Kanker District Initiative
Rural residents moving towards prosperity through vegetable gardens, nutrition gardens, poultry farming, forest produce collection, and fish farming.
Raipur, April 12, 2026 / Vegetable gardens, nutrition gardens, poultry farming, forest produce collection, and fish farming are becoming the main pillars of prosperity, health, and economic independence in rural India. These activities not only provide families with fresh and nutritious vegetables and protein but also serve as a source of additional income. The “Didi Ke Bakhri” work related to integrated agriculture for enhancing women’s livelihoods is becoming an inspiration for other women, motivating them to improve their living standards and increase income.
In the North Bastar Kanker district, various efforts are being made at all levels to enhance women’s livelihoods under the “Bihan” scheme. A significant number of women in the district are engaged in income-generating activities to improve their standard of living. To double their income, they are undertaking livelihood activities alongside integrated agriculture, including commercially cultivating vegetables and greens in their home gardens (Bakhri/Badi) and selling them in the market to increase their income, along with fish farming, poultry farming, goat rearing, and forest produce collection. This integrated agriculture is being implemented in four development blocks of the district – Narharpur, Kanker, Bhanupratappur, and Charama, with four villages selected from each cluster. The objective of the scheme is to make women farmers economically self-reliant, thereby increasing their average monthly income to twenty to twenty-five thousand rupees.
Under the guidance of the Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Panchayat, North Bastar Kanker, this scheme is being smoothly implemented in the district. This scheme is operated under the name “Didi Ke Bakhri.” A total of 3364 women farmers, including 1200 in Narharpur block, 790 in Kanker, 734 in Charama, and 640 in Bhanupratappur, are engaged in activities such as vegetable gardening, nutrition gardening, poultry farming, forest produce collection, and fish farming. The target for the financial year 2026-27 is to onboard 10,780 women, with efforts to increase their income through necessary support. Livelihood service centers are also being established at all cluster levels, which will be operated by the women themselves. Through these centers, they will be provided with essential seeds, agricultural equipment, fertilizers, etc., for conducting these activities. The Zila Panchayat CEO recently met with women farmers from Narharpur, Charama, Bhanupratappur, and Kanker to gather information about their ongoing work.
Visiting the remote villages of Ravvas and Banspattar in Narharpur block, the CEO expressed satisfaction upon seeing the grafted vegetables and poultry farming activities undertaken by woman farmer Surekha Netam in her Bakhri. Surekha stated that green leafy vegetables, tubers, and fruits help overcome anemia (iron deficiency) and provide essential nutrients to children and mothers.
The work of woman farmer Namika Yadav from village Thema in forest produce collection, poultry, and fish farming was highly appreciated. She explained that rural and tribal communities increase their income by collecting and selling forest produce like Mahua, Tamarind, honey, lac, and various medicinal herbs.
Motin Darro, a woman farmer from village Hatkarra in Bhanupratappur block, explained that combining poultry farming with fish farming (Poultry-cum-Fish) utilizes chicken droppings as fish feed, reducing feed costs and increasing profits. Her goat rearing, fish farming, and sunflower cultivation activities were also praised. The Chief Executive Officer inquired about livelihood ponds from Jamuna Korram, a woman farmer from village Dhaneli, and discussed with a woman from Katholi, gathering information about her average monthly income and encouraging her in her work.
