AAU-KVK, Udalguri

Season (Kharif): Scientific Cultivation of Sesamum var. Champawati

KVK: KVK, Udalguri

Crop and Variety: Sesamum var. Champawati

Name of Farmer & Address: Mr. Hirambo Basumatary, Vill. Bwigriguri, Dist. Udalguri

Background Information about Farmer's Field:

Udalguri district in Assam, with its diverse agro-climatic conditions, is well-suited for growing oilseed crops like Sesamum. However, farmers in the region often lack awareness of proper scientific cultivation techniques and high-quality seed varieties. Traditionally, local varieties have been used, resulting in lower yields and poor seed quality. Through the CFLD, NMOOP project, efforts were made to introduce improved technologies and better varieties to the farmers.

Mr. Hirambo Basumatary, a progressive farmer and entrepreneur, owns 10 hectares of agricultural land where he primarily cultivates Sali rice, Sesamum, Toria, and potatoes. Under the CFLD program, he cultivated Sesamum var. Champawati on 0.4 hectares provided by KVK Udalguri, achieving a yield of 7.2 quintals per hectare.

Details of Technology Demonstrated:

Seed Rate: Scientific cultivation of Sesamum var. Champawati @ 4kg/haManure: Compost/Vermicompost @ 10t/ha

Institutional Involvement:

Under the NMOOP project, a total of 30 hectares of Sesamum crop were demonstrated on a cluster basis during the 2023-24 season across six different clusters in various villages of Udalguri district. KVK Udalguri provided essential inputs such as seeds and vermicompost. Regular support services were offered to farmers to address daily challenges and ensure feedback and monitoring.

Success Points:

The average yield of the demonstrated crop was 6.1 quintals per hectare, with a net return of Rs. 28,898 per hectare and a Benefit-Cost (B-C) ratio of 1.82. The majority of farmers who participated in the program fully adopted improved practices, including land preparation, use of high-yielding varieties, optimal sowing times, and appropriate application of manures and fertilizers. The technology has been widely appreciated by farmers from nearby villages, many of whom are eager to adopt it in the upcoming season.

Farmer Feedback:

Farmers expressed satisfaction with the yield of the variety and are ready to adopt the technology.

Outcome:

Yield (q/ha):Demonstration: 5-7 q/haPotential Yield of Variety/Technology: 9.04 q/haDistrict Average (Previous Year): 4.3 q/haState Average (Previous Year): 5.2 q/ha

Name: Shri Prasanna Rabha

Father’s/ Mother’s/ Husband’sName: Shri Mahendra Rabha

Address: Vill:Kathalbari (Hirabari), P.O.:Panisheli, Khoirabari, Distt.: Udalguri, Assam, Pin: 784522

Phone No.: 8638204589

Adhaar No.: 529826111419 Category: Fishery

The journey to success:

Background

When zeal and interest combine to form success, it doesn't require advertising because it is a natural outcome of this combination. The success of a veteran farmer from Kathalbari (Hirabari), an interior village in the Udalguridistrict of Assam, is a shining example of how technologically advanced cultivation methods can transform the agrarian economy and improve the lives of millions of farmers in a state where many people believe luck has more to do with success than hard work.

History and KVK Intervention

Shri Prasanna Rabha started fish farming with 1 bigha (0.13 ha) of land area in the year 2006. Initially, he cultured fish in composite fish farming basis. The productivity was very low as compared to standards. During the year 2016-17 Shri Rabha came to contact and participated in extension activities of KVK, Udalguri. IFS model comprising improved variety of ducki.e.,Chara chambeli as well as fish farming and horticultural crops was demonstrated by KVK Scientists in his plot. He is one of the many farmers benefitted by the technology of Integrated duck cum fish cum horticulture farming system.Seeing his achievements and hard work, KVK Udalguri later in 2018-19 developed an AAU model fish hatchery (AAU model) unit in his farm in collaboration with the College of Fisheries, AAU, Raha.

Current Scenario

The man got himself fully involved in fish cultivation. Gradually he digs 5 grow out and 4 nursery ponds on his land covering 17 bighas of water area. At present Shri Rabha deriving his livelihood through integrated farming system and fish seed production from the 17 bigha land and an AAU model fish hatcheryat Village Kathalbari (Hirabari) of district Udalguri. Besides the seed production of Indian Major Carps and Exotic Carps, he is also producing Kawoi seed in his farm. KVK, Udalguri also motivated and helped him to participate in different district and state level exhibitions for promoting marketing facilities.

Support and guidance received from different departments

He has received financial and technical support from KVK, Udalguriand College of Fisheries, AAU, Rahafor construction of fish hatchery. He has also received financial support for construction of bio flocfish farming unit from Department of Fisheries.

Estimation of the results and outcomes

The use of proper ratio of quality fingerlings in the culture along with other inputs like protein rich pelleted feed, rice polish, Mustard oil cake, probiotics, netting and regular water testing helped him to get better yield from the ponds. He has also installed an aeration unit using his own brain (i.e., connecting the drilled PVC pipe into the overhead tank) to maintain the appropriate oxygen level in the ponds throughout time and especially during harsh conditions. He has produced 7.2tonnes Fishes from the pond (2ha) at an average of 3.6tonnes per haannually. Additionally, from his hatchery unit he is annually able to produce Spawn (13.80 crore), Fry (19.25 lakhs) and Fingerling (0.66 lakhs). His income was raised which sorted out many problems.Presently, Shri Rabha gets an average annual net income of Rs. 10.50 lakh with an average of Rs. 87,500.00 per month. The net income increased 53.42 % by adopting improved agricultural practices, Integrated Farming system and fish seed production.

Recognition

1. State’s 2^nd best fish farmer by Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Assam (2017)

2. ICAR-CIFA awarded for his leadership quality towards farming community (2019)

3. Progressive fish farmer award by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udalguri (2019)

4. Progressive fish farmer award by Sub-divisional office Bhergaon, Udalguri (2020)

Impact of the Technology

After observing the success of Mr. Rabha through integrated farming system, 26 numbers of nearby farmers visited his farm to learn about the technology and already adopted the same in succeeded period. He has supplied quality fish seeds (spawn, fry, fingerling, yearling etc.) to around 500 fish farmers and also provided consultancy on scientific fish farming to them.

Future plan:

Mr. Rabha is planning to culture prawn along with IMC fishes in the coming year and also planning to breed high valued fish like Pabda in the near future.

Social Recognition

1. District president of All Rabha National Council

2. Advisor of HirabariJeuti Sangha

3. President of Bhergaon Sub-divisional co-operative Society

4. Member of FPC “ABAD agro producer company ltd.”

Name of Project/Initiative/Pilot: Identification and Popularization of feasible and profitable Integrated Farming System modules for different Agro-Ecological situation of Udalguri District.

Distance (Kms) from state capital: 107 km.

Name and contacts of implementing agency, if any   Krishi Vigyan Kendra – Udalguri

Fund under which the project was financed : NABARD sponsored IFS project

Implementation period April 2021 – September 2023 ( 24 months )

Challenges/initiatives (What were the basic issues in front when we undertook the project? The social, economic background against which the project was conceived by the NGO or the RO. Project demographics as stated in the project proposal may be provided here): The economy of Assam is mainly agrarian with agriculture and allied activities contributing about 20 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product and providing livelihood support to about 75 per cent of the population. Crop production activity which is a major activity in many of the farms is subject to very high degree of variability due to natural as well as market risks. This risk can be overcome by combining dairy, sheep rearing and other enterprises which have a steady market and serve as source of good income generation. Under these circumstances, a ray of hope lies in Integrated Farming Systems, which ensures minimization of risk, recycling of wastes and residues, integration of two or more enterprises, optimum utilization of all resources, maximization of productivity and profitability, maintenance of ecological balance, generation of employment, increased input use efficiency and use of end products from one enterprise as input in other enterprise in addition to providing profitable employment to all family members throughout the year, higher combined farm income generation and a high degree of stability in income generation and prosperity of the farmers.

