A team of students from the University of Michigan (UoM) in the US have made a unique offer to about 200 farmers of Chandaram village of Laxettipet mandal in Adilabad district, most of who are not in a position to bear the costs for transporting fertile silt of an irrigation tank there, to arrange financial support for the purpose. The students, who are going round villages where Mission Kakatiya programmes are being implemented, selected Chandaram after visiting several villages in Adilabad, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Warangal districts and meeting the stakeholders – farmers. The five-member team led by Adithya Dahagama has also been meeting the officials engaged in the project, contractors and other stakeholders too.
Narrating their experience in going round the State in sweltering heat from May 9 with the main objective of bridging the information-education gap to farmers, Mr. Adithya told The Hindu that they have zeroed-in on Chandaram after conducting preliminary assessment study. After discussions, the farmers agreed to pool-up resources to bear 60 per cent transportation costs and wanted support for the remaining amount. The students, who are conducting the research with a fund of $ 100,000 mobilised in the US, have offered the assistance with a request to the farmers to repay the amount once they reap benefits. Money repaid by ryots will be spent on their education and information needs. “It’s very exciting to see the real big picture beyond our classrooms and computers and help farmers by bridging the information gap,” Kerri Serfling, another team member, averred.
It is very exciting to see the real big picture beyond our classrooms and computers and help farmers by bridging the information gap.
Kerri Serfling,
Team member.
