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Professionals committed to guide and support farmers for a bright future
"India's place in the sun would come from partnership between wisdom of its rural people and skill of its professionals" as quoted by Father of White Revolution in India, Dr. Verghese Kurien. He quoted it so very well and implemented the same by setting up the milk cooperative model. Consequently there was a substantial increase in the income of millions of people residing in rural India. He used his education and applied his knowledge in most productive way that gave immense boost to Indian agriculture. We need many more educated and committed people in India who can uplift the agriculture industry of the country at large and lead it on the progressive path.
We have all the resources available in rural India that if utilized in productive manner can put India on the world map not as a developing economy but a developed economy. Our farmers and tribes residing in remote villages hold the treasure of traditional knowledge but lack the awareness on business statistics precisely sales and marketing. They are not scared of tribulations irrespective of its quantum and are ready to work for decent livelihood but need guidance and support when it comes to selling their farm produce. The way Dr. Kurien brought positive change in the dairy sector, horticulture too needs the attention of professionals!
Agriculture and Industry Survey interacted with two professionals who are the driving force to bring a positive change in the life of horticulture farmers and tribe. Presently it is at micro level but surely would scale up leading to the bright future. They are working hard to bring back the glory of our villages by empowering the youth and existing farmers by reducing the many levels in the supply chains of agricultural commodities trade.
Mr. Vishal Singh
IIT Kharagpur Alumnus quits lucrative job to help tribe improve their livelihood through farming
Mr. Vishal Singh works with tribes residing in remote areas of Odisha state. He has been instrumental in changing the life of many marginal and semi-marginal communities by providing them with basic training and live demonstration on economic organic model of farming. Along with his committed team he motivates them to take up chemical-free food production with an assurance on marketing and selling their farm produce. He is primarily working in Mayurbhanj and Gajapati district of Odisha. All the activities and projects are done in an organized way through registered NGO Kaivalya Vichar Seva Samiti (KVSS) in 2012.
Mr. Vishal Singh
“To connect and become part of farmers based at Gajapati district we interacted with communities to understand and analyze the existing situation. Three main problems were identified – water scarcity, lack of technical know-how and strong possessiveness to paddy cultivation. Besides they wanted a no-investment solution. Looking at the constraints we provided training on natural farming practices based on cow-dung, farm waste and medicinal plants,” shares Mr. Vishal on working on production related problems. Planting material and seeds were provided free of cost to them sourced from agricultural universities.
Tribe/farmers in Gajapati district are quite attached to paddy cultivation. It is pride from them to grow paddy no matter even it is not profitable! “I always worked with the approach that whichever project/activity is initiated had to be continued forever. It must not be a fad that comes making loads of noise and make a quite exit! Therefore I had to propose the crops to the tribe for cultivation that has a good everlasting market. To suit this protocol seasonal vegetable made the best choice as it is intrinsic part of human diet. Secondly we told them to grow oilseeds and pulses,” he elaborates. It was difficult to convince them to shift from paddy cultivation to vegetables and pulses but they agreed because they could accept the fact that price of paddy does not increase as high as pulses! Nevertheless they continue to grow paddy to stay connected to their roots on small scale once in year. The farming area has spread in more than 260 acres with the efforts of KVSS.
The success received at Gajapati district encouraged Mr. Vishal Singh to expand the similar model to Mayurbhanj district. Here it was a tough task to turn Lodha tribal into farmers as they were food gatherers predominantly dependent on forest. Most of the families owned 1-2 acre farmland but were not engaged in farming. To motivate them to start cultivating, “We introduced a scheme ‘Rs. 1 lakh/acre/year or Rs. 8 thousand/acre/month’. We told them they have to cultivate and sell their farm produce. If they are not able to sell then we will give them money as per the scheme. In this way they were convinced to become stable and farm owners instead of laborers. They were provided all farming assistance similar to Gajapati farmers,” he states. They grow seasonal vegetables. “They are able to earn regular income from vegetables but to still improve their revenues we asked them to cultivate yearly crop moringa and sarpagandha medicinal plants as every part of these two plants are sold at high price in the domestic and international market.” The cultivation has spread in more than 300 acres.
