Social Action for Rural Development (SARDA) Gondia

                   WADI Development Program, Salkesa, Gondia

Livelihood of Farmers promoted by WADI: Goverdhan Madawi

Goverdhan Madawi is a resident of Bharritola village of Salkesa Block of Gondia. He is very famous in the Block. Everybody talks about him as he has promoted his livelihood through WADI.

Bharritola lies 12 km interior from Salkesa Block. The village lies at the Border of Maharashtra State and surrounded by forest. Goverdhan Madawi was a poor farmer of the village. He owns 2.5 acre of land out of which 1 acre was fallow and the rest 1.5 acre is near to forest area. All the 5 family members of Goverdhan use to feed themselves from the paddy cultivation of this 1.5 acre. Because of complete dependency on rain for irrigation, the productivity becomes poor some times and hence Goverdhan use to migrate to work as labour.

During the intervention of WADI Project in the area, SARDA came to know about Goverdhan. He attended the meeting conducted by SARDA team regarding WADI Promotion in the village in the year 2011. After proper mobilization, Goverdhan filled and submitted the Consent Letter for WADI Promotion on 1 acre of fallow land. He got trainings on pit digging and pit filling and other earthen works from SARDA Team. He along with his family actively participated in the WADI Promotion. 70 fruit bearing plants are planted in July 2012 in his wadi. He has taken good care of all the trainings and suggestions provided to him regarding plantation and fencing. He also promoted Thala (a ring shaped earthen structure around plants to conserve soil) around his plants. He also promoted Mandap System for vegetable cultivation in his WADI.

Presently, he earned Rs 3,600/- from selling of vegetables only in the current season. He is also using vegetables in his diet which is providing nutritional value to the food of his family. He has tasted the success and is now promoting vegetable cultivation in larger plot of land. All the 70 fruit bearing plants in his WADI are safe and growing well.

His story is well told among the villagers. Impressed by his grooming condition, 41 acres of WADI is promoted in the village on fallow land.