The inside story of hunger heroes…

"…I am happy that I get the needful support timely from District Agriculture Office – Golaghat and APART project. I would also like to thank the Block Technology Manager of Dergaon Development Block and Research Technician of APART- Golaghat for their valued guidance, motivation and timely monitoring"— Nitu Bora.

Nitu Bora (43 years old) of Balidua village, Dergaon Development Block, Golaghat district is one of the progressive farmers associated with District Agriculture Office, Golaghat for past few years.

Last year, District Agriculture Office, Golaghat had organized a conversation on Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) to promote submergence-tolerant rice varieties: Ranjit Sub 1, Bahadur Sub 1 and Swarna Sub 1 within the district that had been launched in the state. District Agriculture Officer: Golaghat, Assistant Director cum Nodal Officer of APART: Golaghat and Deputy PD of ATMA were the key speakers of that meaningful happening.

After couple of days, Nitu Bora along with other fellow farmers from West Brahmaputra area (One of the Flood affected areas) visited the District Agriculture Office and met Respected: District Agriculture Officer and Assistant Director Cum Nodal Officer of APART: Golaghat and expressed their keen interest to grow Ranjit – Sub 1 in their paddy fields.

At Balidua, transplanting had been completed and the crop was at tillering stage when floods come. The crop was submerged for 15 days at a stretch when Abhishek Singha, Research Technician of APART – Golaghat visited the plots in the 2nd week of August/2019. The three farmers: Nitu Bora, Luhit Bora & Babul Bora, who had so much faith in the new technology, were disheartened but Abhishek assured them that the crops would come up again as they had the submergence gene within them.

"Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good & positive attitude while waiting" – The plots of Ranjit – Sub 1 revived even after submergence. Flood could not affect the plots of Ranjit - Sub 1 alike the plots of traditional varieties. The yield achieved in Ranjit – Sub 1 was 5.6 tons/hectare while the traditional varieties' plots yield could not be achieved as the plots were totally damaged due to submergence by flood water.

The beneficiaries were happy because for them it was just like a 'Miracle' during that hour-of-crisis. Nitu Bora stated, "Ranjit Sub 1 can endure underwater conditions for 14 to 15 days without losing potential yield where as the traditional varieties (Viz. Prasad Bhog, Mono Ari, Ranjit, Bor Dhan etc.) can barely last only five days of submergence..".

This year, almost 55 to 60 per cent heartily accepts the Ranjit – Sub 1 variety instead of traditional varieties which they practiced in their fields for long years and this change happens within 12 months.

Literally, 'Real Transformation' in the agriculture sector is not possible within a month. It will take time. A year or may be couple of years to create a positive impact in the society. It's not about perfect. It's about our team effort and when we implement that effort and loyalty into our life with a positive mind; every single day, that's where transformation happens. That's how change occurs…"

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