Usharmukti Towards Evergreen is an initiative to establish a model adopting regenerative principles in landscape management.

This is a partnership project with PRADAN as the lead CSO. The project is supported by Indus Ind Bank Ltd since  January 2023 and continuing.

Main objectives of the project are:

• Accelerating Natural Resource Management in watershed model to rejuvenate degraded land by leveraging Government programmes;
• Increasing the areas under assured agriculture production through adoption of regenerative practices;
• Triggering growth in the farm sector with sustainable annual household incomes more than 1,00,000for small and marginal farmers’

In collaboration with various government departments, including Agriculture, Irrigation, and Soil Conservation, the Rural Development Association has been working on Natural Resource Management (NRM) activities.

Key Achievements •

Achievements in Agriculture:

The Rural Development Association (RDA) collaborated with 2,254 households (HHs) across 41 villages in 6 Gram Panchayats (GPs) to strengthen agricultural practices and promote women’s participation by establishing 42 women-led Producers’ Groups (PGs).

Together, these farmers cultivated a wide range of crops throughout the year, including bitter gourd, cowpea, cucumber, brinjal, bottle gourd, long beans, ridge gourd, tomato, traditional and aromatic paddy, groundnut, mustard, and sesame. The crops were grown over a total area of 761.4 hectares, resulting in a total harvest of 3300 tons of agricultural produce.

This collective effort generated Rs. 676 lakhs in sales revenue, enabling each farmer to earn an additional income of about Rs. 29994.

 

Pisciculture: In Jhargram, the ongoing work of the Rural Development Association (RDA) is expected to support farmers, increase agricultural productivity, and improve local livelihoods.

This year, the RDA Jhargram team collaborated with the district’s Fishery Department to promote organic fish farming among small fish farmers. Together, they worked with 253 households (HHs) across 29 villages in 6 Gram Panchayats (GPs) to manage fish ponds covering a total area of 29.5 hectares, where 155,900 fingerlings were released.

The Fishery Department provided training to the farmers and contributed 10,000 additional fingerlings worth Rs. 25,000, benefiting 93 households in 4 villages across 3 GPs. As a result of these efforts, farmers produced fish and earned an average of Rs. 7,794 each from sales.

RDA also supported 9 farmers in developing nursery businesses for growing and selling fingerlings, helping them earn a total of Rs. 47,400, thereby increasing their average income by around Rs. 5,250.

 

Success story- 1

 

Name of Didi- Urmila Mahata

Village- Amlachati

Block-Jhargram

 

Amlachati village is 15 kms away from District HQ. Urmila lives in this village with her husband and three children. Her family depends upon cultivation and daylaborer for their livelihood. Her elder daughter is a student of the University and other two son and daughter go to school.

Her association with RDA – RDA’s team members in Jhargram initially tried to convince the WSHG members to form PG but they did not agree. In March 2024 two members of WSHGs were taken to the Jhantiboni village falling under Lalgarh Block for Exposure visit in PRADAN’s working area. They observed PG’s activities there and were convinced after discussion with PG members and visiting paddy and vegetable cultivation in organic method and fisheries also. After returning they shared their experience with their SHG members. Two weeks after they formed their PG and named it Annapurna PG. Urmila Didi is now a member of that PG.

Life & Livelihood as of now: Urmila Didi’s family owns 168 decimals of cultivable land. They planned to cultivate high yielding variety paddy on 126 decimals of land, Kerala Sundari variety of paddy on 42 decimals and bitter gourd on 21 decimals of land in the Kharif season. Apart, they started developing fish nursery in 21 decimals pond procuring spawns from Ramsagar.

They earned Rs. 7000 by selling 3500 pieces of fingerlings, from High yielding paddy their earning was Rs.40950 (21 Quintal x Rs. 1950) and from Kerala Sundari yield was 8 quintals and they earned Rs,15600 (8x Rs.1950). Growing Bitter gourd on 21 decimals of land yield was 12 quintal and they earned Rs.24000 (12×2000). Thus, their total income amounted to Rs. 87550.

In Rabi season they cultivated Mustard on 42 decimals of land and Bitter gourd on 10 decimals.

Didi’s opinion: She is very much excited after experiencing benefits from cultivation of Kerala Sundari.  Yield per Bigha increased one quintal more, pesticides are not required hence very good for health too. No stomach problem would occur after having rice from this paddy.  Earning Rs.7000 from selling fish spawns is also very encouraging. Her family’s life has become smooth and all of them are very happy.

Success story- 2

Bhabani Mahata

Village-Gira

GP-Sapdhara

Block-Jhargram

Bhabani Mahata is a resident of village Gira She and her family were engaged in agriculture, cultivating paddy on 4 bighas of land during the rainy season. From this they barely covered their regular expenses, and major part of their family’s other needs remained unfulfilled. To make ends meet, her husband has to take up daily wage labour in nearest town areas, which added to their burden. Despite the struggles, they worked hard to support their children’s education.

 

RDA’s Intervention: With support of Usharmukti Towards Evergreen Project by IndusInd Bank Ltd. and intervention of RDA team members, farmers ’group was formed, and they underwent different type of agriculture training for multi crop cultivation practices in different seasons. They cultivated crops like cereals, bitter gourd, oil seeds etc. round the year. She cultivated paddy on 210 decimal of land during last monsoon and harvested 32 quintals and earned Rs. 64,000/- and in winter season, she grew mustard on 42 decimal, producing 1 quintal and earned Rs. 4,200/-, additionally, she cultivated bitter gourd on 42 decimal, yielding 32 quintals and earned Rs. 62,080/-

She also got training on Fishery development in small ponds.She released 400 fingerling in her 10 decimal pond and after 10 months she sold 1 quintal fish and earned Rs. 10000/-

 

Change in life :Didi’s income has increased by 84000/- which significantly reduced her struggles and improved he family’s economic condition. Her children are now attending school in town.  She proved that with determination, a woman can improve her family’s life and proceed towards a better future.