Traditionally, the farmers of Udalguri district adopt mixed farming in some or other forms of farming systems where they grow crops, rear livestock and fish besides homestead gardening and farm forestry. The common livestock enterprises are dairy, goatery, piggery, poultry and duckery. In general, there are three important components of a farming system (whole farm business) viz., (i) crop component usually taken up in the main crop fields (ii) animal component and also fishery component usually taken up within the homestead and (iii) homestead farming which includes other allied activities taken up within the homestead. Each of the above components may have one or more of several activities or processes. Thus, selection, production/cultivation and/or rearing activities within a farm determine the nature of farming system being practiced in any situation. Nevertheless, the activities (crop or animals or fishery) under each component depend on resource availability, their suitability, adaptability, marketability and ability to satisfy the needs of a farm family. The type of a particular farming system adopted by a farmer depends on his own resource endowment, environmental condition, socio-economic situations and religious beliefs and cultural heritage etc.

The most prevalent and remunerative among the farming systems practiced are Rice Based Farming Systems like rice-fish integration, rice-duck- fish integration, rice-fish-cattle integration, rice-pig-fish integration and Integrated Fish-Livestock Farming Systems like fish-broiler poultry faming, fish-pig-poultry farming, fish-pig farming, fish-layer poultry farming, fish-duck farming and fish-cattle farming etc.

The Government of India has set for itself a goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. One of the options to double farmers’ income and mitigate farmers’ vulnerability to diverse stresses is the adoption of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS). The advantages of IFS include pooling and sharing of resources or inputs; efficient use of family labour; conservation, preservation and utilization of farm biomass including non-conventional feed and fodder resources; effective use of manure and animal waste; regulation of soil fertility and health; sustainable income enhancement and employment generation.

Solution outline: What was the solution proposed in the project outlines?: Integrated farming system, which is a synonym to family farming, provides an opportunity to profitably engage the available man power in the farm family to the fullest extent throughout the year leading to higher income and family satisfaction. A good IFS aims at least dependence on outside resources and efficient recycling of available farm resources.

Though IFS can be explained as a system comprised of several mutually cohesive and complementary agro based enterprises, no common model can be suitable for all the agro- ecological situations. IFS models have to be developed based on the agro-climatic situations, holding size, availability of resources like land, water, labour, marketing facilities, risk factors, family size, ability of the farm family members to participate in the farming activity, their knowledge/skill level etc.

Adoption of Integrated Farming System leads to sustainability and stability in farm income through multiple enterprises that aim at maximum utilization of available natural resources to meet the family needs. It aims at generating a threshold level of farm income required for the farm family to maintain sustained interest in farming thus preventing migration of people from farming sector.

Furthermore, the Government of India has set for itself a goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022through a six-point strategy. One of the options to double farmer income and mitigate risk is the adoption of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS).

Solution implementation: The process, time, challenges, experiences in the process of project implementation.

1.      The project was implemented by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, AAU, Udalguri.

2.      In 1styear, modules with different components such as ‘Integrated Pig (fattening) cum fish farming’, ‘Integrated Fish + Duck + Horti Farming’, ‘Poultry + Fish + Crop (Maize) system’, ‘Paddy - Toria + Apiculture’ and ‘Paddy - Vegetable cultivation + mushroom cultivation + Vermin-compost production’ was established in the farmer’s field and partial analysis of income of that year, was carried out.

3.      Time to time technical guidance and monitoring was done by the experts of the KVK.

4.      The project was also monitored centrally by a group of experts of NABARD.

Project achievements(qualitative): What were the final achievements of the project in numbers? Human and social impact:

Economics of Integrated Pig (fattening) cum fish farming

For 1 ha for 1 ha of pond area

Gross cost: 6,21,322.00

Gross return:

Selling of fish: (4,665 kg x Rs. 200.00) = 9,33,000.00

Selling of pig: (Avg. 102 kg x Rs. 170.00 x 23 pigs) = 3,98,820.00

Total return: 12,68,820.00

BCR: 2.04

Economics of Integrated Fish + Duck + Horti farming

For 1 ha of pond area

Gross cost: 7,96,670.00

Gross return:

Selling of fish: (4,890 kg x Rs. 200.00) = 9,78,000.00

Selling of duck and egg: 2,19,000.00

Selling of Tomato: (28q x Rs. 700.00) = 19,600.00

Selling of Chilli: (5.6q x Rs. 5,000.00) = 28,000.00

Selling of cauliflower: (14q x Rs. 800.00) = 11,200.00

Selling of Cabbage: (14.8q x Rs. 700.00) = 10,360.00

Selling of Carrot: (13.6q x Rs. 6,000.00) = 81,600.00

Total return: 13,47,760.00

BCR: 1.69

Integrated Fish cum Poultry cum Corn Farming

For 1 ha

Gross cost: 5,60,700.00

Gross return:

Selling of fish: (4,245 kg x Rs. 200.00) = 8,49, 000.00

Selling of poultry: 2,06,250.00

Selling of Corn: (10.4 q x Rs. 1300.00) = 50,700.00

Total return: 11,05,950.00

BCR: 1.97

Integrated Paddy cum Toria cum Apiculture

For 1 ha

Gross cost: 75,885.00

Gross return:

Selling of paddy : (48.8q x Rs. 2100.00) = 1,02,480.00

Selling of paddy straw = 4,000.00

Selling of toria: (7.2q x Rs. 6500.00) = 46,800.00

Selling of honey: (10 L x Rs. 400.00) = 4,000.00

Total return: 1,57,280.00

BCR: 2.07

Integrated Paddy cum Vegetable cum Mushroom cum Vermicompost

For 1 ha

Gross cost: 2,10,166.00

Gross return:

Selling of paddy : (46.5q x Rs. 2100.00) = 97,650.00

Selling of paddy straw = 4,200.00

Selling of vegetable: 1,50,700.00

Selling of Mushroom: (535 kg x Rs. 150.00) = 80,250.00

Selling of Vermicompost: (165q x Rs. 1200.00) = 1,98,000.00

Selling of Earth worm: (15 kg x Rs. 2,000.00)= 30,000.00

Total return: 4,25,800.00

BCR: 2.03

Project achievements(quantitative): Provide in actual numbers the difference the project has made in terms of increase in income, increase in production/capacity, assets/infrastructure created, improvements made in environment, differences in processes, etc.

Under the head of assets/ infrastructure created, KVK has developed the pond dyke of the demonstration units and constructed the houses for pig and birds as well as he shed for vermicompost units.

Under the Biotech Krishi Innovation Science Application Network project, a significant initiative has been undertaken in Udalguri district of Assam to uplift mushroom cultivation practices, promote value-added mushroom products, and facilitate spawn production for rural entrepreneurship and livelihood generation.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udalguri has implemented various activities such as skill development training and Front Line Demonstrations to promote mushroom cultivation among farmers. During the year 2022–23, a total of eight training programmes on mushroom production were conducted, benefiting 242 farmers across the district. Furthermore, ten demonstration units on mushroom production were established in villages like Bellapara, Jhargaon, Gohaikhati, Mazbat, Bajhajhar, Muwamari, and Balisiha. Additionally, ten demonstration programmes on mushroom value addition were conducted in different villages, encouraging farmers to explore diversified income avenues. An FPO focused on mushroom cultivation was also formed to support collective marketing and sustainability.

In the subsequent year 2024–25, the project continued with extended activities including spawn production, mass-scale training on value-added mushroom products, ground-level training for farmers, and clustering of farmers at the district level. This phase aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for mushroom growers. The project is sponsored by the Biotech-KISAN Hub, with a total fund allocation of ₹4 lakhs to support these efforts.

Objective: To strengthen mushroom spawn production facilities by providing financial assistance for meeting operational expenditures and ensuring the availability of essential inputs required for the production of quality mushroom spawn.

