Sundargarh: In the remote village of Damposh, nestled within Gyanpali panchayat of Kutra block in Sundargarh district, a remarkable transformation in agriculture is underway, locals informed Thursday. They informed that Anugraha Bada, a 35-year-old tribal farmer, has not only transformed his own life but also that of others, with innovative agricultural practices. Anugraha’s journey is a testament to the transformative power that agriculture possesses. Anugraha decided to become a farmer since childhood, his family members informed him.
Today, he earns over rupees five lakh annually by developing a mango orchard. He also grows watermelons and chillis on his fouracre farmland, they added. In FY 2023-24 his income stood at 5.2 lakh, they said. This success story began in 2020 year when Anugraha, along with 17 other farmers from Damposh, embarked on a journey with the help of NGO ‘SEWAK’. Supported by the district Mineral Foundation (DMF) and the Horticulture department, they launched the ‘WADI’ project, establishing a mango orchard on a combined 73 acres of land. ‘WADI’ is a NABARD-funded tribal development programme (TDP) that aims at promoting sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities and enhancing their incomes.
Incidentally ‘WADI’ means a ‘small orchard’ covering one or two acres. Once he embarked on the project, Anugraha received assistance from NABARD. He got wires for fencing his farmlands, solar pumps for irrigation and various other accessories.
Recognising the potential of intercropping while the mango trees matured, ‘SEWAK’ provided him training on cultivation of watermelon and chillies. Enthusiastic and determined, Anugraha seized this opportunity and in FY 2021-22, he earned approximately Rs 2 lakh from intercropping for the first time. The income grew in successive years. In 2022-23, Anugraha earned Rs 2.45 lakh rupees from watermelon cultivation and Rs 2.05 lakh from chillies, totalling Rs 4.5 lakh.
The following fiscal, his total income from inter-cropping soared to Rs 5.2 lakh. It is set to rise again as already he has earned Rs 2.6 lakh by selling watermelons and has stored 65 quintals of chillies worth Rs 10 lakh. Anugraha’s success story is far from over. Currently cultivating radish, he anticipates a harvest next week and plans to grow watermelons on three acres of land during the monsoons. Reflecting on his journey, Anugraha expressed his gratitude to NABARD for helping him. “Three years ago, even though we had land, it was not being cultivated properly. The success I have achieved today is possible only because of the ‘WADI’ project and NABARD. I am eternally indebted to the Horticulture department, DMF and ‘SEWAK’ for truly changing the course of my life and providing a sustainable livelihood,” Anugraha stated.