A Pond of Prosperity: Farmer Boosts Income Through Multi-Crop Farming and Fishery

Raipur : The construction of a farm pond, or “dabri”, has transformed the fortunes of farmer Dhanurjay Yadav from Hetghicha village in Farsabahar block of Jashpur district. Using the provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), he built a dabri on his land, enabling year-round irrigation. This one step not only revived his once-dry farmland but also opened new opportunities in multi-crop farming and fishery, significantly increasing his income.

Dhanurjay shared that farming has always been the primary source of livelihood for his family, but due to water scarcity, he could only cultivate one seasonal crop. Observing the benefits his fellow villagers were receiving through the dabri scheme, he too proposed a pond construction project through the Gram Panchayat. The pond, built at a cost of approximately ₹2.97 lakh, also generated 1,244 person-days of employment, providing a boost to local livelihoods.

Following the construction, Dhanurjay began cultivating a variety of vegetables including potatoes, onions, chillies, bitter gourd, okra, cowpeas, and cauliflower. He now meets his family’s vegetable needs and sells the surplus in the local market, earning a respectable income. Additionally, he has taken up fish farming, adding another stream of revenue.

“Earlier, I was entirely dependent on rainfall,” says Dhanurjay. “Now, with round-the-year irrigation from the dabri, I can grow crops continuously. It has brought financial stability to my family.”

The success of his initiative has not only changed the course of his farming but also inspired other farmers in the village to adopt the dabri scheme. Dhanurjay now actively encourages fellow villagers to take advantage of schemes like MGNREGA, sharing his story to motivate them toward self-sufficiency and prosperity.