Farmers Improve Livelihood Opportunites Through Farm Pond Excavation Activities
Encouraging organic farmers to improve irrigational facilities to their farms, create additional sources of income and contribute to water conservation, Bala Vikasa inaugurated Farm Pond excavation in four villages - Vemulapadu, Devanagaram, Sanjeevanarayanapeta and Thimmapur enabling 45 tobacco farmers to 1.9 Million liters of water.
Similarly, a plantation program was held in 34 project villages of Medchal, Medak, and Siddipet district around the farm pond bunds for all the farmers who have excavated farm ponds and applied silt in their farms. Hundreds of farmers participated in the program contributing to Environment Conservation by planting nearly 6000 saplings of fruits, vegetables and flowers around their farm pond bunds.
“With a farm pond having all these plants around its bund, there is a very pleasant environment at my farm. Many children come and play around here and it is their hangout place especially in summer. I am glad to be able to contribute to water conservation and environmental conservation and also have extra income,” said Sai Avva, Medak.
Furthermore, about 70 small and marginal farmers of nine villages with farm ponds have adopted fish farming as an additional source of income. Though some of the farmers belong to the fishermen community they could not practice their community occupation and took up farming due to lack of natural resources.
These farmers purchased fish fry of Korramenu fish investing Rs 4000 and began fish farming in August first week. In a span of three months, the fish grew twice their size. The farmers are hopeful that by summer the fishes will be weighing around 500 grams each giving them a profit of at least 10 times profit.
“Our family was very concerned about the income we would get with the produce of our land. After excavating the farm pond and also practicing fish farming we are hopeful that we will have enough income this year with all additional sources,” said Ch. Venkatesh, Mysampally.
