'Tata Trusts' helping farmers to become a 'Lakhpati Kisans'

In the last two years, four states Jharkhand, Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra kisans have started becoming Lakhpati. After the initiative taken by Tata Trusts in 450 villages for the tribal farmers. Trusts educating and training tribal in small groups on boost resources for high yield and to get beneficial prices.

These initiatives are in the process for the last two years in Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra under its five-year mission programme - 'Lakhpati Kisan - smart villages' that started in the year 2015. Ganesh Neelam, executive director of the Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiative, an associate organisation of the Trusts said "As of now, we are working in 450 villages in four states. We have impacted 1,00,000 households, out of which 15-20 per cent are lakhpati kisans."

Earlier the income of these farmers was less than Rs. 50,000 annually and now a great improvement is seen in their income and "the concern now is to sustain the income level", he told press. Trust is trying to cover a total of 560 villages in eight states and to make 1 lakh tribal lakhpati by 2020. Same initiatives will soon be seen in the four other states states- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and West Bengal.

"The Trusts' focus has been on strengthening community institutions, bringing tribal communities out of poverty and providing better livelihood options" said Neelam pointing towards the other problems faced by tribal. He also mentioned that the Trust is working closely with the state government to achieve the desired results.