Neelam Sanjeev Khalkho of Parasura Village in Jashpur district had 6 acres of farm land. He produced rice, pulses and various other crops on the land. Sometimes his rice fields would yield very good harvest and he would sell 3-4 quintals of rice in the market. Due to lack of certain facilities he could only reap one harvest in a season. But it was enough to sustain his six member family. Life was going easy for him.
However, trouble started when it was time to send his children out of home for studies. It was gradually becoming unaffordable to support their studies which made Neelam and his wife worried.
But relief came in the form of Sampann 40, an initiative by the district administration to help the farmers multiply their incomes through convergence of various schemes. Neelam’s village was also brought under Sampann 40. Officials from various departments like agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, Mukhya mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana, MGNREGA etc. came to the village to inform the farmers about various schemes as well as techniques to multiply their profit. Neelam and the other farmers in his neighbourhood took solar pumps under the Saur Sujala Yojana for the farm lands near the river. It would help them reap two harvests in a season.
Within three months there were 14 solar pumps in their village which solved the problem of shortage of water in 70 acres of land. “As soon as I got my solar pump I started growing wheat over an acre of land. After that I grew tomatoes over another acre. There was enough water in the village because of the river but it could not be utilised because of lack of facilities. When we were provided with the facilities we could utilise the water very well and it resulted in more profit. Even those who used to be drunk all day started farming or took up jobs in farms. The exodus of people also stopped because they were now getting work in the village itself.”Says Neelam.
From 1 acre of land, Neelam got 10 quintals of wheat. He sold 9 quintals and got a profit of 12,600 rupees. From tomatoes on another acre of land he made a profit of 76000. He also got 3 quintals of onion from a smaller plot. It was a good beginning for him. “I was inexperienced in the cultivation of wheat, tomatoes and onion. Still I got so much profit. This was unexpected. Now I am planning to do it at a bigger scale and in a more systematic way. I have also started planting mango, pear, almonds etc. another plot. My objective now is to make more and more profit.” He says.
Neelam and other farmers in the village are also members of a farmers’ co-operative. Because of this he gets fertilisers, seeds, medicines and equipment at lower rates. Instead of middlemen, the farmers are now selling their produce directly in the market at a much better price.
“Because of Sampann 40, I have gained a lot of confidence apart from the profit. More than 30 farmers in our village have been able to multiply their incomes 3-4 times because of this scheme. The future is brighter” He says.
