Rayagada: Farming in most parts of Kolnara block of Rayagada district survives only on rain. Lack of irrigation is a hurdle in the development of farming, many farmers say.
Like other co-farmers in Katrikguda village, Jagili Kadraka used to face all odds to raise and nurture crops till harvest.
Amid all such odds, he sought to find an effective means to tide over the perennial water shortage. Now, he has managed to script success in farming by making use of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. His hard work and determination helped him out.
“I have 2.5 acres of land. Without irrigation facility, rising crops on the land was a difficult proposition. Rain was the only support. Water conservation was needed,” he said.
He thought of digging a pond in the farmland under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and then applied for assistance at the district watershed and conservation office in Rayagada.
Officials of the department visited his farmland and earmarked a place for the pond.
It may be noted here that the state government providing support to farmers to dig ponds to conserve rainwater in their farmlands lacking irrigation and rainfall.
On the recommendation of project director of the Watershed wing, Sushant Kumar Mallick, a pond measuring 160ftX150ft in length and 10 ft depth was excavated on Jagili’s farmland at a cost of Rs 8 lakh.
He said that apart from water conservation, the farm pond has checked top soil erosion in the farmland to a great extent.
He has grown a variety of vegetables on the ridge of the pond while pond feeds water to other crops in the patch of his land. Besides, what is encouraging for Jagili is that the fish farming in the pond earns enough to meet the expenses of his family.
Several other farmers in the area have been earning enough from farming by making use of farm ponds.
PNN