Farmers of both the district sell the vegetable and other farm produce in the local markets. As it is grown without any chemicals it is sold at good price. “Moringa and sarpagandha shall be sold to the processing companies. We are in talks with Patanjali and mostly the deal shall be cracked. The profits generated would be given to the producers/farmers,” avows Mr. Vishal. He is confident of selling as he is getting pre-order calls from many processors and traders for these medicinal plants. Besides as these are grown chemical-free it will be sold at premium price.
Speaking on the drive to work for rural India, Mr. Vishal gives the credit to his mentor Dr. S.K.Das, “He guided me throughout the journey so far. His direction played a vital role in all the activities of KVSS,” he says.
Agriculture strategies ‘No-input cost farming’ and ‘Rs. 1 lakh/acre/year or Rs. 8 thousand/acre/month’ have turned out quite successful for making agriculture profitable for the farmers. “We plant to replicate the same in other remote areas too,” he shares.
Mr. Vishal Singh is doing one of its kind service for the nation. He wants people of rural India to live a dignified and respectful life instead of being tagged as illiterate and poor countrymen! He concludes saying, “Tribes in Gajapati district own the local desi cows but they do not milk the cows instead let the calf have it all the milk. This shows they are ethically rich people. They raise cows for cow dung and prosperity. Lodha tribe from Mayurbhanj district does not own cattle so they barter their farm waste with Gajapati farmers for cow dung. These people are not at all money minded the way we so called professionals are being trained to earn money by all means! Further sit back and think, all the problems today planet earth is facing are created by the educated professional themselves not by people living in rural nation!!”
Mr. Vishal Singh did his B Tech in agricultural engineering from OUAT (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology). Briefly he worked with a MNC and later did M Tech from IIT, Kharagpur. After post graduation he once again took up job at MNC, quit it to become Dean at Centurion University, Odisha. Finally left it all to become a social entrepreneur to transform rural India and provide prosperous life to the farmers.
Contact details:
N 1/66, D-2-O Nagva-Ansh, Lanka, Varanasi-221008, Uttar-Pradesh, India
Phone: 07682929812, 07007275685
Email: vishalsinghiitkgp87@gmail.com
Web: http://kaivalyavichar.org/
ARTICLE CONTINUED - PART II
http://www.agricultureinformation.com/discuss/threads/rural-and-urban-partnership-in-india-part-2.5329/#post-13708
"India's place in the sun would come from partnership between wisdom of its rural people and skill of its professionals" as quoted by Father of White Revolution in India, Dr. Verghese Kurien. He quoted it so very well and implemented the same by setting up the milk cooperative model. Consequently there was a substantial increase in the income of millions of people residing in rural India. He used his education and applied his knowledge in most productive way that gave immense boost to Indian agriculture. We need many more educated and committed people in India who can uplift the agriculture industry of the country at large and lead it on the progressive path.
We have all the resources available in rural India that if utilized in productive manner can put India on the world map not as a developing economy but a developed economy. Our farmers and tribes residing in remote villages hold the treasure of traditional knowledge but lack the awareness on business statistics precisely sales and marketing. They are not scared of tribulations irrespective of its quantum and are ready to work for decent livelihood but need guidance and support when it comes to selling their farm produce. The way Dr. Kurien brought positive change in the dairy sector, horticulture too needs the attention of professionals!
Agriculture and Industry Survey interacted with two professionals who are the driving force to bring a positive change in the life of horticulture farmers and tribe. Presently it is at micro level but surely would scale up leading to the bright future. They are working hard to bring back the glory of our villages by empowering the youth and existing farmers by reducing the many levels in the supply chains of agricultural commodities trade.
Mr. Vishal Singh
IIT Kharagpur Alumnus quits lucrative job to help tribe improve their livelihood through farming
Mr. Vishal Singh works with tribes residing in remote areas of Odisha state. He has been instrumental in changing the life of many marginal and semi-marginal communities by providing them with basic training and live demonstration on economic organic model of farming. Along with his committed team he motivates them to take up chemical-free food production with an assurance on marketing and selling their farm produce. He is primarily working in Mayurbhanj and Gajapati district of Odisha. All the activities and projects are done in an organized way through registered NGO Kaivalya Vichar Seva Samiti (KVSS) in 2012.
Mr. Vishal Singh
“To connect and become part of farmers based at Gajapati district we interacted with communities to understand and analyze the existing situation. Three main problems were identified – water scarcity, lack of technical know-how and strong possessiveness to paddy cultivation. Besides they wanted a no-investment solution. Looking at the constraints we provided training on natural farming practices based on cow-dung, farm waste and medicinal plants,” shares Mr. Vishal on working on production related problems. Planting material and seeds were provided free of cost to them sourced from agricultural universities.