Achievement: Financial assistance was successfully facilitated for five (5) Mushroom Spawn Production Units, including the Mushroom Spawn Production Unit of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri, under the District Agricultural Development Initiative of the Project Director, DRDA, through the Department of Agriculture, Udalguri.

The financial support enabled the selected units to meet essential operational requirements, including the procurement of raw materials, chemicals, packaging materials, labour and other necessary inputs for mushroom spawn production. The initiative has contributed towards strengthening local mushroom spawn production capacity and promoting mushroom cultivation as a sustainable livelihood activity by facilitating the local availability and supply of quality mushroom spawn to farmers.

As part of the financial assistance, 50% of the approved project cost was released as advance assistance for implementation of the approved activities. The remaining 50% of the sanctioned amount will be released upon satisfactory completion of the activities, submission of the required supporting documents and verification by the competent authority.

It aims to promote an improved tomato variety developed by the ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, among farmers for higher and more stable production. Arka Abhed has multiple disease resistance against tomato leaf curl, bacterial wilt, early blight and late blight, which are major constraints to tomato cultivation in the region. Its adoption can help farmers reduce crop losses, lower dependence on chemical plant protection measures, and improve production stability. Demonstrations and farmer training can be conducted on nursery raising, transplanting, nutrient management, pest and disease management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. The popularization of this variety is expected to improve tomato productivity, reduce production risks, increase farmers' income, and encourage wider adoption of improved tomato varieties in Udalguri district.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri, promotes scientific beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood and income-generating activity among farmers and rural communities. Through training, demonstrations, and hands-on guidance, farmers are trained in modern beekeeping techniques, colony management, queen rearing, disease and pest management, honey harvesting, and hygienic processing.

The initiative aims to improve honey production and quality while creating additional employment and income opportunities for rural households. By adopting scientific beekeeping practices, farmers can diversify their sources of income, enhance pollination and crop productivity, and make better use of available natural resources. The programme also encourages value addition and collective marketing of honey and other bee products, thereby contributing to sustainable economic upliftment and rural development.

Mrs. Moni Deka, a 38-year-old widow from a village in Udalguri district of Assam, is a fine example of determination, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. After the untimely death of her husband, she became the sole earning member of her family of three, which includes her two young children. To make ends meet, she took on several roles, working as an Anganwadi worker and earning extra income from tailoring.

Resources Possessed On her 0.26 ha of land, Moni practises natural farming and grows vegetables such as potato, tomato, mustard greens and spinach, which fetch good prices in the local market. She also has 0.026 ha under arecanut, rears 50 poultry birds, and owns a sewing machine and a chaff cutter. These resources give her family food security and a steady income.

The Turning Point Moni's life changed in 2017-18, when she attended a training programme on oyster mushroom cultivation at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri. Convinced that the technology needed little investment yet gave good returns, she started growing mushrooms at home on a small scale. In 2023-24, she was selected for a demonstration on the production technology and value addition of oyster mushroom. This was facilitated by KVK Udalguri and supported by Bodoland University under the Biotech Kisan Hub project.

Technology and Innovation Moni does not let mushroom waste go to waste. She converts spent mushroom substrate into vermicompost in six vermibeds. She sells the compost locally and also uses it on her own fields, which cuts input costs and strengthens her natural farming practices.

Achievements Today Moni runs an integrated farm, cultivating 200 mushroom bags a year and harvesting 360 to 400 kg of fresh oyster mushroom. With funding support from Bodoland University, KVK Udalguri facilitated the formation of Dhansiri Valley Mushroom Producer Company, and Moni quickly emerged as its most active member.

Economic Impact (2024-25) In 2024-25, Moni earned a gross income of Rs 3,07,550 against a total expenditure of Rs 1,19,100, giving a net income of Rs 1,88,450. Mushroom was her leading enterprise. Fresh mushroom earned a net income of Rs 67,000 and value-added products Rs 40,000. Together, these brought in Rs 1,07,000, more than half of her total net income. Vegetables contributed Rs 42,000, arecanut Rs 24,300 and poultry Rs 15,150.

Factors Behind Her Success Several factors contributed to her success:

Future Plans Moni plans to scale up mushroom production, introduce more value-added products and promote Dhansiri Valley Mushroom Producer Company as a women-led collective.

Conclusion
Moni Deka's journey from a trainee in 2017 to a successful agri-entrepreneur shows how capacity building and continuous support from institutions like KVK Udalguri and Bodoland University can create sustainable livelihoods and empower rural women. Her story continues to inspire others and sow the seeds of prosperity in the villages of Assam.

Thematic Area: Livestock and Poultry (Animal Science)

Background Mrs. Baglari comes from a very poor family in Udalguri district of Assam. Since 2004, she had reared a few local chickens and ducks in the traditional way and worked as a wage labourer, but this was never enough to support her family. She chose livestock and poultry farming as her path to livelihood security and out of poverty.

Resources Possessed Mrs. Baglari has the following resources:

KVK Intervention Her turning point came in 2018, when she came in contact with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri and showed keen interest in poultry farming. Under the Tribal Sub-Plan programme, she took part in several trainings and demonstrations on Khaki Campbell duck, Kamrupa chicken and quail. KVK introduced Khaki Campbell ducks to her village for the first time. Her Self-Help Group received 40 ducklings, four for each member.

Technology Adoption and Growth Mrs. Baglari multiplied her flock remarkably through natural brooding with local hens. Her four ducks grew to 56 within two years, a fourteen-fold increase, while she continued to sell ducklings and eggs along the way. She raised her quail from 10 to 30 birds in the same way. Instead of selling chicken eggs, she hatches them naturally, rears the chicks for up to three months and sells them for meat. She was the first to successfully introduce scientific duck farming in her village, and she has since expanded into layer poultry and piggery.

Economic Impact Mrs. Baglari now earns about Rs 1,17,000 a year from poultry, close to Rs 9,800 a month. Each month her poultry income comes from:

Piggery adds Rs 92,000 a year from piglets and Rs 64,000 from castrated males.

Factors Behind Her Success Several factors contributed to her success:

Spreading the Technology Mrs. Baglari has become a role model, especially for women in her own and nearby villages. Together with KVK Udalguri, she has helped train more than 50 farm women. She supplies ducklings and chicks to three neighbouring villages and hatching eggs to Mr. Cias Damari of Dogormokha village, Udalguri. Through her, the technology has spread to 140 fellow farmers in the district.

Awards and Recognition

Conclusion
Mrs. Baglari now leads her family's livelihood and is a role model for her village and the district. She is now taking up mushroom cultivation and expanding piggery to raise her income further. Her journey shows how timely technical support from KVK, combined with hard work and a willingness to learn, can lift a rural woman and her family out of poverty.

Abstract Mr. Bhugeswar Rabha, a farmer from a rural village in Udalguri district of Assam, has become a successful organic farmer since receiving training from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri in 2023. With strong farming roots and continuous technical support from KVK, he set up two vermicompost units using cow dung, organic waste and crop residue. He now earns a net income of Rs 80,000 a year from the sale of vermicompost and earthworms. He has led village cleanliness drives under the Swachhta Action Plan and promotes waste-to-wealth management in his community. As Secretary of Nalkhamara Anchalik Krishi Goot, he aims to spread awareness of organic farming across the district, promoting vermicompost as an effective alternative to chemical fertilisers.

Keywords: waste, wealth, vermicompost, cow dung, organic farming

The Journey to Success In 2023, Mr. Rabha of Darringipara village, Nalkhamara, attended a training programme on vermicompost production organised by KVK Udalguri in his village. The people of Darringipara have a strong farming background. Through a series of KVK trainings and demonstrations on vermicompost production technology, many households now produce vermicompost at home in their bari as part of organic farming.

KVK Udalguri also held several awareness programmes in the village under the Swachhta Action Plan on the theme of converting waste to wealth. Organic waste collected while cleaning the village was turned into vermicompost, and Mr. Rabha led the village team in these drives.

