Koraput: With an aim to boost economy and help women members of the self-help groups (SHGs) in the region, the Borigumma block administration has taken up an integrated multiple farming (IMF) system in the unused government lands in the block.
Integrated farming comprises farming practices such as vegetables, flowers and mushroom cultivation and allied farming practices like animal husbandry, poultry, fish farming etc. This is an inter-linked technique where fodder for animals is grown in the farm and their waste products are used as manure and fertilizers for crops.
As per reports, the Borigumma administration has acquired 18 acres of barren land at Bhatigam village under Kamara panchayat in Koraput district for the purpose and engaged women members of the SHGs in the farming activities. They have also reportedly started reaping profit from it.
Apart from flowers, vegetables and fish farming, the SHG women members also, plant coconut, banana and other trees in the land. “We have grown varieties of flowers, vegetables and mushrooms. We also rear livestock in the land,” said a member of the village SHG, Jasoda Bisoyi.
Another member of the SHG, Ratna Bisoyi said, “The garden has flowers, coconut, banana trees and vegetables. We have also kept cows and there is a poultry farm in the farmland. We are getting a good payment for our work.”
The concerned administration is reportedly spending around Rs 60 to Rs 70 lakh in each panchayat to develop such farming project.
Satyanarayan Sethi, Assistant Engineer of Borigumma block said, “There were huge patches of government land in several panchayats of the block which were either encroached by the villagers or left unused. We identified those lands and started the project.”
This initiative of the Borigumma block authrorities will make the tribal woman of the region self-dependent. Such initiatives should be taken up across the State, said a local.
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