Tribe/farmers in Gajapati district are quite attached to paddy cultivation. It is pride from them to grow paddy no matter even it is not profitable! “I always worked with the approach that whichever project/activity is initiated had to be continued forever. It must not be a fad that comes making loads of noise and make a quite exit! Therefore I had to propose the crops to the tribe for cultivation that has a good everlasting market. To suit this protocol seasonal vegetable made the best choice as it is intrinsic part of human diet. Secondly we told them to grow oilseeds and pulses,” he elaborates. It was difficult to convince them to shift from paddy cultivation to vegetables and pulses but they agreed because they could accept the fact that price of paddy does not increase as high as pulses! Nevertheless they continue to grow paddy to stay connected to their roots on small scale once in year. The farming area has spread in more than 260 acres with the efforts of KVSS.
The success received at Gajapati district encouraged Mr. Vishal Singh to expand the similar model to Mayurbhanj district. Here it was a tough task to turn Lodha tribal into farmers as they were food gatherers predominantly dependent on forest. Most of the families owned 1-2 acre farmland but were not engaged in farming. To motivate them to start cultivating, “We introduced a scheme ‘Rs. 1 lakh/acre/year or Rs. 8 thousand/acre/month’. We told them they have to cultivate and sell their farm produce. If they are not able to sell then we will give them money as per the scheme. In this way they were convinced to become stable and farm owners instead of laborers. They were provided all farming assistance similar to Gajapati farmers,” he states. They grow seasonal vegetables. “They are able to earn regular income from vegetables but to still improve their revenues we asked them to cultivate yearly crop moringa and sarpagandha medicinal plants as every part of these two plants are sold at high price in the domestic and international market.” The cultivation has spread in more than 300 acres.
Farmers of both the district sell the vegetable and other farm produce in the local markets. As it is grown without any chemicals it is sold at good price. “Moringa and sarpagandha shall be sold to the processing companies. We are in talks with Patanjali and mostly the deal shall be cracked. The profits generated would be given to the producers/farmers,” avows Mr. Vishal. He is confident of selling as he is getting pre-order calls from many processors and traders for these medicinal plants. Besides as these are grown chemical-free it will be sold at premium price.
Speaking on the drive to work for rural India, Mr. Vishal gives the credit to his mentor Dr. S.K.Das, “He guided me throughout the journey so far. His direction played a vital role in all the activities of KVSS,” he says.
Agriculture strategies ‘No-input cost farming’ and ‘Rs. 1 lakh/acre/year or Rs. 8 thousand/acre/month’ have turned out quite successful for making agriculture profitable for the farmers. “We plant to replicate the same in other remote areas too,” he shares.
Mr. Vishal Singh is doing one of its kind service for the nation. He wants people of rural India to live a dignified and respectful life instead of being tagged as illiterate and poor countrymen! He concludes saying, “Tribes in Gajapati district own the local desi cows but they do not milk the cows instead let the calf have it all the milk. This shows they are ethically rich people. They raise cows for cow dung and prosperity. Lodha tribe from Mayurbhanj district does not own cattle so they barter their farm waste with Gajapati farmers for cow dung. These people are not at all money minded the way we so called professionals are being trained to earn money by all means! Further sit back and think, all the problems today planet earth is facing are created by the educated professional themselves not by people living in rural nation!!”
Mr. Vishal Singh did his B Tech in agricultural engineering from OUAT (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology). Briefly he worked with a MNC and later did M Tech from IIT, Kharagpur. After post graduation he once again took up job at MNC, quit it to become Dean at Centurion University, Odisha. Finally left it all to become a social entrepreneur to transform rural India and provide prosperous life to the farmers.
Contact details:
N 1/66, D-2-O Nagva-Ansh, Lanka, Varanasi-221008, Uttar-Pradesh, India
Phone: 07682929812, 07007275685
Email: vishalsinghiitkgp87@gmail.com
Web: http://kaivalyavichar.org/
ARTICLE CONTINUED - PART II
http://www.agricultureinformation.com/discuss/threads/rural-and-urban-partnership-in-india-part-2.5329/#post-13708
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