The Utkal Alumina International limited (UAIl), an Aditya Birla Group company, has undertaken a series of interventions to promote agriculture in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district.
Although most people in the tribal block depend on agriculture, issues like poor irrigation, storage, processing and marketing facilities pose serious problems to small and marginal farmers.
The Utkal Alumina has helped 21 farmers’ clubs involving 358 members from 21 peripheral villages. These clubs enable collective marketing, provide facilities and services under different Government schemes and enrich knowledge through exchange of ideas and information.
The Utkal Alumina has also promoted a production company, ‘Tikiri Agro-craft Producer Company’ to leverage economies of scale.
“Support in commercial vegetable farming helped supplement farmers’ income, leading to a better standard of living”, said Sastu Majhi of Bilamal village.
Utkal Alumina unit head N Nagesh said, “Support is provided by arranging vegetable fairs where ample opportunities are available to market the crops, thus making farmers self-reliant.”
UAIl VP Raghunath Pratihari said the farmers of Andirakanch, Nuagaon and Kodipari have benefitted because of renovation work done on the check dams. “Irrigation channels have been constructed in Kucheipadar, Kodipari, Dwimundi, Hadiguda, Kanchguma, Chandragiri, Andirakanch and Peringini villages to facilitate smooth flow of water to agricultural lands”, he added.
Under the ‘Project Samridhi’, a shift from subsistence agriculture to profitable commercial agriculture has been introduced in the area.
The Utkal Alumina’s endeavours in improving agriculture and providing sustainable livelihood to people have gone a long way in transforming lives in the Kashipur block.