Rural Farmer Kaushal Mahato from Ranchi Improves Farming Practices with Vermi Composting

13 April 2023, Chanho (Ranchi): In Ganeshpur, a small village in Chanho block of Ranchi district, Kaushal Mahato, a 42-year-old farmer, is making strides in improving his farming practices with the help of Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP) being executed with support of HDFC Bank’s CSR initiative. Kaushal, who is involved in both farming and dairy farming, has been linked with Vermi Composting as a new technique for improving his crop yield and livestock management.

Thanks to the training and support provided by HRDP, Kaushal has been able to switch from traditional farming practices to organic farming with vermi composting. After being provided with training and counseling on the benefits of vermi and azolla, Kaushal started making vermi compost and included it in his farming practices.

This switch has led to a significant increase in his crop yield, while also being cost-effective. Previously, he used to put 50 kg of DAP with two trolleys of cow dung, but now he uses only 15 kg of the chemical fertilizer with half a trolley of vermi compost.

Kaushal Mahato is now ready to share his experience and train other farmers on vermi composting. He thanks HRDP, NBJK and HDFC Bank for their support and guidance.

Kaushal’s story is an inspiration for other farmers who are looking to improve their farming practices, reduce their input costs, and increase their yields with organic farming. By promoting vermi composting, HRDP and HDFC Bank’s CSR initiative are enabling farmers like Kaushal to achieve their farming goals while also contributing to the larger goal of sustainable agriculture.

#Farmers on Exposure and Training by Rojgar Taining Centre @AxisBank

18 April, Ranchi: Axis Bank Foundation, Mumbai supported Rojgar Training Centre at Piska More, Ranchi has organized an exposure visit for trainees of Agriculture trade upon making of organic manure with help of earthworms, popularly known as vermi compost. The trainees have visited the unit by NBJK at Chakla village near Ranchi where mass production of the compost takes place regularly and admired by local farmers. Mr. Rampravesh and Mr. Vanshee Thakur of NBJK, Chakla have demonstrated the process of making such organic manure and satisfied queries of the trainees. Mr. Jyotishram Mahto and Mr. Falicharan Mahto (RTC, Piska More) have guided the visit.

On 20 April, 20 women trainees have completed Mushroom package of the training. Mrs. Sumitra Toppo (instructor) has provided them mushroom seeds with proper guidelines over preparing nursery and post germination care of the product well known for its nutrition value. Mr. Jyotishram Mahto has oriented the trainees for a rich kitchen garden for each family. Also a committee has been formed to ensure marketing of the mushroom produced by trainees willing to join the venture commercially. Mrs. Nidhi Kumari (president), Mrs. Nisha Kumari (secretary), Mrs. Namita Devi (treasurer) and other 17 members will look after the affair as a group. Mr. Randheer Kumar (centre coordinator, RTC) has distributed packets of organic compost/mushroom seeds among the trainees in both of the events and emboldened them for profitable farming with innovative ideas.

Making a Difference in Rural Health & Wellness

06 December 2023, Hazaribagh: In 2022-23, NBJK extended its impactful reach across Jharkhand-Bihar, touching lives in multiple districts. Here are some powerful highlights of our interventions:

• General Health: Conducted 1246 health camps, reaching 590 villages, serving 21248 individuals with free medication.
• Eye Care: 4 Eye Hospitals, 15 Vision Centers, and conducted 843 Screening Camps, facilitating 166491 OPD and 25647 cataract surgeries.
• Women’s Health: Empowered 4400 women and girls with Menstrual Hygiene training, while raising Cancer Awareness among 4458 women and providing Cancer Care Insurance to 2225 women.
• Environment & Hygiene: Ensured sanitation by removing 55 tons of garbage, recycling waste into 800 MT Vermi-compost & 360 MT Green Millboard.
• Community Support: Provided safe drinking water to 1257 households and assisted 800 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with UDID cards, vocational training, and essential assistive devices.

Tribal Farmer becomes a Model of Sustainable Farming

05 April 2023, Chanho (Ranchi): Shri Bandhu Oraon, a tribal farmer from the Tangar village near Bijupara in Chanho block of Ranchi district, has become a model of sustainable farming with the help of the Holistic Rural Development Programme by NBJK, in partnership with HDFC Bank.

