Raipur: The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a flagship poverty alleviation programme of the Central government, is enabling poor households across the country to get gainful employment by providing them with sustainable livelihood options.
In Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari, Azolla production has become a key source of livelihood for many women of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as they have found employment and are earning income to support their families.
The dream of attaining self-reliance may still be far, but they are happy about finding an alternate source of livelihood.
Many women from the SHGs in Gram Panchayat Amali have taken to cultivating an aquatic weed—Azolla.
Azolla, which grows in ponds, is often considered useless; however, women from the ‘Bihan’ SHG (associated with the NRLM) have turned it into a means of self-reliance.
Anita Bai Markam, an ‘Agriculture Friend’ (Krishi Sakhi), underwent training from the Veterinary Department and began producing Azolla in tanks at her home. Using scientific methods and regular care, she has produced 25 kg of Azolla so far.
The SHG women are using Azolla as an organic supplement in paddy cultivation. This practice has enhanced soil fertility and reduced dependence on chemical fertilisers. Additionally, it is being used as nutritious feed in animal husbandry, fish farming, and poultry farming, thereby lowering production costs.
The group is now planning to produce organic manure and vermicompost in the future.
A SHG woman named Anita Bai told IANS that she was previously unaware of Azolla, but it has become a valuable resource for her family.
The women use it both to feed their livestock and in their farming activities. This has not only provided them with economic benefits but also instilled the confidence to adopt natural farming practices. All of them expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this opportunity.
Anita, who works as an ‘Agriculture Friend’ (Krishi Mitra), explained that she produces Azolla. Feeding Azolla to dairy animals increases milk yield; it is fed to cows, goats, and poultry.
“Azolla production yields a good income. I support my family through Azolla cultivation. I express my deep gratitude to PM Modi for creating employment opportunities for women,” she said.
Another woman, Kaushalya Sahu, said that she cultivated 200 grams of Azolla, which resulted in sales worth Rs 9,000.
Dhamtari Collector Avinash Mishra told IANS that women are making a name for themselves through the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative and natural farming.
“Both the central and state governments are promoting natural farming over chemical-based agriculture. Azolla is proving to be highly effective as an organic fertiliser in this context. Through Azolla cultivation, women are earning well and becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women earning an annual income of over Rs 1 lakh),” he remarked.
(IANS)
