Cuttack women farmers strike gold with organic farming

Debunking the idea increasing application of chemical pesticides to fasten crop produce and reap more benefits, women farmers in Cuttack district have a different story to tell. 

Women members of Biseswar Self Help Group of Budukunia village under Mahanga block have exemplified how using vermicompost and organic manure can work wonders for crops in agriculture. 

The locals of the area say that they have been harvesting rich paddy crops by using organic farming practices for the last 12 years. 
Urmila Sahu, a SHG member explained the reason behind their organic push. 

“There is little chance of our farms to suffer from pests and insects as we have adopted organic farming. We don’t feel any need to apply chemical-laced pesticide when we have been successfully harvesting crops through organic farming for more than a decade. This year, we have cultivated crops on 10 acre of land and we are expecting good yield in return. At the same time, we can live a healthy life if we adopt organic farming in our daily life.”

Bismita Barik, another women farmer said “Apart from Dalua Dhana, we have cultivated different vegetables in organic way.

Vermicomposting is a process in which earthworms are used to convert organic materials into humus. Farming involving vermicomposting actually worked wonder for us.”

Similarly, Kulamani Sahu, a local, says, "The woman farmers have been able to earn well by adopting organic farming. They have literally set an example for their other farmers.”