FARMER IN KENDRAPARA BOOSTS YIELD UNDER RELIANCE FOUNDATION'S GUIDANCE & EXPERT ADVICE
Bhubaneswar (03/01/2024): Kishore Chandra Das, a 33-year-old farmer from Madhurkul village in Kendrapara block of the Kendrapara district, has become successful in boosting his paddy yield under the guidance of Reliance Foundation. Despite his inclination towards reading, Kishore's educational journey halted in his ninth standard of school education due unavailability of schooling facilities and financial constraints.
Opting for farming, he embraced it not just as a duty but as a way of life, dedicating over 15 years to cultivating crops.
The sole provider for his family of five—comprising his parents, wife, and daughter—he rely entirely on the income generated from his agricultural pursuits. Enrolled in the Digital Farm School Program, he manage a total of 6 acres of land.
Three acres are dedicated to rice cultivation, another three for growing mustard and green gram, and the remaining space for various vegetables like chillies, cucumber, french beans, bittergourd, and okra.
Even though he constantly adopted the latest technologies and advanced farming techniques, his farm faced challenges in recent years, particularly in dealing with pests and diseases such as caseworm, leaffolder, grain discoloration, blast, and bacterial leaf blight in the paddy fields. Previously, despite efforts and expenditures on pesticides, sourced locally in Kendrapara, he struggled to effectively control these pests.
The farmer shares, "During the last Kharif season in 2022, two acres of my paddy suffered severe damage, resulting in a meager harvest of 20.25 quintals, worth Rs.31,500, significantly lower than others in the region.
Fortuitously, during a soil testing campaign conducted by the Reliance Foundation in our village, I participated and submitted my soil sample.
The foundation provided a soil test report, and through interactions with agricultural experts facilitated by Reliance Foundation, I gained insights into soil health, proper fertilizer application, and valuable information on crop growth, soil management, suitability for different crops, and pest management.
In the subsequent Kharif season of 2023, adhering to the guidance received from Reliance Foundation and active participation in the Digital Farm School Program, I cultivated high-yielding paddy varieties like Pooja, Swarna Sub-1, Sarala.
I participated in field based training programs, Digital Farm School sessions, audio conferences, and face-to-face consultations with agricultural experts, along with that, I sought advice through the Reliance Foundation helpline (18004198800), which significantly improved my farming practices.
Implementing expert recommendations resulted in a remarkable increase in my paddy harvest—from 20.25 quintals the previous year to 50 quintals this season, amounting to Rs.1,00,000. Participating in Reliance's animal health camp, I also acquired medicines and cured my two cows.
I have plans to cultivate finger millets and other cash crops in my field with government support and guidance from the Reliance Foundation." Kishore expressed his profound gratitude to Reliance Digital Farm School program, which not only protected his crops but also doubled his yield by an additional 30 quintals this season, translating to an extra Rs.70,000 compared to the previous year.
His heartfelt thanks go to the Reliance Foundation, all scientists, staff members, and the team for their tireless efforts, enabling him to improve his financial conditions.
He strongly advocates for the continuation of such invaluable services on a regular basis .
