Satisfactory Progress of livelihood initiative SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project

PR Log (Press Release) – Sep 02, 2009 – Puri, 2-9-09: “We are lagging behind states like Gujurat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc because, our people are not participating in the development process. It is heartening that so many farmers of Puri are actively participating in the developmental initiative, SAFAL, undertaken by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation. I am sure, they can make a difference”, said Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Puri, during the first review meeting of SAFAL (Sustainable Action for Farmers’ Livelihood), on Tuesday. The review meeting brought together the local farmers’ representatives, officials of facilitating government departments like agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc of Puri district, officials of participating banks, officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and those of the partnering developmental NGO, ACCESS.

After a brief presentation by the officials of ACCESS on the progress of SAFAL so far and the road map for the future, an open house discussion was held. All those present in the meeting, including the farmers’ representatives, were quite happy with the progress already made and they expressed confidence about taking things forward to attain the developmental objectives. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Soumendra Priyadarshi, SP, Puri said, “SAFAL project of Anil Agarwal Foundation has already proven itself as a successful initiative for the farmer’s upliftment, in a short period of time, and I am sure it will add to the economic development of the area”. Mr. Arjuna Pradhan, a local farmer and a member of the farmers’ cooperative, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabaya Ltd, formed under SAFAL project said, “We have visited Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh with the help of Vedanta University Project and have acquired knowledge on various aspects of agriculture, marketing, cooperative formation, etc. Now we are confident that we can increase our farm income significantly”. Mr. Gagan Bihari Mohanty, District Agriculture Officer, said, “Only Public-Private-Partnership can take the state forward. The farmers of Puri have got an opportunity from Anil Agarwal Foundation. They should make the most of this initiative and the support system. There is no doubt that together we can initiate an ever-green revolution”.

It can be recalled that the main objective of the SAFAL, launched by the Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation towards the end of last year, is to encourage the farmers to move away from the low paying conventional paddy cultivation and to adopt more paying cash crop farming as well as other allied activities like dairy. The project aims at significantly augmenting family income of the local farmers through capacity building, use of better farming techniques and tools, organizing them into cooperatives, providing bank and marketing linkages and the like. It also aims at making the farmers aware of the on-going Government schemes so as to benefit from them. So far, 78 Farmers’ Self Help Groups (FSHGs) have been formed under the project, comprising 1081 farmers from 20 different villages. 2 cooperatives, namely, Jaya Jagannath Krushak Samabya Ltd and Baba Beleswar Krushak Samabaya Ltd and 3 farmers’ clubs with the support of NABARD have also been formed. After successful training programmes and demo-cultivation of marigold, tuberose, watermelon, etc, the local farmers are being progressively mobilized to take to cash crop cultivation. Periodic trips to agriculturally developed states are also being organized to give these farmers hands-on exposure on better farming and allied practices.

The review meeting was presided over by Mr Sanjeev Anand Zutshi, Director, Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation while the District Collector and SP were the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour, respectively. Among others present in the meeting were, Mr. D. N. Dash, Area Manager, Neelachal Gramya Bank; Mr. M. N. Swain, Dy. Director of Agriculture, Puri; Mr. Gagan Bihari Mahanty, District Agriculture Officer, Puri; Mr. Pramodananda Mahapatra, Sub Divisional Veterinary Officer, Puri; officials of Irrigation Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Orissa State Seeds Corporation (OSSC), Banks, RMC, NABARD and MARKFED; officials of Vedanta University Project of Anil Agarwal Foundation and of ACCESS as well as the representatives of local farmers. Mr. Prashant Hota, GM, CSR & PR of Vedanta University Project thanked all of them and the MLA, Mr Maheswar Mohannty for the success of SAFAL so far, and requested all of them for continued support in days to come.