For the cause of Phailin-affected farmers of Baleswar and Mayurbhanj districts, Navdanya, a trust, has acted a Good Samaritan.
It provided 15 villagers with cash support for full house damage, 20 for partially damaged houses and 40 for crop damage. Nearly 70 per cent of the beneficiaries were tribal farmers. Besides, nearly 400 beneficiaries got adequate climate resilient rice seeds from Navdanya’s Chandipur seed bank for the ensuing Kharif cultivation. Navdanya’s regional director Kusum Misra distributed the cash and seed here on Monday.
“Cyclone Phailin followed by week-long downpour between the second and fourth week of October last year had devastated large areas of paddy field in both the districts of Baleswar and Mayurbhanj. Consequently, most farmers in these areas lost their standing crops and seeds. Navdanya, which is working with the farmers for organic farming, decided to come to the rescue of the farmers,” said Mishra.
After a due survey, the beneficiaries were identified in four villages in Baleswar sadar block, four villages in the Remuna block and 10 villages in Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district. Navdanya also provided portable vermi beds to 50 select farmers to promote organic farming, Mishra said, adding that adoption of large-scale organic farming would help produce healthy and tasty food besides improving the environment, soil, water and atmosphere through non use of agro chemicals.