Team News Riveting
Balconagar, December 29
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, organized a Mega Kisan Mela commemorating Kisan Diwas (23rd December) in Bela and Songudha villages of Korba district.
The event brought together over 750 farmers from 40 villages, alongside technical experts, government officials, financial institutions, and agri-entrepreneurs, creating a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange on modern farming practices and sustainable livelihoods.
Hosted in collaboration with BAIF Institute for Sustainable Livelihoods and Development, the Mela featured demonstrations and discussions on advanced techniques in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, livestock management, and crop insurance. Exhibitions showcased farm machinery distributed under BALCO’s Mor Jal Mor Maati (MJMM) project, along with displays from the Hi-Tech Nursery at Naktikhar, emphasizing the importance of quality planting material.
The Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) stall highlighted farmer collectivization and market linkages, while stalls by Marut Drone, Crompton Motor, Birla Pipe, and those from the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, disseminated information on modern technologies, irrigation solutions, government schemes, and emerging opportunities in agri-entrepreneurship.
Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “Farmers play a critical role in ensuring food security for millions. At BALCO, our efforts go beyond providing technology or training. We aim to create opportunities that help farmers diversify income and build resilience. Through initiatives like ‘Mor Jal Mor Maati’, we are supporting farmers in adopting agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry as viable and profitable livelihood options, while contributing meaningfully to the country’s growth.”
Sharing his experience, Arjun Kanwar, a farmer from Rogbehri, said, “Over the years, my farm has transformed with BALCO’s support. The training and guidance helped me improve my farming practices, increase yields, and manage costs better. This year, I was also recognised for adopting improved farming methods, that further encouraged me to continue learning and motivate other farmers in my village to follow the same.”
The Mor Jal Mor Maati project focuses on water management, multi-cropping, and introducing horticulture and animal husbandry as supplementary income sources. Covering over 3,200 acres and reaching more than 8,000 farmers, the project has enabled over 6,000 farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, leading to improved productivity and higher incomes.
Nearly 25 per cent of beneficiaries are young farmers, signalling a positive shift toward agriculture as a primary livelihood. By facilitating access to government schemes and institutional support, BALCO continues to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote sustainable agricultural development, demonstrating how knowledge, innovation, and collaboration can positively transform farming communities in Chhattisgarh.