From Waste to Wealth With guidance and support from KVK Udalguri, Mr. Rabha set up two vermicompost units on his farm and follows recommended practices. His feedstock comes from:

He harvests three batches of vermicompost every year and earns a net income of Rs 80,000 a year from vermicompost and earthworms alone.

Recognition and Leadership Mr. Rabha later joined Nalkhamara Anchalik Krishi Goot, a farmers' group formed by KVK Udalguri in 2017-18 under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) programme. The group is based in Nalkhamara, the district's vermi-village, next to Darringipara. His hard work and dedication earned him the post of Secretary of the group.

Future Plans Mr. Rabha's waste-to-wealth work is already well known in Darringipara and Nalkhamara, and he now aims to spread this awareness across the whole of Udalguri district. He believes organic farming will become popular among the district's farmers and help them keep chemical fertiliser use to a minimum. Biofertilisers and organic manure are not always easy to obtain in Udalguri, so he sees nutrient-rich vermicompost as a practical alternative. He also encourages fellow farmers to rear cows, which provide the cow dung needed for vermicompost production.

Conclusion
Mr. Bhugeswar Rabha's story shows how a simple technology, backed by timely training and support from KVK Udalguri, can turn waste into a steady source of income while keeping villages clean and soils healthy. He shows how one committed farmer can lead his community towards sustainable organic agriculture.

Abstract

This success story traces the inspiring journey of Mr. Chakan Boro, a landless farmer from Udalguri district of Assam who found prosperity in mushroom cultivation after repeated setbacks in traditional farming. Starting with very little money, he built a profitable mushroom unit in a small space at his home. Through perseverance, innovation and support from KVK Udalguri and other government institutions, he transformed his life and became well known in Udalguri and neighbouring districts. Today his determination and sustainable practices inspire aspiring farmers across the region.

Keywords: mushroom, KVK Udalguri, entrepreneurship, sustainable farming

The Beginning
Mr. Chakan Boro, a 51-year-old landless farmer of Balisiha village, Udalguri, learned that mushroom cultivation was an economical and practical option. Seeing its market potential, he began small-scale oyster mushroom cultivation in 2012. The returns were good and came quickly compared with other enterprises. In 2013, he and his wife set up Chakradhar Mushroom Industry, registered with the District Industries and Commerce Centre (DICC), Udalguri.

The Turning Point
In 2014, he attended a vocational training programme conducted by SBI RSETI in collaboration with KVK Udalguri, and from then on he received regular technical guidance from the KVK. He was one of the beneficiaries of KVK Udalguri's frontline demonstrations on oyster mushroom production technology, held at five locations in the district. The KVK also encouraged him to take part in district-level exhibitions.

He went on to receive further training at several institutions:

• Spawn production: at KVK Barpeta, arranged with the help of KVK Udalguri.
• Mushroom cultivation: at ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan (HP), and the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Khanapara, Assam.
• Organic farming: organised jointly by ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute, Sikkim and the Directorate of Agriculture, BTC, Kokrajhar.

Activities and Approach
Today his unit produces oyster (summer and winter), shiitake, milky and paddy straw mushrooms. Besides regular production, he sells innovative ready-to-fruit (RTF) mushroom beds. Under the Biotech Kisan Hub programme of Bodoland University, Kokrajhar, he produces fresh mushroom and value-added products. He also uses spent mushroom substrate to produce vermicompost.

He serves as a master trainer for mushroom growers in the district and is invited by various organisations as a resource person. He also sources mushroom spawn and supplies it to farmers.

Economic Impact
Mushroom farming has given Mr. Boro a steady and rewarding livelihood, with a net income of Rs 1,76,775 a year and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.81.

Impact on Fellow Farmers
Mr. Boro's success reaches well beyond his own farm, and more than 350 farmers have benefited from his training, spawn supply and guidance. He buys neighbouring growers' produce in bulk and sells it in distant markets, which solves a major marketing problem for small producers. His example has encouraged many farmers to take up mushroom-based enterprises, and several of them now run successful businesses of their own.

Recognition

• Farmer's fellowship from Biotech Kisan Hub, Bodoland University, Kokrajhar (2022).
• Progressive Farmer Award at the District Kisan Mela organised by KVK Udalguri.

Future Plans
Building on his spawn production training, Mr. Boro now plans to produce mushroom spawn himself, giving him and fellow growers a reliable local supply.

Conclusion
Mr. Chakan Boro's journey from a landless farmer to a recognised mushroom entrepreneur shows how determination, combined with sustained support from KVK Udalguri and other institutions, can create lasting livelihoods and inspire an entire community.

Mr. Charan Boro, a farmer from a rural village in Udalguri district of Assam, has become a successful integrated farmer with training and continuous technical support from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri. Under a NABARD-sponsored Integrated Farming System (IFS) project, he set up a poultry-fish-maize module on his farm. He now earns a net profit of Rs 3,20,000 a year from agriculture and allied activities. NABARD supported the project for two years, and he has continued it on his own since. Today he is a role model in his village and a successful rural entrepreneur in the Bhergaon sub-division of Udalguri district.

Introduction Most people in Udalguri district eat meat and fish, so demand for both is high. More than 32 per cent of the district's population belongs to Scheduled Tribes, and many families depend on animal husbandry for their livelihood. Yet local production of meat and fish falls well short of market demand. To help close this gap, KVK Udalguri, with collaboration and financial support from NABARD and Assam Agricultural University, launched a project on identifying and popularising feasible and profitable IFS modules for the district's different agro-ecological situations, aimed at doubling farmers' income.

KVK Intervention In 2020, Mr. Charan Boro of Kathalbari village, Bhergaon sub-division, came in contact with KVK Udalguri scientists and showed keen interest in integrated farming. He was already raising fish in two ponds covering 0.26 ha. KVK held trainings on his farm in 2020-21 and, after discussions with him, selected him for a poultry-fish-maize IFS module. The project started on his farm in 2022-23. He received fingerlings, a poultry house and 50 Vanaraja birds for egg production.

The Transformation Before KVK's intervention, Mr. Boro grew paddy and toria in a double-cropping sequence on 3.2 ha, reared pigs and goats, and raised fish. His rice varieties included Ranjit, Bahadur, Swarna, Maniram, Joha and Barni, and his toria varieties were Local and TS-38.

With KVK's guidance, he has turned these separate activities into a well-integrated farm. He now keeps:

Economic Impact His earnings by enterprise are as follows:

Altogether, Mr. Boro earns a net profit of Rs 3,20,000 a year from agriculture and allied activities.

Conclusion
Mr. Charan Boro's journey shows how a traditional farmer can raise his income substantially by combining poultry, fish, crops and livestock into one integrated system. He has kept the IFS module running on his own after project support ended, which proves it is practical and profitable. He is now a role model for farmers in Bhergaon and across Udalguri district. His farm shows how scientific guidance from KVK and timely support from NABARD can help double farmers' income.

Abstract Integrated farming systems that combine several farm enterprises have proved transformative for smallholder farmers. In Udalguri district of Assam, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), under Assam Agricultural University, introduced a three-tier model integrating fish, duck and horticulture. The system uses the synergy between aquaculture, duck rearing and dyke horticulture to make the best use of resources, recycle farm waste and generate income from several sources. It was demonstrated over three years (2017 to 2020) in four villages. The model clearly outperformed traditional fish monoculture in both productivity and profitability. With a net return of Rs 4.40 lakh per hectare and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.69, it has emerged as a sustainable and replicable model for strengthening rural livelihoods and farm resilience.

Introduction With shrinking landholdings and falling returns from conventional farming, integrated farming systems offer small and marginal farmers a promising alternative. The fish-duck-horticulture system works on the principle of resource recycling and biological synergy:

Abstract This is the story of Mr. Padamsha Daimary, a young beekeeper from Udalguri district, BTR, Assam. Awareness programmes, need-based training in scientific beekeeping, regular monitoring of his apiary by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri, and his own determination were the keys to his success. As a traditional beekeeper, he earned only Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 a year. Today his beekeeping enterprise brings him up to Rs 5,05,000 a year.

