RELIANCE FOUNDATION PAVES WAY FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SOURAV PRADHAN'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
Bhubaneswar(03/10/2023): Sourav Pradhan, a 25-year-old farmer from Dumalpali village in Bhatli block of Bargarh district, has farming deeply ingrained in his roots. He comes from a lineage of farmers. His father and grandfather cultivated the land he now tends. Despite facing various family challenges, Sourav remained dedicated to his education and has successfully completed his graduation. However, due to unavailability of job opportunities, he redirected his focus towards farming, drawing from five years of experience in the field. He owns a total of 6 acres of land, dedicating 5 acres to rice cultivation and the remaining 1 acre to growing vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, bitter gourd and more.
Sourav has always harbored a keen interest in adopting scientific methods to optimize cultivation and increase yield from his land. In May 2022, fortune smiled upon his village as they got connected with the Reliance Foundation, after which he gained access to a wide range of agricultural information services. Ten villages in the block, including Dumalpali, were selected for the launch of the digital farm school programme of the Foundation. This opportunity prompted Sourav to enroll, marking a transformative experience. In the previous Kharif season of 2021, he faced numerous challenges including BLB, BPH, sheath blight, and grain discoloration from pest and disease infestations. This led to a stressful harvest of 80 quintals of paddy from his 5 acres of land.
Determined to overcome these challenges, Sourav approached the Reliance Foundation for guidance and training, particularly in crop pest management. Throughout the Kharif season in 2022, the Foundation conducted a series of training programmes at the digital farm school. These programs covered essential topics such as paddy crop protection, nursery management, nutrient management, and pest management. Sourav actively participated in these sessions, engaging himself n audio conferences and benefiting from one-on-one consultations with agricultural experts. Additionally, he sought assistance through the Reliance Foundation helpline at 18004198800, seeking solutions to various pest diseases such as BPH, BLB, blast, and sheath blight. After implementing the expert advice thoroughly and adhering to the recommendations, he yielded remarkable results. Sourav was able to harvest 110 quintals of paddy, registering a significant increase from the 80 quintals harvested the previous year. He expressed deep gratitude to the Reliance Digital Farm School programme acknowledging that it not only safeguarded his crops but also enhanced his yield by an additional 30 quintals that season. Selling 100 quintals of paddy at Rs.2040 per quintal to the nearest regulated market committee, he earned Rs.2,04,000 and attributed the additional Rs.60,000 to the invaluable information services provided by Reliance Foundation.
Sourav extends immense gratitude to the tireless efforts of the scientists, staff members, and the Reliance Foundation team. He strongly advocates for the continuation of such valuable services .
