Ponds Abutting Farmlands Multiply Income
Joda, February 18, 2025: The persistent efforts of Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) to help paddy farmers in and around Joda region under Keonjhar district of Odisha, to improve their livelihood by diversifying their harvest to fishing, is finally paying off.
The local economy of Joda municipality has largely been dependent on mining and agriculture activities, the latter being paddy. Given the vagaries of agriculture impacted by seasonal rains and inconsistent crop output, there has always been a need for crop diversification in the region.
Now, with the support of TSF, as many as 392 farmers of the region have taken up pond-based fishery to supplement their income from rice cultivation.
Subash Mahanta of Sarasposhi area in Joda, with TSF’s guidance and assistance had excavated a pond abutting his farmland. He embarked on his fish farming venture and harvested 132 kg of fish during the last Christmas season.
This success has inspired him to continue his fishing endeavor, with plans to undertake a second harvest in March this year.
“Fish farming has opened up new opportunities for us. Thanks to the support from Tata Steel Foundation, I now have a stable secondary income and am motivated to expand my efforts further”, said an elated Subash.
Subash’s success story exemplifies the transformative power of fish farming and the valuable support provided by TSF in empowering rural communities.
Subash is not an isolated case. Sushant Barik from nearby (Ramchandrapur) village, has too earned a handsome income from his fish harvest. Fakir Mahanta of Sarasposhi area, whose fishes are thriving and reaching impressive sizes, highlighted the potential of such integrated approaches to improve their earning capacity.
Fakir expressed his happiness and said, “This initiative has significantly enhanced our livelihoods. With fish farming, we now have an alternative source of income while ensuring better water management for our crops,”
The ponds are not only being used for fish farming, but also for vegetable cultivation, which again gives additional income. Many of them have integrated fish farming and agriculture into their existing traditional agricultural practices, demonstrating a growing trend towards diversification.
Besides, the excavation of ponds have resulted in an impressive increase in water storage capacity through these water harvesting structures. This has also increased water availability that is crucial for both crops and fish farming, empowering farmers to enhance their productivity and livelihoods.
The improvement in the livelihood of locals has been one of Tata Steel’s stated objectives in every region the steel major operates. The ability to generate additional income through fishing not only helps achieve that objective, but has also improved the water availability for traditional farming.
