Berhampur, March:As the first light appears behind the picturesque hills of Koraput in a golden glow, Mukta Gadaba, a millet farmer, stands on her countryside farm just to see the newly ripened golden grains swaying with the whispering wind. Her face glowed with an innocent wave of smile, a moment of pride she was awaiting since the time of seedling. Mukta says that her dream of being a self-reliant farmer turned into a reality with the extensive support from TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL), a DISCOM operating in the southern part of Odisha. Like the case of Mukta Gadaba, TPSODL played a key role in shaping the dreams of hundreds of millet farmers in this region.
“TPSODL has shown us a path towards progress. We were provided with valuable guidance on every phase of millet farming. I am very thankful for TPSODL’s support, because of which I am able to produce a good harvest this year,” says Mukta Gadaba.
Millet grains, lauded as a climate-resilient superfood, are gaining much popularity in recent times around the globe. Several state governments and private players have been actively participating in the promotion of millet-based foods and millet farming. To localize this ever-expanding global wave of millet production, TPSODL has been supporting the farmers in Koraput district. Millet farming has thrived in Koraput, a home to several indigenous tribes. Tribal folks of southern Odisha have included millet in their daily consumption since time immemorial. There would not be a better place than Koraput to start promoting millet farming. Recognizing the nutritional and economic significance of millets, TPSODL has embarked on a mission to make the millet farmers more resilient and more empowered.
TPSODL’s millet cultivation project is implemented in Doraguda gram panchayat under Boipariguda block of Koraput district, targeting the empowerment of 500 small and marginal farmers. The company is working closely with many women farmers, who belong to the tribal community of Doraguda GP, to boost their skills and enhance millet production. Currently, 250 acres of land are under millet cultivation through the organic farming method. In the coming years, handholding will continue with capacity building through training and the support of equipment for better returns to the farmers.
One of the significant challenges for millet farmers lies in market linkages for their produce. To address this issue, farmers will be connected to the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), enabling them to get a fair price and better market linkage. With the support of TPSODL, 110 farmers were registered to sell millet in the mandi organized by the government under the “Shree Anna Abhiyan” program.
Kispari Challani, another millet farmer from Doraguda village, joyfully said, “TPSODL has supported us throughout the process of cultivation. They gave us quality seeds and essential training on millet harvest. It helps me increase the yield and become financially independent.”
Starting from seed treatment, land preparation, and pest management to nursery raising and transplantation, TPSODL is providing practical training to these millet farmers in collaboration with agricultural experts. Farmer training was conducted by TPSODL at Bergaon on best practices in millet farming. Farmers' meetings were held in 15 villages. Last year, a session on improved agronomy, i.e., the System of Millet Intensification and line transplanting, was organized at ATMA, FIAC Conference Hall in Boipariguda block headquarters. Resource persons of PRAGATI NGO, the implementing agency of TPSODL’s CSR initiatives, and officials from the agriculture department interacted with farmers and gave them valuable insights into different aspects of millet cultivation.
Additionally, seeds of finger millet were distributed among the farmers in village meetings. Each of them received one kilogram of seed for 0.5 acres of land. Organic manure, pot manure of 2500 litters, and vermicompost of 2500 kg were distributed among the farmers.
Recognizing the need for crop protection measures, bio-pesticides (neem oil) were distributed to all the farmers, ensuring organic pest management. The farmers were encouraged to apply organic manures like farmyard manure and compost after weeding. Along with this, cycle weeders have been procured and distributed among the farmers for weed management.
Machinery support has been given to the Millet Processing Unit, consisting of high-quality threshers, a destoner, and a pulverizer. These machines will provide extra support to the farmers of Doraguda GP to clean their millet grains and turn them into millet flour for their own consumption and selling purposes. The machinery support will reduce the drudgery of women and save their time, which can be diverted to other productive uses.
Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Amit Kumar Garg, CEO of TPSODL, said, “At TPSODL, we believe in the principle of giving back to society. In the field of community empowerment by supporting millet farmers of Koraput, TPSODL is not just investing in agriculture but also contributing towards the upliftment of rural women. Recognizing the nutritional benefits of millet, we are promoting millet cultivation in the southern part of Odisha in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. As farmers are the backbone of society, this initiative reflects our continuous efforts towards making them financially stable.”