Despite having financial difficulties that prevented him from completing his education, Oraon has been involved in agriculture since the age of 20 and has received horticulture training from the Ramakrishna Mission in Ranchi. He now teaches other farmers at his Farmer Field School (FFS) and is an active member of the Village Development Committee in his village.

Thanks to his experience and expertise, Oraon was chosen to receive a Solar Irrigation Pump under the HRDP. He received orientation and training on how to use the solar pump and other equipment, and it was installed on his farmland. However, this was not just for his benefit, but also for other farmers in the area, as it was a demonstrational activity with an inclusive approach.

After receiving the solar pump and other equipment, Oraon has adopted better farming practices such as vermin-composting, drip and mulching, and greenhouse farming. He has cultivated a variety of crops, including cauliflower, tomato, green chilli, fabshell beans, and strawberries, and has significantly increased his yield at a low cost.

Bandhu Oraon says that the solar pump is easy to use and requires very little maintenance. He has also received support from MNREGA to cultivate mango trees, which further enhances his farming practices. Oraon has been able to run his FFS more efficiently and provide other farmers with first-hand learning experiences.

In addition to the Solar Irrigation Pump, NBJK and HDFC Bank provided Oraon with a Mulching and Drip Irrigation system under the HRDP. All of these resources have provided him with an enormous opportunity to create a model of sustainable farming, and Oraon hopes to inspire other farmers in the area to adopt similar practices.

Waste to Wealth: Solid Waste Recycling-cum-Demonstration Units by NBJK

04 November 2022, Ranchi-Hazaribagh: NBJK runs two solid waste recycling-cum-demonstration units at Chakla village in Ormanjhi block of Ranchi district. These make Vermicompost from cow dung and Green Millboard by scrap paper.

Last year Vermicompost Unit has prepared 430 MTs Nitrogen added balanced organic manure and frequently used by local farmers, nurseries & agriculture institutions.

On the other hand, 217.96 Metric Tonnes green millboard has been made by Millboard Unit. This good quality millboard is ideal for bookbinders, conservationists, box makers and framers seeking an eco-friendly board. The recycled material is being delivered to 22 districts of Jharkhand-Bihar.

These solid waste recycling units propagate the very idea of waste to wealth and contribute to environment conservation too.

Besides this under Clean Jharkhand phase-2 program, NBJK provides sanitation service like cleanliness, housekeeping, drainage cleaning, waste collection & delivery for two institutional clients at Hazaribagh. It collects about 50 tonnes waste annually and hands over to Municipal Corporation.

All these initiatives are self-sustained and create employment for nearly 40 persons.

NBJK Intervenes Remarkably to Uplift People’s Socio-economic Status

20 September 2022, Jharkhand-Bihar: During 2021-22 through various projects upon Socio-economic & Livelihood Development, NBJK’s intervention left a powerful impact at villages in Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Khunti, Deoghar, Dumka, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Chatra, Patna, Jamui, Gaya and other districts of Jharkhand-Bihar.

The organization has provided training on Tailoring, General Duty Assistant, Beautician, Accountancy, Basic Computer Applications and Lac Artisanry to 1139 females as more than 60% are employed or self-employed.

416 males received training on BCAs, Accountancy, Advance Agriculture Practices, Paravet and Entrepreneurship Development, 65% are placed or utilizing learnt skills to raise their income.

It ensured Small financial support for 5784 women & 1258 men to initiate or strengthen their petty businesses.

NBJK distributed 3600 saplings, 32 electric motor pumps, 85 cows among farmers and delivered direct financial support to 38 farmers for sustainable agriculture and facilitated 31 farmers for entrepreneurship related to agriculture & livestock rearing.

To enrich agriculture infrastructure in villages, it constructed 01 Pond-10 Wells, renovated 03 Ponds & 01 Well, created 13 Drip Irrigation Units as well as 15 Vermicompost & Azolla Biofetilizer Units and 135 Solar Based Micro Lift Irrigation Units.