Keywords: honey bee, honey, bee colony, income, rural youth

Introduction Mr. Padamsha Daimary is a 27-year-old rural youth from a Scheduled Tribe community. He lives in Sijonguri village, No. 5 Dhansiri, Udalguri district, and was unemployed until 2018. Looking for a way to earn a living, he turned to beekeeping. Towards the end of 2018, he started with one colony of local bees reared the traditional way. Each colony gave only 4 to 5 kg of honey a year, barely enough for home use. He wanted to produce good-quality honey commercially but lacked scientific knowledge. At the end of 2018, he visited KVK Udalguri for guidance, hoping to become a commercial beekeeper and build a better life.

KVK Intervention KVK scientists discussed his problems, resources and available land with him. Subject experts then visited his area and drew up a plan covering site selection, placement of bee boxes and colony management. Following this plan, KVK carried out awareness programmes, training and demonstrations on beekeeping technology, and monitored his apiary regularly. Under this guidance, his apiary has become a model beekeeping enterprise in the area. He now rears two species, Apis cerana indica and Apis mellifera.

Innovation: Honey in the Bottle Mr. Daimary designed a honey box in which empty bottles replace the frames in the honey chamber. The bees build comb and store honey directly in the bottles, so no separate extraction is needed. Customers value this fresh comb honey for its quality.

Achievements As a traditional beekeeper with two colonies, Mr. Daimary earned only Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 a year. After setting up his apiary on scientific lines in 2019, his income rose sharply. Today he has 150 colonies producing 1.5 to 2 quintals of honey a year. His income comes from three sources:

Honey: Rs 1,20,000 to Rs 1,60,000 a year, sold at about Rs 800 per kg. Bee colonies: Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 2,25,000 a year, at about Rs 1,500 per colony. Bee boxes: Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,20,000 a year, at about Rs 2,000 per box.

Together, these bring in up to Rs 5,05,000 a year. He has reinvested his earnings in the farm and now owns a power tiller, an irrigation motor and small farm implements, and shares a tractor with his group.

Market Linkage Local customers strongly prefer raw honey, and he supplies the retail markets of Udalguri district and the wider BTR area. His bee colonies are also sold in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura, and buyers collect them directly from his home.

Champion Farmer and Master Trainer Mr. Daimary is now recognised as a champion farmer in beekeeping in Udalguri district, and many farmers follow his example. As a master trainer, he shares his knowledge so that others can also start apiaries on scientific lines.

Conclusion
Awareness creation, scientific training, regular monitoring and strong willpower together turned Mr. Padamsha Daimary from a traditional beekeeper with two colonies into a successful entrepreneur with 150 colonies. His story shows that scientific beekeeping can greatly raise the income of rural youth and farmers, even those with very little land.

Abstract
This is the story of Mr. Ramlal Mahato, a 33-year-old farmer of 1 No. Niz Garuajhar village, Udalguri district, Assam. He moved from traditional crop cultivation to mechanised, improved farming that integrates field crops, horticulture and livestock. This integration, along with his determination, hard work and careful planning, has raised his annual net income from Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 86,41,000. Of this, field crops contribute Rs 12,95,000, horticultural crops Rs 12,46,000 and animal components Rs 61,00,000. His farm also provides employment to more than 40 rural youths.

Keywords: integration, agriculture, horticulture, farm economics, employment

Introduction
Mr. Ramlal Mahato, who studied up to Class 10, was an unemployed youth in 2014. That year he grew bitter gourd and got a good harvest through hard work, which sparked his interest in farming. Today he farms 20 ha with improved machinery. He grows improved field and horticultural crops alongside a dairy unit of HF, Jersey and Sahiwal cows, a BV-380 poultry unit and fodder crops.

KVK Intervention
Keen to grow in agriculture, Mr. Mahato reached out to various departments in Udalguri district and was introduced to Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri in 2020. With complete technical guidance from KVK subject experts, he began cultivating improved crops:

• Field crops: toria, millet, wheat, sorghum and maize.
• Horticultural crops: apple, papaya, arecanut and coconut.

At the same time, he planted fodder grasses such as Hybrid Napier, Setaria and Congo signal to support a dairy unit, and later added poultry.

Economic Achievement
His net income now comes from:

• Dairy: the 40-cow unit is the main earner. It gives a net income of Rs 61 lakh from a gross return of Rs 1.89 crore against costs of Rs 1.28 crore.
• Field crops: millet on 8 ha earns Rs 6,00,000 and toria on 5.3 ha Rs 4,00,000. Maize and wheat on 2.67 ha each add Rs 1,50,000 and Rs 1,45,000.
• Horticulture: 2 ha of arecanut gives Rs 10,90,000. Seventy coconut trees add Rs 86,000 and 500 papaya plants Rs 70,000.

In all, animal components account for about 71 per cent of his net income, field crops 15 per cent and horticulture 14 per cent.

Several newer components are still being established and will add to his income in the coming years: 250 apple plants, 200 poultry birds, 40 bee colonies and fodder crops.

Innovative Practices

• Integrated land use: every part of the farm is put to use, and locally available materials serve as mulch.
• Solar power: a solar system reduces the farm's electricity consumption.
• Fertigation with dung and urine: cow dung and urine are mixed into irrigation water, which feeds crops organically and saves the labour of applying nutrients.

Impact on the Community
Mr. Mahato actively shares his experience with neighbouring villagers through awareness activities and by showing them his fields. Inspired by his results, more than 56 farmers now grow toria and maize. More than 34 farm families have followed his guidance and raised their incomes through different farming systems. His farm also employs more than 40 rural youths.

Conclusion
Mr. Ramlal Mahato's journey from an unemployed youth to one of the most successful farmers in Udalguri district shows the power of integrating crops, horticulture and livestock on one farm. With scientific guidance from KVK Udalguri, determination, hard work and careful planning, farmers can earn far more from their available resources. They can also create jobs and inspire others in their community.

Thematic area: Handloom | Village: Nalkhamara, Udalguri district, Assam

Abstract
Handloom weaving is a way of life across rural and urban Assam and an important source of extra income for many households. In Nalkhamara village of Udalguri district, 15 skilled women weavers came together as the Rampar Self Help Group. Limited resources and the lack of a marketing channel held them back, so they sought help from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Udalguri. KVK conducted a demonstration on capacity building, supplied inputs, guided them on modern marketing and helped them obtain the Handloom Mark. With this support, the group raised its net return by about 166 per cent, from Rs 5.23 lakh in 2019-20 to Rs 13.89 lakh in 2023-24.

Background
The handloom sector plays a vital role in providing employment to rural women in Assam, mainly using natural fibres such as cotton, silk and jute. In the remote areas of Udalguri district, where Bodo and Rabha communities live, women hold rich traditional knowledge and skill in weaving.

Nalkhamara, a village of 214 households, is known for its skilled weavers. Fifteen of its most talented weavers formed the Rampar Self Help Group, but they faced serious difficulties:

• Limited resources: they had little capital and few inputs to expand production.
• No marketing support: without a fair-price outlet, their profit margins were very thin.
• Power loom competition: cheap power loom products flooded the market in peak seasons and pushed down demand and prices for handloom goods.

KVK Intervention
In 2020-21, KVK Udalguri conducted a demonstration on capacity building of women weavers through production and marketing of handloom products such as gamosa. The aims were to standardise products, improve marketability and raise the weavers' income. All 15 members took part enthusiastically in the trainings and demonstrations. The intervention included:

• Skill training: weaving, dyeing and design, with emphasis on quality control and standardisation.
• Input support: supply of different types of natural yarn.
• Market guidance: modern marketing, current market trends and customer demand.
• Handloom Mark: help in obtaining the Handloom Mark label, awarded to products that meet quality and authenticity standards. The label assures buyers of genuine traditional craftsmanship and opened the door to wider markets. It also gave the weavers new confidence and pride in their work.

