Forty farmers from the Naxal-affected Gadricholi district of Maharashtra are on a 12-day agri-tour of the state. This trip was arranged by the Superintendent of Police, IPS Ankit Goyal. The farmers who live in very remote areas and still rely on age-old methods of farming will now get a chance to see and learn the latest techniques in agriculture. They can then go back and apply these techniques in their farming with the help of the local administration.
WHAT MADE HIM DO IT
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr Ankit Goyal said that the reason behind these farmers lagging behind in adopting modern methods of farming is their lack of exposure to the outside world. They have not been exposed to the developments made in the Maharashtra state in terms of agriculture and other sectors. Although the area is blessed with good cultivable land, abundant water supply, and ideal climatic conditions, the farmers engage in only one type of cultivation – rice paddy. Mr Goyal wanted to change this, and with this aim in view, he decided to introduce the farmers to modern methods of cultivation.
NOT THE FIRST PROJECT
This is not the first time that he arranged such a trip. Earlier, he had initiated a pilot project with 55 women, who were sent from Kotami on a 4-day tour to Amravati, Nagpur and Wardha. During the tour, the women learnt about various farming techniques by visiting different agriculture institutes and industries. Mr. Goyal said, “The response from these ladies was amazing! They were all charged up, and on coming back, they started applying the things they had learnt during the tour.”
Happy with the success of the pilot project, he decided to launch more such initiatives for the local farmers, to modernise agriculture in the district. And this time, he arranged a more extensive tour for a greater number of farmers.
EXPOSURE FOR FARMERS
The group consists of farmers from the remotest corners of the district. They come from places that are almost inaccessible and are hubs of naxal activities. During the 12-day tour, they will visit agricultural universities, industries and research centres in places like Pune, Baramati, Aurangabad, Amravati, Nagpur, etc. “They will not only be exposed to new farming techniques but they will also get to see our state, as most of them have not even stepped out of Gadchiroli district,” Mr. Goyal said.
BENEFITS OF THE TOUR
The local farmers are excited. These initiatives have opened an entire new world for them. Earlier, they had not even stepped outside their secluded villages. Now, they are getting to travel all over the state.
The officer who made this possible said, “If these farmers improve and diversify their farming techniques even a little, they will be able to make double of what they are earning right now. Apart from the various things they would learn during this tour, they will get a chance to see the beautiful state and how people in different regions live.”
Such initiatives have the added benefit of gaining the trust of the local population, which is necessary to reduce naxalism in the district.
This far-sighted IPS officer, it seems, is a man who firmly believes in the adage, ‘the more you travel, the more you learn.’
