Muni Madkami, a 23-year-old from the Koya tribal village of Kurti in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, has been honoured by the state government as a Krushi Mitra, or farmer’s friend, for working tirelessly and selflessly to educate her community about organic farming and transforming families across villages into self-reliant agropreneurs. Her work is even more commendable because Malkangiri is grappling with scanty rainfall, forcing widespread migration of rural residents to urban centres for work. Muni shares her journey in her own words.
Growing up in a rain-scarce district like Malkangiri, I witnessed first-hand our heavy dependence on rice farming. Traditional methods and frequent animal incursions into our fields led to huge losses. Many families, including my neighbours and the men in my family, were forced to leave the village in search of work in other states, sometimes as far away as Andhra Pradesh. I wanted to change this, but I didn’t know how.
Everything began to change when I learnt about a new project launched by the Odisha government in collaboration with the Swaminathan Foundation in 2022-23. They were providing free rabi seeds (grown during the winter months from October to March) and farming equipment to improve productivity and livelihoods in our region.
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I was excited about this initiative and saw it as an opportunity to make a difference. I quickly got involved and started learning modern farming techniques. I discovered the importance of legumes like moong and urad, which not only enhance soil fertility but also offer a new source of income.
I also learned methods to protect our crops from pests, how to properly fence our fields to prevent animal damage, and how to make organic compost.
Communication with the Koya farmers was a major challenge. Luckily, my ability to speak both Odia and our local dialect made me a crucial link between the farmers and the project team from the agriculture department, helping me to become a Krushi Mitra.
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Despite having only completed Class 8 in school, I used my skills and passion to help bridge the gap, making it easier for the team to share knowledge and resources with us. I took on the responsibility of teaching modern farming methods to my fellow villagers via community baithaks (meetings).
Also, we organised a five-day training on natural farming in which I encouraged them to grow moong on a 30-acre parcel. The results were so promising that more farmers started cultivating moong and urad on an additional 50 acres this year.
I also urged them to grow maize, groundnuts, and vegetables to diversify their income. I always stress the importance of keeping enough produce for personal use before selling the surplus.
Now, whenever I visit a village, I’m touched by the appreciation and encouragement I receive from the residents. Their respect and support inspire me to continue my work.
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My dream is to pursue a higher education so that I can learn more and contribute even more to my community. I hope that one day we can all stay together in our village, support ourselves from our land, celebrate our festivals like we used to, and live happily.
I’m dedicated to working for my people for as long as I can. I now work closely with the state government, traveling to all the villages in the Podia block to assess the farmers’ needs and relay their challenges to officers and scientists. I also help educate them about various government-run farming projects.
Last year, I was honoured to be recognised as a Krushi Mitra by the Odisha Livelihood Mission for my efforts and guidance. I am determined to continue my work, and I hope to see our community thrive and become self-sufficient.
Also Read: Fish on The Menu: A tale of reverse migration, malnutrition and tribals of Odisha
Photos taken by Chandrasekhar Sahu.
Devashish Biswal is a graduate of English journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. He has an eye for stories with the potential to grab people’s attention.