Bansidhara Digal Agriculture
Age has exceeded Bansidhara’s years. His forehead is creased with lines of worries and a forlorn look dominates the faces of the members of his family. Such was Bansidhara’s condition when India Evangelistic Association’s volunteers met him.
Bansidhara is a farmer by profession, Age-58, Village- Bakingia, G.P-Mandakia, Block-Raikia, District- Kandhamal, State- Odisha. He owns a small plot of land that was overgrown with weed and wild plants. “My condition was not so bad earlier. But a few years of unpredictable weather and loans have ruined me.
And now although the weather is fine, I do not have money to buy the tools to cultivate my land.” said Bansidhara sadly. Bansidhara lives with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. His son, Samar worked as hired help doing odd jobs as daily laborer. However, it was not enough for them to live a healthy, content life.
IEA staffs instantly took it upon themselves to re-establish Bansidhara and his family. IEA provided them with farming materials like seeds, fertilizers, organic pesticides, medicines for crops, tools, etc.
Making good use of the materials, Bansidhara has transformed his plot of land from an overgrown weed jungle to a well cultivated fertile land. He could cultivate 4000 Cabbage Plants, 6000 Cauliflower Plants, 2000 tomatoes and Peanut 2 kgs in two fields and utilized all the pesticides, fertilizers, and medicines what’s provided by I.E.A.
Bansidhara draws reflection to his past, “Our occupation was mainly in the forests collecting wood and forest produce and somehow managed to live. My wife and children had to suffer. We thought our lives have seized with Poverty.”
Sipping a cup of tea under the evening sun on the porch of his humble hut, Bansidhara expresses his gratitude, “My plot looks lovely now. It would not have been possible without IEA’s help.” “We are doing much better financially. I am able to meet my needs without borrowing loan from any other person or institution. We became blessed with my family and neighbors by getting all the agricultural support for our better livelihood and well being.
The healthy returns from the land means that I can devote more time to my occupation and give my daughters a proper education,” says a happy Bansidhara Digal.
