Utkal Alumina’s ‘UANAT Project’ In Rayagada, Odisha, Focuses On Sustainable Farming And Elevating Income Levels.
Bhubaneswar: Utkal Alumina International Ltd (UAIL), a company under the Aditya Birla Group, is significantly impacting lives by elevating income levels through innovative agricultural practices. The Utkal’s Action for Agricultural Transformation (UANAT) project, based in Rengansahil village, Kashipur block of Rayagada, emphasizes zero-based budgeting on cultivable land. This initiative, a collaboration with Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundations (BRLF) and the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), stands out as a flagship livelihood project within Utkal Alumina’s diverse Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavors.
Mr. Mazhar Beig, the Unit Head of UAIL, describes UANAT as a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of farmers. The goal is ambitious: to double the income of 15,000 small and marginal households in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi and Kashipur, Odisha, within a four-year timeline.
The project introduces sustainable farming practices by promoting the use of Organic Pesticide and Manure to counter the environmental impact of chemical pesticides. Under UANAT, women farmers receive training in creating natural pesticides using Vermicompost (Organic Manure), Jibamrut (Natural Pesticide), and Nimastra (Natural Pesticide) derived from abundant resources like cow dung, cow urine, neem leaves, and jaggery.
The impact of UANAT is tangible, with 185 women farmers from five villages already trained, influencing others through demonstration plots. Presently, 1,560 households practice organic farming across 1,192.5 acres in 73 villages in Odisha. Additionally, 282 units of Vermicompost beds have been established, and the project is poised to expand its reach to cover more villages.
Mr. Beig emphasizes that UANAT is not just a pathway to environmental conservation but also a means to improve the health and income levels of farming communities. The cost of cultivation is reduced by 30%, and the shelf life of farm produce is extended by a day, providing economic benefits to farmers.
The success of UANAT has garnered recognition from block and district level officials. Mr. Kishore Karkaria, Block Programme Manager of the Odisha Livelihood Mission, commends the efforts, noting the positive impact on rural women’s organization and environmental conservation.
Mr. Biswajit Patnaik, Assistant Horticulture Officer in Kashipur, hails UANAT as a foundation for sustainable agriculture. Utkal Alumina’s CSR initiatives, conducted under the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, have a significant reach, impacting a population of 210,100 in 232 villages, all under the guidance of Mrs. Rajashreeji Birla.
