovative efforts to create first Odia President’s portrait in the middle of his paddy field.
Last year when the country was observing ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence, Behera garnered praise in India and abroad by successfully drawing the country’s map in three colours on his paddy field with the digits ‘75’ in the middle. Behera has also created awareness by drawing various relevant topics on his paddy fields since 2012, giving examples of other initiatives aimed at creating awareness. Some of the special campaigns that Behera undertook on his paddy fields were ‘Save Women Save Nation’, ‘Save Girl Child Save Mother’, ‘Together We Can’ for Clean India campaign, ‘One FlagOne Nation-One Constitution’ and abolition of ‘Article 370’. Behera has been recognised for his work with state-level prizes. He is the recipient of ‘Prakruti Bandhu Award’ for nature conservation.
However, Behera does not concentrate on designs only on his paddy fields. His organic farming method has not only registered record rice production at minimal costs but has also been able to diversify crops on his farm. As a successful farmer, a good writer and social worker, Behera has been honoured for his efforts to contribute to agriculture and society. “To recognise the importance of an Odia woman becoming the head of the world’s largest democratic country, as an ordinary Odia farmer I just replicated the portrait of President Droupadi Murmu in her honour”, said Behera.