Economic Impact
Before the intervention, in 2019-20, the group earned a gross return of Rs 14.79 lakh against a cost of Rs 9.56 lakh, giving a net return of Rs 5.23 lakh. By 2023-24, the gross return had grown to Rs 35.56 lakh against a cost of Rs 21.67 lakh. The net return rose to Rs 13.89 lakh, an increase of about 166 per cent, and the benefit-cost ratio improved from 1.54 to 1.64. Better product quality, higher productivity, less time and effort per piece and wider market reach all contributed to this growth.

Diversified Products
With KVK's support, the group has mastered standardised production and now experiments with new designs that keep traditional motifs alive. They make 20 types of products in both Assamese and Rabha designs. These range from gamosa (Rs 175 to Rs 2,000), mekhela chadar (Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,200) and Eri shawls (Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000) to cotton sarees, Rabha dhotis, bed sheets, dining mats, handbags, aprons with Rabha or Bodo motifs and handkerchiefs.

Sustainable Practices
The group uses natural fabrics and dyes made from locally available resources. This makes the fabric last longer, protects the environment, and gives the weavers pride in making products that are eco-friendly and socially responsible.

Conclusion
The story of the Rampar Self Help Group shows the resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the women weavers of Assam. By preserving traditional craftsmanship while adopting modern techniques and market practices, they have carved out a place for themselves in a competitive market. Their success shows the great potential of the handloom sector for empowering women and developing rural communities. Continued support from government, NGOs and other stakeholders through credit, market linkages and skill development will be vital to keep this heritage alive and help many more women prosper.

Abstract

This is a success story of a woman agripreneur, Ms. Kabita Borah (58) who primarily deals with handloom and handcrafted products. Ms Borah was born in Purani Tangla village of Udalguri District of Assam. Kabita Borah is a classic example of successful rural woman handloom artisan and entrepreneur. The example demonstrates Kabita Borah's self-assurance, dedication and willpower in establishing herself as a prosperous rural woman entrepreneur. Kabita Borah has been able to successfully run her small scale business through group support and cooperation from her fellow weavers. She received quality training, credit and marketing facilities from different financial and governmental organizations. Despite all efforts, the limited market access and high input cost are found to be the major obstacles in this case. However, she weaved success through incorporating innovation and tradition in her products. Her net income for is approximately 3,60.000 per annum. Besides these, she has contributed towards the development of the society and empowers women weavers in her community. She is in close contact with organizations and institutes like KVK, NABARD and Handloom and Textile. She also received various prestigious awards and recognition.

Introduction

The country has experienced tremendous commercial and economic growth as a result of the rise in the number of women entrepreneurs. By creating jobs, influencing demographic changes, and motivating the subsequent generation of female founders, women-owned businesses are playing a significant role in society. Since the dawn of time, the women of Assam's rural communities have been enterprising. However, when starting their own businesses, women entrepreneurs in rural regions confront a variety of obstacles. Despite the obstacles, women entrepreneurs have begun the inevitable path of entrepreneurship in their various sectors in rural areas in an effort to create profitable and sustainable enterprise. Through initiatives including inspiration, awareness campaigns, training, and support, it has been discovered that rural women entrepreneurs are continuously growing within the State. Usually, women have entered industries including beauty and wellness, clothing, fashion, handicrafts that too without any formal training or a firm business structure. But in the present, even the State's female entrepreneurs have forayed into less-trodden areas of entrepreneurship, despite a variety of socio-cultural, economic, technological, financial, and management difficulties. Village and women are the souls of Assam, and by practicing women entrepreneurship, the socio economic culture of Assam can be highly boosted up (Hazarika, 2020).

Ms Kabita Borah, a 58-year-old woman entrepreneur, resides in Purani Tangla village of Udalguri District along with her family. She is one of the active weavers of the district. Hailing from farming background, Ms. Borah has been involved in farming and had been learning to weave from a very young age. She is a simple, dedicated, hard working and invincible woman.  Although she is belonging from a wealthy family, she had a desire to be an independent woman and earn an income of her own, was planning to engage herself in an income-generating activity. She had some knowledge on weaving, value addition of fruits and vegetables. She always liked cooking and used to help neighbours in cooking rice based pancakes, dumblings, fritter etc. in the occasions like wedding, birthday etc. With this knowledge she began her journey. She used to sell products like pickle, assamese pitha and handloom traditional wear etc. But this was not enough for her. At the very young age she decided to stay single and wants to do something not only for herself but also for the women in her locality with receptive and positive thinking. She wished to empower the hardworking and entrepreneurial farm women of her village, the most of whom were uneducated and unemployed.

Beginning of the journey and turning points

In 2003, she came in contact with an Agriculture Officer when she faced initial impediments and discussed about option in agriculture. She has formed a Self Help Group named Rodali Self Help Group of 15 unmarried women. Ms Borah possesses 0.026 ha of land and initially they started rice cultivation in the land which was not remunerative for them. During lean period, due to lack of off farm job opportunities, they started to make bamboo mat (Dhaari) realizing its market potential. They also involved in work of preparing mud wall in the bamboo hut on contract basis. With this, they gained confidence owing to higher return from all the activities. Consequently, in January, 2004 they opened bank account and started to deposit their income. Every SHG members are contributing their best for the improvement and growth of their small scale business under the leadership of Ms. Kabita Borah.

Activities and approaches

In December, 2004, they underwent a training programme on “Cane and bamboo products” conducted by ROSS NGO, Tangla where they learned about various products making out of cane and bamboo and enhance their technical skill. In 2007, she along with the SHG members attended a 13 days long training programme on weaving organized by NABARD under MEDP at Puroni Tangla. She successfully utilized the knowledge and skill acquired during the training to increase her farm income and become a model agripreneur for others to imitate. On behalf of Rodali SHG, Ms Borah attended a 14 days training of trainers on Book and record keeping in the same year organized my NABARD at Mahila Shakti Kendra, Balipara. Thenceforward, she is invited by different organizations to act as a resource person in training programmes. Later on that year, the SHG was registered for a rural mart supported by NABARD for three years to market their products. The members of the group exhibited their products for which they had been given the opportunity to create marketing avenues. After seven years of operation, they had to close the rural mart owing to certain personal issues. However, they had accumulated a wealth of knowledge that helped them to tailor their product range and marketing approaches to suit their business. In 2008, Ms. Borah formed Satbhoni Federation registerd under Housefed. There are total 100 SHGs in the federation. Under the federation, she used to conduct trainings on various aspects like income generating activities, women entrepreneurship, SHG cash book and accounts maintenance etc. and provided certificate to the participants at their own expenses. In July, 2010, Ms Borah attended three days training programme on mobilizing rural poor in Gram Sabha organized by SIRD, Saraighat, Guwahati. In December 2010, Ms Borah along with few members of the federation attended three days workshop organized by NABARD at Kolkata where they learned tant saree, dhoti making etc and they were very interested to adopt these technologies. However, the price of yarn in Assam is too high when compared to West Bengal, and they were unable to make arrangements to obtain the looms needed to make tant sarees and dhotis because they are different from those found in Assam. Due to the fact that making these products would not be financially viable for their business, they were compelled to abandon the concept. In the year 2012, her SHG members started providing free coaching classes to the children of their locality who discontinued their studies due to poverty and lack of proper guidance. They also provided materials like pen, pencil, notebooks etc. to the students of their coaching class. They continued this for three consecutive years. Later, when enrollment grew, they were unable to handle it and were forced to cancel classes.

In the year 2015-16, she first came in to contact with the scientists of KVK Udalguri. The KVK experts suggested her to diversify her products to improve their marketing to ensure more profits.  In 2016-17, a Front Line Demonstration was conducted on Product diversification of handloom products under community Science, KVK Udalguri. Under the programme, the products developed are bamboo dinning mat, Boro design mekhela chadar, fabric bag and purse, boro motif Waist coat etc. Under Kshamata programme, a demonstration was conducted on solar tent dryer to produce dry fish hygienically using sun heat. She also invited as a resource person by KVK Udalguri for the training programme on Capacity Building of women weaver’s group through production and marketing of handloom products at Nalkhamara and Jhargaon village and preparation of low cost handcraft products at Teliapara village of Udalguri District. She taught about the process in preparing handloom products like standard size, quality of yarn, colour and marketing, preparation of paper craft, woolen doll etc.  KVK Udalguri imparted training to the SHG members on processing and marketing of fruits and vegetables and mushroom production technology.

