Livelihood Enhancement through Orchard Plantation

Sponsor: Deputy Director of Horticulture (DDH)-Keonjhar
Location: Champua block, Keonjhar district of Odisha

Major Achievements: The initiative expanded to 93.4 acres, with 6 new Wadis established this year, benefitting 83 participant families across 6 villages. The orchards comprise of fruit trees such as mango, cashew, apple ber, and pomegranate, chosen for their high market demand and agro-climatic suitability. While all Wadis are in their first year and yet to reach harvest stage, farmers have been actively engaged in maintaining the plantations through weeding, mulching, watering, and fencing, with continuous field monitoring and technical support from the project team.

To provide short-term income support while the orchards mature, intercropping support was extended for turmeric cultivation over approximately 19.8 acres, with input assistance provided to all 83 farmers by the Horticulture Department.

Focussed Rural Development Programme (FRDP)

Major Achievements: The project spans three blocks in Sambalpur district. With a focus on the water-energy- livelihood nexus, the programme has brought 268 acres of underutilised land under agri-horti-forestry development, promoting climate-resilient fruit and intercrop cultivation.

This year, 22,500 fruit trees were maintained across these plots, with mango emerging as the dominant species. Farmers adopted leguminous intercropping practices such as green gram and black gram, promoting soil health and short-cycle income generation. Additionally, 18 millet intercropping plots were supported to enhance food and nutritional security. The initiative has not only enabled diversification but also led to an average additional income of ₹15,000 per family, reinforcing the long-term value of integrated land use planning and sustainable farming on marginal lands.

Mor Jal Mor Maati (MJMM)

Major Achievements: The project aims to develope 250 Wadis by converting 125 acres of underutilised land into productive fruit orchards. Approximately 12,000 mango saplings will be planted across 40 village clusters, laying the foundation for long-term sustainable livelihoods. The project is encouraging farmers to adopt intercropping alongside orchard plantations, enabling sustainable source of income. In parallel, support was extended to nine existing Wadis across six locations under the project’s revival component. These Wadis were rejuvenated through focussed training, input support, and fencing material to ensure their long-term sustainability.

Comprehensive Community Development Programme - Utthan

Major Achievements:Under the project, a total of 244 Wadis have been developed, covering 122 acres, with mango and cashew as the primary fruit crops. Existing plantations have matured significantly, with 95% of the orchards (over three years old) now bearing fruit. Farmers earned an estimated ₹6.8 lakh from harvesting 20 tonnes of mango during the year. Intercropping and millet cultivation continued across the orchards, offering an additional annual income of ₹35,000 per family. The project’s integrated approach to fruit tree cultivation and intercropping has led to greater income security and enhanced land productivity for participating families.