A programme “Scheduled Caste - Sub Plan" run by the Government of India, with the main objective to promote Scheduled caste economic development through family-oriented schemes by providing resources to the Scheduled caste family living below the poverty line. Agricultural production and new technology including vegetables programme was launched in rural areas of Mirzapur district, under the guidance of Dr. Jagdish Singh, Director of ICAR- Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi by the team including Dr. D. R. Bhardwaj, Principal Scientist & Coordinator, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dubey, Senior Scientist & Co-cordinator, Mr. K. K.Gautam , Scientist & Co-cordinator and Mr. Ashutosh Goswami, ACTO on July 5th and 26th, 2019 at Bawanipur & Atari- Bahuti, Madihan, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
The very programme was commenced by providing special attention towards farmer’s economic development, generating awareness about the importance of high quality vegetable seeds and various agricultural technologies to be practiced and distribution of free minikits of vegetable seeds to SC agrarians. The main objective of this plan is to emphasize the developmental programmes for the Scheduled Castes, in relation to their agribusiness pattern and the need to increase productivity and income from their limited resources, Senior Scientist of the Institute, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dubey, explained to the scheduled caste farmers about the need and utility of this programme being run in Madihan block. In addition, information about running various agriculture department programmes, assistance for improvement, development, to initiate fruit and vegetable cultivation with special reference to small nurseries, seed farms, milched animals, chickens, goats and duck units were elaborated at length among farmers by Dr. Dubey. Further, awareness on extension programmes regarding training on beekeeping, sericulture, introduction of new craft programmes, training of scheduled caste women in schemes designed to improve livelihood in relation to family oriented & ecological improvement programmes. S C farmers of village were also briefed on economic potential of less popular vegetables (winged bean, cluster bean, faba bean, baby corn, sweet corn, vegetable soybean), aquatic vegetables (lotus, water chestnut & water spinach), organic farming, crop diversification by vegetables, dairy, animal husbandry, poultry, beekeeping. The benefits of social forestry, inclusion of more Horticultural crops with special reference to minor fruits like bael, ber karonda, banana and papaya were spoken by Dr. D. R. Bhardwaj, Principal Scientist. K. K. Gautam Scientist, detailed information on fisheries production, their harvesting and benefits of vegetable cultivation through scientific methods. Dr. D. R. Bhardwaj, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dubey and Keshav Kant Gautam along with the team distributed minikit of high quality vegetable seeds of tomato, brinjal, chilli, cauliflower, cowpea, ridge gourd, sponge gourd, Indian beans, pumpkin, bottle gourd, cucumber, okra, radish, spinach and drumstick among 170 scheduled caste families and also briefed about their crop production techniques. On this occasion, Dr. Abhay Shankar Tiwari, Bhartiy Lok Vikas evam Shodh Sansthan, Mirzapur, addressed the farmers and said that SC farmers must grow these vegetables seeds at their fields or on land taken on contract and take full advantage of the schemes run by the government. The farmers appraised that initiatives taken by ICAR- Indian Institute Vegetable Research, Varanasi under the scheme is very commendable and said that by adding a new chapter, the Institute is putting golden wings with its initiative to increase nutritional & economic security of scheduled caste farmers.
The outline of this programme was prepared by team under the supervision of Nodal Officer Drs. P. M. Singh, R. N. Prasad, K. K Pandey and Neeraj Singh. The office staff Mr. Sanjay Singh, Manish Kumar Singh and Sandeep Kumar extended their support in conducting the present massive programme. During the entire programme, Bahuti village head Sri Ram Bhuvan Singh extended his support throughout the day in distribution of minikit seeds among SC farmers of his village. The programme was ended with vote of thanks, proposed by Dr. R. K. Dubey, Co-coordinator of the programme.