Ms Borah and her SHG got various opportunities to take part in displaying their products in the various events viz, Bhoirabkunda Tourism Mela, Udalguri, International Trade Exhibition, Tezpur, Mahalaxmi Saras Mela, Mumbai, Special Handloom Expo, Tangla, Regional Saras Mela, Guwahati, Sualkuchi Bastra Mela, Sualikuchi, Kisan Mela organized by KVK Udalguri and many more as a market linkage. She had a wide selection of goods on display, including food items like pickles, different kinds of pitha and laddus, rice flour, jam, jelly, squash, and dry fish, as well as handicrafts like woolen dolls, cane bags, cloth purses, bamboo mats, and handloom products like mekhela chadar, bath towels, gamosas, aprons, cotton sarees, waist coats, and Eri shawls. Her idea is to employ all of the knowledge and skills that she has obtained rather than confined to just one product. Her special diversified and unique products are mercerized cotton saree, bamboo dinning mat, handmade apron, baby napkin and standardized gamosa, cotton bedsheet.

Organization and individuals significantly contributing to the journey

With the support and interventions provided by NABARD, AGVB, different NGOs, Handloom and Textile department, Udalguri and KVK Udalguri, the Rodali Self Help Group has seen considerable advancements in their handloom profession. They have acquired the technique of producing standardized handloom products, experimenting with unique designs while incorporating traditional motifs. This expressive liberty has allowed them to diversify their product range and meet the changing needs of their clients.

Significant achievements and future plan

At present, Ms Borah selling their products in bulk to whole seller in Guwahati, Handloom and Textile department, Udalguri and local market under the banner of Rodali SHG. They also take order for wedding, bihu and festive season. For the SHG running by Ms Borah, this endeavor serves as a valuable source of revenue. Weavers are paid Rs. 175-200 for a Gamosha (Bihuwan), Rs. 700 -800 per apron, Rs 1200-1500per mekhela chadar set, Rs. 1200 per 7 piece bamboo dinning mat set and Rs 30-40 for a handkerchief, cotton saree at the rate Rs. 500-2000, baby napkin set of 6 at Rs. 200. Individual weavers earned Rs. 15000-30000 a month and during peak season like bihu, puja or wedding season, a weaver earned anything between Rs.40000.00-45000.00 monthly. The annual turnover of the Self Help Group now ranges between Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs. After meeting out all the expenses, she individually earning an annual net income of Rs. 3,60,000/- from handloom and cane & bamboo products.

Currently, the SHG members under the leadership of Ms Kabita Borah are quite happy on their initiative as their source of income. With the profit her group made from their small investment she plans to expand this activity by doubling the production and widen her market outreach. Her long-term goal is to export traditional handicrafts and handloom products to different parts of the nation and the world. Her dream is to strengthening the rural women weavers become self reliant and provide a good market linkage. She has been working relentlessly to realize her dream of having her own modern weaving facilities and empower and mobilize more rural weavers.

Challenges faced during her journey

There are occasionally no orders at all and at times there are usually large ones. Due to competition from low-quality products, some products may fail to command a fair market price. Due to steep rise in cotton yarn price they are unable to make more profit margins from their products. Poor marketing and insufficient market linkage results in missed opportunities and afflict from earning more revenue. Above all, the major challenges she faced during her quest was her health issues. She underwent surgery two times for some chronic illness. Despite having health problems, she has overcome them and now she is a successful entrepreneur due to her dedication, determination and hardworking nature.

Awards and Recognition

Ms. Kabita Borah is the recipient of the following awards and recognition:

i.                    Received 2^nd best and 1^st best stall Prizes for two consecutive years in the Handcraft competition organized by Maitreyee Sangha, Tangla, Udalguri in the year 2004 and 2005 respectively.

ii.                  In 2007, she has been conferred upon a National Award by Former Chief Minister of Assam Honourable Tarun Gogoi organized by NABARD for her outstanding performance of her SHG Mahalaxmi Saras Mela, Mumbai in the year 2007. 

iii.                Honored by Assam Gramin Vikas Bank, Bhergaon on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2011 for outstanding contribution of her Federation towards growth and development of SHG Federation in the state of Assam.

iv.                Felicitated by NABARD, Guwahati on the occasion of International Women’s Day, 2010 for doing commendable work on handloom sector.

v.                  She was awarded with Tarabari Maothi Award by Mr. Bonjar Daimary, Ex-EM, for her idealistic and inspiring contribution to the downtrodden society during 2^nd Tarabari Village Rangali Bwisagw Celebration in the year 2012.

vi.                In the year 2019, she was received award by Former MP, Mr Ramen Deka, Mangaldoi LAC for her active and outstanding performance in the Kisan Mela organized by KVK Udalguri.

vii.              She was honored as a successful woman agripreneur in the International Women’s Day observed on 8^th March 2021 organized by KVK Udalguri.

viii.            Ms Borah is recognized as a progressive Farm woman & Master Trainer for farmers in the district & women are following her steps.

Being an innovative and progressive woman farmer, she is also a woman farmer member of Scientific Advisory Committee of KVK Udalguri since 2015-16

Ecological Impact

                   The act of handloom weaving is an environmentally friendly process. Except for the machinery used to spin the yarn, no energy is needed. The majority of looms are set up in the home of the weavers and most of them inherited from their ancestors, so there are no constructions or shipping expenditures involved.

Her SHG undertake the sustainable practices by using natural fabric and dyes. They have secured the fabric's endurance by using locally accessible resources, which also helps to preserve the ecosystem. The weavers take great satisfaction in their capacity to produce handloom goods that are socially and environmentally conscious.

Socio Economic Impact and spread of technologies

                   Today, she is recognized as a successful woman weaver from Udalguri district. Weavers of the locality who are new to this field are learning from her and improving their livelihood.She shared the knowledge and skill gain through during her journey with her fellow women weavers.The success of Ms Borah has motivated the villagers to come forward and become self dependent. The SHG currently has 13 members only as two of them were got married and moved to another village with their families. She bought them looms to run their families smoothly at her own expense. She used to reward to motivate those women with useful household items who contributed and helped them in making pitha, laddu etc. to showcased their items in exhibitions. In addition, she assisted more than 200 weavers including her federation in registering for the Swanirbhar Naari scheme's Sipini card (Weaver's Card), which will help them grow their businesses and access funding.Ms Borah has also mobilized farm women to form organizations and is the Secretary of Satbhoni Federation and Rodali SHG. Her SHG receives a large number of orders. Each member of the organization receives equal amount of the revenue from these orders, which is a fair return. She also contributed some of the award money she had received from different organizations to their village's development fund. She helped 150 nos. of Self Help Groups for opening bank accounts in Assam Gramin Vikas Bank for which she was acknowledged by the bank.

Conclusion

The story demonstrates that rural women entrepreneurs require help in order to build their own brands and give their products identities. The rural women entrepreneurs should be given support in the form of strong market linkages from which they may receive consistent orders, regular skill development training sessions, demonstrations, opportunity to visit more trade shows, etc. The government representatives should visit them on a regular basis to monitor the impact of the various programs and schemes and to explain how to apply for and take advantage of them.It is important to find dynamic women in rural areas and trained them properly so they may inspire other women in their communities to start their own businesses.

