Bhubaneswar: Farmers are the backbone of India. However, the nationwide lockdown, enforced to curb the spread of COVID-19, has crippled the life and livelihood of our farmers.
With transportation being a major problem, helpless farmers, livestock owners and inland fish farmers are struggling to procure inputs and sell their agricultural output during the lockdown period.
To help the distressed farmers during this crisis, Reliance Foundation has come up with an innovative ‘Multi-Location Audio conference’ programme.
It enables farmers, inland fish farmers and livestock owners to connect with officials and scientists at Line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and District Social Security Office from their homes to seek assistance.
The farmers can share their problems related to availability of critical inputs, marketing and transportation of agricultural produce, procedures to get vehicle pass for agri harvest transportation and marketing, government schemes for farmers and vulnerable people, as well as precautionary measures to be taken against during farming work, livestock management, inland fish farming etc through this audio-conferencing programme.
Prahalad Mahanta, an Odisha-based farmer from Kalanda village, under Raruan block of Mayurbhanj district, depends mainly on vegetable farming. He grows tomatoes, bitter gourd, brinjal, cow pea and snake guard etc in his farm.
After the lockdown was announced, he faced a lot of difficulty in selling his vegetables. However, Prahalad benefitted greatly from the Reliance Foundation’s audio-conferencing programme.
“I got the opportunity to participate in the multi-location audio conference. During the programme, I shared my problems related to the sale of vegetables. Experts from Reliance Foundation clarified about the relaxation of restriction during lockdown on agricultural activities and the procedures to obtain pass for vegetable supply,” Prahalad informed.
“Based on their guidance, I have contacted the Assistant Horticulture officer and got the vehicle pass for vegetable supply. I am the first person to get a pass from Assistant Horticulture officer of our circle,” he added.
Prahalad was able to sell nearly 50 quintal of vegetables including 40 quintals of tomato, 3 quintals of bitter gourd, 3 quintals of Brinjal, 3 quintal of cow pea and 1 quintal of snake gourd during the lockdown.
He earned around Rs. 70,000 by selling his vegetables.
Apart from the audio-conference programme, Reliance Foundation also provides assistance to farmers through voice calls, SMS, Jio Chat Channel and WhatsApp groups.
Farmers can also seek advice by calling the toll free helpline number-1800-419-8800.
Till date, Reliance Foundation has reached out to more than 2 lakh farmers, 3200 inland fish farmers and 30000 livestock owners with validated information from line departments and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
