Nagpur: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a grant of Rs 3.28 crore for an integrated farming project in tribal-dominated Gadchiroli district, built around the Bodi — a traditional small pond maintained on farmland by tribal households for rainwater storage and protective irrigation of paddy crops during dry spells. The project has a total outlay of Rs 4.35 crore. NABARD will contribute Rs 3.28 crore under its Tribal Development Fund, beneficiaries will contribute Rs 72.80 lakh, and the remaining Rs 34.55 lakh will come from other sources. The project will be implemented in the Gota cluster of Dhanora taluka through Watershed Organisation Trust. A total of 475 tribal families across 15 villages will benefit directly. Beyond Bodi-based irrigation, the project covers sustainable farming practices, water and soil conservation, multi-crop agriculture, horticulture development, animal husbandry, and supplementary occupations aimed at raising household incomes. Bodis also serve as a source of fish culture for tribal families, making them a foundation for diversified farm-based livelihoods. Officials said the project is part of cm of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis’s focus on expanding agriculture and livelihood opportunities in tribal areas. Gadchiroli, long identified as remote and Left Wing Extremism-affected, has more than 75 per cent of its geographical area under forest cover. The district’s tribal population has historically depended on subsistence agriculture and forest produce, both of which face increasing pressure from erratic rainfall and land degradation.The state government has expressed its intention to build a sustainable agriculture-based economy in the district by moving tribal farmers away from paddy mono-cropping toward diversified and climate-resilient farming systems. The project is expected to raise annual household incomes, promote climate-resilient farming, conserve natural resources, encourage active participation of women and self-help groups, and generate employment at the local level. The coordination between the state government, NABARD, and the implementing agency is aimed at bringing long-term livelihood security to tribal families in the region.