ABAD Agro Producer Company Limited Bhergaon has been registered as a FPC on 10^th January 2017 under Ministry of Cooperate Affairs, Govt. of India. Before formation of this company some youth of Bhergaon Sub- division has working on production of organic vegetables, spices, rice etc. under the banner of “Daobaiary Organic Growers Society”. Four Promoters and six Directors Came forward along with a lady Board member to form a farmer Producer Company after learning the scope of FPC and subsequently the company was incorporated. Presently the company has 200 ha cultivated area. With the objective to produce organic foods they have started following activities:

Ø  Production of organic spice particularly turmeric

Ø  Organic cultivation of High value vegetable crops

Ø  Special Rice such as Black and red rice and their value added products of black rice like pitha, ladu, sanda guri etc.

KVK Interventions

KVK Scientists were invited for delivering scientific knowledge among farmers of the society starting from 4^th Oct 2016. KVK scientist advised them to register under FPC.  Later the young youths of the district registered as members and increase the membership to 500 farmers and accordingly on 3^rd February 2017 they have been registered as a FPC. KVK is closely associated in promotion of the activities and providing technology backstopping in scientific manner from time to time. The KVK had uplifted 2 progressive farmers to focus and encourage the other farmers to adopt their technological and economic achievements. The KVK movement stated in the fields of high value crops along with other remunerative crops like Cauliflower, Broccoli, French bean, turmeric, strawberry etc. the technical interventions were also made towards vermicompost production, quality seed and seedling production etc. The FPC cultivated Black Rice in 1.5 ha, Joha rice in 6.6 ha and Turmeric in 6.6 ha. During 2020-21, KVK Udalguri conducted following demonstrations with the FPC under various programmes.

·         Different field demonstrations like cultivation of Potato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Capsicum, Chilly, Broccoli, Brinjal, Tomato, Lentil in an area of 5 ha under NEH programme

·         Demonstration on Toria var. TS-67 and Mustard var. NRCHB-101 in an area of 9 ha under CFLD programme.

·         Demonstration on organic cultivation Turmeric in an area of 1 ha was under PKVY programme. Apart of the this, FPC also cultivated Turmeric in an area of 6.5 ha in

·         Front Line Demonstration on Popularization of Strawberry cultivation under drip irrigation system in an area of 0.5 ha

Output, outcome and Impact

The FPC has been playing the role of negotiator between the producer and the wholeseller of the key business points. After KVK intervention, the size and quality of the vegetables are superior to what was earlier produced. From the 2.6 ha of area under vegetables they are able to produced 697.52 ha of vegetables with net income of Rs. 586530.50. in 2020-21. From turmeric the FPC earned Rs. 1250000.00 and by selling Strawberry they were able to get net return of Rs. 600000.00. and from the other crops they earned net income of around Rs. 300000.00. the technologies provided by the KVK is capable for increasing the productivity, profitability and nutritional security as well as socio economic scenario of the area. Presently 90 % farmers of the FPC have became active members and return from the farm produces have been stabilized or more than double within short period span of time.

The key economic of the endeavour during 2020-21 are

Introduction

            Most of the people of Udalguri district is non vegetarian having high demand of meat & fish production. The district also comes more than 30% of ST population and mainly dependent on animal sector for earning their livelihood. There is a huge demand for pig rearing. Similarly there is a high demand for good quality piglets available in the district itself. Taking this into consideration pig farming as commercial enterprise for self employment as well as piglets production is very important and gaining popularity in the district. Mr. Ripu Daimari, from Dogormokha district Udalguri is one of such youth who has not only engaged himself in this sector but also promote other unemployed youth & fellow  farmers to work in this sector.

History and KVK Intervention

In the year 2018, Mr. Ripu Daimari first came into contact with the scientists of KVK Udalguri (under Tribal Sub Plan) and shows interest in Pig farming and he had constructed a pig sty with five pens. KVK, Udalguri conducted training, OFT and FLD in his farm for 2018-19 and 2019-2020 sessions. Different interventions carried out in his farms are demonstrations of Quail birds, Kamrupa chicken and pig variety HDK 75. Till now he received an amount of Rs. 3000.00 from selling of eggs and male birds from Kamrupa chicken and Rs. 4300.00 from quail birds and eggs. 

Before intervention of KVK he had been engaged in Rubber garden plantation with 2.13 ha land area after completion of 45 days training programme at Guwahati just after completion of graduation in 2012. Till today he had attended 5 training programme. He is also involved in tea gardening of 0.6 ha. His rice field area is 3.2 ha with different varieties of rice crop as Ranjit, Bahadur, Swarna, Maniram, Joha, and Barni

Current Scenario

Presently he has 6 (six) nos. of improved pig breed crossbred Hampshire and HDK75 includes 4 piglet and one boar and one castrated male pig. He also reared local varities of pig of 4 nos. under constant guidance of KVK now he is also involved in Goat farming with beetal goat of 4 buck with 9 local doe with 7 nos of cross kidlings. He is also involved in rearing Rabbit breed of New Zealand white poultry farming of Kamrupa birds, Pati duck, local chicken and quail bird farming. Now he has 14 nos of kamrupa birds, 27 nos of pati duck, 23nos of quail bird and 46 nos of local chicken. He and his family also involved in Rubber garden plantation of 2.13 ha, Tea garden of 0.6ha and rice cultivation of 3.2 ha

Support and guidance received from other departments: trainings from Rubber Board

Output & Outcome

            Mr. Daimari annual net profit from pig is 34000.00. His beetal bucks involved in three times service per week, from selling of kids and wether goat he earned Rs. 14000.00 per year. From poultry sector he earned an avg amount of Rs. 11000.00 per year. Rubber garden and tea garden production provides him Rs. 45000.00 and Rs. 36000.00 per year respectively along with cereal crops  income of Rs. 80000.00 per year. His total yearly net profit is Rs. 220000.00 from agriculture and allied sectors.

Impact of the Technology

            He is the role model for the youth in Udalguri who involved in different activities for livelihood rather than unemployed he is going to become an entrepreneur. Now the nearby youths of his village and nearby villagers come to his farm and adopt the technology of scientific pig farming and rearing of birds.

During 2025–26, KVK Udalguri successfully implemented Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) on oilseeds under NMOOP, covering 80 ha and 200 farmers during Kharif and Rabi seasons. Toria  var. TS 38, recorded an average yield of 7.2 q/ha, net return of ₹17,350/ha, and a BC ratio of 2.04, with 125 of 175 farmers fully adopting the recommended practices. Sesamum var. Champawati recorded 6.5 q/ha, a net return of ₹56,440/ha, and a BC ratio of 2.19, with 19 of 25 farmers adopting the recommended practices. The demonstrations enhanced farmers’ confidence and encouraged neighbouring farmers to adopt improved oilseed production technologies.

During 2024–25, KVK Udalguri implemented the Oilseed Model Village Programme under NMEO-OS at Chabukdhara village, covering 200 ha and 500 farmers with crop Toria var. TS 38. The programme recorded an average yield of 7.8 q/ha and a BC ratio of 1.90, demonstrating the economic viability of improved oilseed production technologies.

Under the Assam State Bamboo Mission, block and boundary plantation of bamboo was undertaken over an area of 12 hectares, covering members of the FPOs formed under KVK Udalguri, using Bambusa balcooa and Bambusa tulda. The initiative promoted sustainable bamboo cultivation, productive utilization of farm boundaries, diversification of farmers’ income, and development of bamboo-based livelihood opportunities and enterprises.

KVK Udalguri conducted demonstrations of toria (var. TS 38) under the Promotion of Rapeseed and Mustard programme in the rice-fallow cropping system, covering 78 ha and 81 farmers in Khoirabari and Balipara villages during Rabi 2025–26 under the ICAR-IIRMR-NEH Project. The demonstration recorded an average yield of 7.9 q/ha, a net return of ₹26,012/ha, and a BC ratio of 2.03, demonstrating the economic potential of the technology.

As a new initiative during 2025–26, KVK Udalguri implemented the Groundnut Area & Production Expansion Programme in the NEH Region under IIGR, Junagadh, covering an area of 10 ha with 25 farmers using the variety K-1812. The programme recorded a BC ratio of 2.42, indicating good economic potential for groundnut cultivation in the region.