Building resilience of farmers in flood prone Odisha

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By oxfamadmin
03 Aug, 2015

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Read how @OxfamIndia is building resilience of farmers in flood prone areas of #Odisha. http://bit.ly/1MHsdW9

“My family now has enough to eat thanks to @OxfamIndia” says a farmer in #Odisha. Read more. http://bit.ly/1MHsdW9

Changing weather patterns and the constant threat of floods spells double trouble for farmers in Odisha.

One such example in the state is Loknadhpur, a hamlet in the northern part of Odisha. Housing 15 families, the hamlet is inaccessible by road and demands a three kilometre walk through paddy fields to reach this small settlement.

During its response to the 2007 floods in Odisha, Oxfam India identified Loknadhpur as one of the long-affected regions.

Since then Oxfam India has been working in the region by forming a task force to provide solutions during disasters, farmers clubs to bring awareness on new and emerging agricultural practices and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) committees to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation in the hamlet.

Sanatan, 35, has been a member of the farmers club for two years. A skilled carpenter and an expert in making cupboards, he is now an ardent farmer and has been practicing innovative methods of farming.

He owns over an acre of land and has been practicing new agricultural practices like Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) which yields him more than 15 quintals of rice per acre.

“I had no food at home because the crops failed or yielded less. After practicing SRI technique we have food to eat but still get short for couple of months. But it’s better than having nothing to eat,” said Sanatan, who is a father of four children.

Oxfam India, along with its partner, Unnayan has been able to sensitise the local farmers in Odisha on various agricultural practices thus helping them to earn sustainable livelihood.

In disaster prone area like the state of Odisha, Oxfam India is reaching many disaster affected people and also to thousands farmers vulnerable to extreme climatic conditions.

Written by: Sam Sudheer Bandi/ Akshaya Biswal

Photo Credit: Sam Sudheer Bandi

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