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Maa Thota brings cheer in tribals lives
Gandlapenta and Nambulapukunta mandals inhabited by Sugali tribe men spread over in 11 habitations near Kadiri were once deserted villages, but have now become prosperous, thanks to the efforts of government agencies including National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), District Water Management Agency(DWAMA) and Foundation for Ecological Security (FES).
Nambulapukunta (Anantapur): Gandlapenta and Nambulapukunta mandals inhabited by Sugali tribe men spread over in 11 habitations near Kadiri were once deserted villages, but have now become prosperous, thanks to the efforts of government agencies including National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), District Water Management Agency(DWAMA) and Foundation for Ecological Security (FES).
In a span of four years, the life of Sugali tribes experienced a sea change. Land development had been taken up by the above agencies and the fallow lands had been transformed into useful lands. The tribals raised mango and sapotilla plantations. A drive through the above mandals and Sugali tribal hamlets gives a picture of prosperity with thriving mango and sapotilla plantations .
Project dubbed as "Maa Thota" by NABARD had invested Rs.1.73 crores and Rs 98 lakhs were invested under MGNREGS. NABARD makes the investments during the seven-year period from 2012-13 to 2019. Though it was a NABARD initiated project, the partnership of DWAMA and the implementing agency FES , an NGO made the project an astounding success.
As many as 11 villages have nearly 40,000 mango plants (4 year old) spread over in 542 acres which are yielding Saptas and Manges for 2 years. The Lakshminarasimha Block of Mangroves are spread over in 16 acres in Somalagudi village and they are yielding different mango varieties Benisha, Totapuri, Khader, Mallika, Punasa and Lalbadar. In addition, Sapota, Indian black berry (jamun) and Amla are also grown.
NABARD Assistant General Manager Ravindra Prasad said to 'The Hans India' at the project site that he is happy at the way the project transformed the lives of the poor Sugali community. The 561 tribal families owning just one acre of land each are engaged in raising mango orchards apart from Sapota plantations. The project aims to build assets for the beneficiaries on permanent basis.
The project 'Maa Thota' has enabled farmers in every block having 6-10 farmers to share water from a commonly developed water source by the project authorities. The regional team leader of FES, P K Prabhakar interacting with the 'The Hans India' says that farmers are being guided to go for inter-cropping raising tomatoes, sun flower and even groundnut crops for earning additional income for their families. Krishna Naik of P M Thanda says that a MACS society has also been established by NABARD with the involvement of stake holders.
