Friday, August 17, 2012

SHG promotes labour sharing activity among farmers

There were the days where villagers used to come together and share the community activities in marriage, farming and other social activities. In similar, Bandhu Self Help Group is on a mission to over come the short of labourers in farming activity by engaging small and marginal farmers on labour sharing activity, where finding labours for agricultural activities is challenging task.

Pragathi Bandhu, a pioneer project of Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) which has helped thousands of farmers in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts through this programme.

From last three months SKDRDP is functioning in Mysore and Chamarajanagar and has to its credit 384 SHG's group with 1704 members (men) under Pragathi Bandhu and 12,420 Women Co-operative Societies with 1,50,000 members.
Mysore District Director Mahabala Kulal said that the scheme is getting popular in rural side gradually and has helped farmers very much in farming activity.
“Its compulsory every Monday a group of 8-10 farmers on a routine have to visit neighbourhood small farmer field and indulge in works like land leveling, house and shed construction, fencing, digging of wells, and many other farming activity.

“In the initial days, farmers opposed to work in others fields and after attending the awareness programmes their mindsets changed, and are getting convinced. The activities are very popular in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Dharwad, Gadag,” he added.

Monthly once a group of farmers will be sent on Research Tour for other districts to share, learn and adopt the farming activity of other districts. Which will be indeed helpful for them to share the farming activity and learn new things. Farmers will also be engaged in social empowerment, transfer of agriculture technology through various extension activities, taking up farm mechanisation, new and varied cropping,

Apart this, three to five year farm plan will be prepared for implementation of various development activities like agriculture and allied activities, irrigation, and infrastructure. The required finance for these activities are mobilised through weekly savings which are distributed amongst the members as credit and redistribution of funds borrowed from the financing banks.
SKDRDP in district is intending to form many groups in coming days and implement several activities like the Pragathinidhi (micro finance), transfer of technology, social forestry, watershed activities, eco friendly energy programme and much more.

“From last two months I have attained four labour activity programmes. Officials provide tips on various issues including how to handle the situation during drought time,” says HD Kote Farmer Siddharaju.

Another farmer Kondiaha said that the programme is building good relationship with nieghbourhood farmers and strengthening their bond.

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