The Mega Lift Irrigation Programme has been launched by Govt of Odisha during 2011-12 for providing irrigation to the farmers in the upland & medium lands by lifting water from rivers, which could not be irrigated through normal means of flow irrigation. The Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) in the Mega Lift Irrigation Project area is a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting agricultural diversification, enhancing farmers' incomes, and ensuring food security.

Overview

The CDP-MLIP Programme is a collaborative effort between government, NGOs, and local communities in 20 Villages of Sukruli Block under Mayurbhanj District. The primary objectives include reducing reliance on monoculture crops, mitigating risks associated with climate change, and promoting sustainable farming practices. Target crops encompass a diverse range including millets, Pulses, Oilseeds, vegetables, and alternative cash crops. Diversification from paddy to non-paddy crops with focus on pulses, groundnut, sesame/ Niger, maize, Arhar, millets and horticultural crops in upland/medium land in Kharif.

Objective

• Improving soil health through promotion of crops with heavy biomass and less chemical input requirement.
• Cluster based promotion of post-harvest, primary processing, Value addition & Marketing through CBOs like FPOs/ WSHGs/ PPs and Agri-entrepreneur for higher income.
• To create awareness, capacity building and community mobilization of farmers on sustainability of cropping pattern and diet diversification.
• Inclusion of produce of non-paddy crops in different Government schemes such as ICDS, MDM, PDS and ST SC Welfare hostels

Achievements

• Increase in diversified crop cultivation by 50% compared to the previous year.
• Enhancement in crop yields and quality attributed to better crop management practices and access to high-quality seeds and planting materials.
• Empowerment of farmers through capacity building initiatives including training workshops, Cooking Competition, and Road Show.
• Strengthened market linkages facilitating access to markets and fair prices for diversified crops.

Challenges and Solutions

• Unpredictable weather patterns and climate-related hazards posed challenges to crop production. Implementation of resilient crop varieties and water management techniques helped mitigate risks.

• Limited access to finance and technical support hindered adoption of diversification practices.
• Collaboration with financial institutions and extension services addressed this issue by providing credit facilities and technical assistance to farmers.
• Best Practices and Lessons Learned:
• Farmer-centric approach emphasizing participatory decision-making and knowledge exchange fostered ownership and sustainability of interventions.
• Integration of gender and social inclusion considerations promoted equitable participation and empowerment of marginalized groups

Future Plans

• Scaling up successful interventions to reach more farmers and expand geographical coverage.

• Strengthening partnerships with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, research institutions, and private sector actors.
• Investing in research and innovation to develop climate-resilient crop varieties and sustainable agricultural technologies.