Background
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Badamba and Narasinghpur are two most backward blocks of Cuttack district and agriculture is mostly rain fed in nature. The only source of water is monsoon which is quite irregular in nature. Ironically, very frequently, less and erratic rainfall has been reported and the crop – especially paddy is badly affected. The river Mahanadi flows near to these blocks. The river basin is highly fertile and sugarcane is produced in large areas of land. The Govt. Cooperative Department had established a Sugar Industries and the farmers were supplying Sugarcane and getting good returns. Due to mismanagement, the industry was declared as a sick unit and sugarcane production was declined by 95% since last five years. 25% of the people were depending on Bidi rolling industries and these units are no more functioning. Under such circumstances, paddy production following agriculture system is not sufficient to feed the growing population.
Due to low production the younger generations are migrating to different metro cities and cities in search of livelihood and being affected by some serious health hazards like AIDS. Due to maximum utilization of chemical fertilizer the productive capacity of the soil has been reduced to a large extent. The people are affected with different health problems like diabetes, kidney failure, hyper tension, stomach problems etc.
In this concern in order to address these problems CARR has been continuously involved in awareness generation among the farmers on the grave impact of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It creates mass opinion in favor of organic farming with low cost manures preparation methods which are used for sustainable agriculture.
We also promote organic “SRI”, “SSI” and vegetable cultivation. In spite of it CARR also gives importance to the formation of farmer’s organizations and capacitates those groups and encourages them for conservation of indigenous seeds and their utilization.
The irrigation points (LI Points) are in defunct condition due to withdrawal of sugar industry which was managing these units on lease. Almost in every 2 years, flood occurs and ravages the crop fields and the shelters of people. So far as the livelihood of the Tribal, Dalit and other backward caste people of this area those who are living inside the forest are concerned, their livelihood is in stake due to mass felling of trees. Traditionally, the Tribals and Dalits do not prefer to migrate and manage with whatever they get from the natural resources available in vicinity to their locality. In this critical juncture – SRI as an alternative paddy cultivation practice is being promoted to feed the growing population.
Broad initiatives taken by CARR-
- Awareness against chemical fertilizer.
- Promotion of organic vegetable, SRI, SSI.
- Promotion of farmer’s organization.
- Conservation of indigenous seeds.
