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She
looks just like any other ordinary village woman.
57-year old Mrs. Shailendri Singh is self-sufficient
now. The first attempt of sugarcane cultivation made
her richer by lakhs of rupees.
The
success story of Shailendri Singh., resident of
Village Kudari adjacent to Shahdol City is sort of
different among the women cultivators of Shahdol
district. A housewife who started it as a source of
additional income, has turned it today into a
progressing business. The sugarcane cultivation she
started is giving very good profit. Her 60-year old
husband Khadag Singh and their son also helps her in
the farming.
Earlier,
Shailendri Singh used to cultivate sugarcane in an
area of one acre only for which she had to depend on
the rain water. if rains were not enough, she would
suffer loss. But the Balram Lake constructed before a
year and half with the subsidy from agriculture
department has completely changed her life. In the
first rainy season itself the lake was filled with
rain water. Encouraged with the lake water Shailendri
Singh cultivated sugarcane in an area of four acres of
land. This gave her an income of three lakh. As there
is water for irrigation the woman cultivated paddy,
wheat, gram, and vegetables. This gave her an income
of around Rs. 1.75 lakh.
Since
sugarcane prices shot up like that of gold, the cash
crop of sugarcane is considerably changing her life
style. There is good demand for her sugarcane in the
city and neighbouring towns. With the income received
from selling sugarcane cultivation, Shailendri Singh
could complete all the pending works. With the income
from sugarcane she decided to construct a new house
for which the foundation has already been laid. In
fact, al this change is being effected due to
irrigation facility provided by the Balaram Lake.
Shailendri
Singh had to work hard at the time of sowing
operations, irrigating frequently and had to protect
the plants from damaging. It was because of her hard
work and continuous vigilance on the growth of
sugarcane that her crop earned her enough fame and
money. She was able to supply sugarcane as per need of
the Shahdol City. In act, this taste of sugarcane has
changed the lifestyle of Shailendri Singh. Not only
this, on an average she employs five to six labourers
throughout the year. She says: 'All our expenses are
met with from the income of sugarcane cultivation. The
Balram Lake has become a lifesaver of our field.' The
senior regional agriculture development officer Shri
Akhilesh Namdev says 'Several lakes are being
constructed in the district to conserve rain water and
use it for irrigation of crops. Along with irrigation,
these lakes are being used for fisheries also'.
Anyway,
Balram Lake has become a savior of sugarcane
cultivators. One sugarcane stick is sold in the open
market for Rs 15 to Rs 20. Encouraged by the good
results Shailendri Sinh is thinking now to grow
sugarcane in more areas.
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