Blog of Sudhir Mishra, A Bolangir based Journalist

Monday, December 11, 2017

PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL PADDY SEEDS URGED

Monday, 11 December 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

To popularise cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy seed and steps for its preservation, Desi Bihan Parab 2017 was held at village Kharamal in Bargarh district on December 7.

“We have been organising the Desi Bihan Parab every year to promote cultivation of traditional varieties of paddy and their preservation since last 10 years,” said Sibaprasad Sahu of the Ahinsha Club.

Earlier, village women went in a rally with Kalashes (pots) containing Desi Bihan (traditional seeds) on their heads after worshipping them.

Later, a meeting was held where in Bargarh MP Prabhas Singh, farmer leaders Lingraj and Saroj Mohanty, poet Padmashree Haldhar Nag and Balangir Zilla Parishad President Bharati Mahanand stressed the need for preservation of traditional varieties paddy seed, which are becoming extinct with every passing day, and their promotion and popularisation among farmers.

They said farmers would have to use less pesticides and insecticides once they goes for cultivation of Desi varieties of seed; and by consuming such crops, one can lead a disease-free life. In such a situation, farmers would not have to depend on commercial firms for paddy seeds.

An exhibition of more than 100 varieties of traditional paddy seed and several varieties minor millet was held at the festival site.

FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE OPENS THIRD BALANGIR HAAT NOW Monday, 11 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE OPENS THIRD BALANGIR HAAT NOW

Monday, 11 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

The Bhimpahad Krushak Producer Company Limited (BKPCL), with assistance from Nabard and guidance from the Reliance Foundation, opened a weekly haat (market) at Ardda village in Gaibahal panchyat under Deogaon block, 20 km from here.

The motto is to provide easy access to the marginal farmers, women and other local people to market, develop entrepreneurship quality among people, save farmers from the exploitation by middlemen and ensure better marketing of agricultural produce.

This is the third weekly haat after the ones at Budelgumma and Kuliabahal opened by BKPCL, which is a registered body of 1,500 farmers of 33villages, said its chairman Satya Narayan.

“Before opening the haat here, we brought a no objection certificate from the panchyat and held a meeting in at least 20 villages,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Balangir District Central Co-operative Bank (BDCCB) president Laxman Meher hoped that with the opening of the market, the rural economy of the area would get a boost and farmers would able to sell their produce at fair prices and people of the village and nearby areas would get their daily needs at their doorstep. He assured to look into the demands of water supply facility in the market.

Nabard DDM Tapan Kumar Sahu explained the provision and facilities for the market. Gaibahl Sarpanch Kalyani Dalei, Reliance Foundation, Balangir team leader Tutu Sethi, Ajay Das from Aam Adami Party(AAP) among others spoke.

According to sources, on the first day, 243 small traders opened their stalls and transacted business worth around Rs 3 lakh.