MANGALDAI, Dec 14 - The month of Aghun, has a special significance for the farmers and agro-based rural economy of the State as dreams of the poor and marginal farmers are realised in this month. During this month, farmers are busy harvesting their crops in their paddy fields.
However, a paddy field at Udmari village owned by one Guna Deka, bordering Darrang and Udalguri, is an exception. Unlike all other paddy fields where harvesting has been done by the experienced farmers, here one will find sounds of laughter of a few young boys and girls who are busy reaping their golden crops.
These youths in colourful uniform are the students of Class XI of JNV, Darrang, who were in tears while experiencing the joy of harvesting the paddy crops, saplings were planted by them a few months back.
It may be mentioned here that with an attempt to make the students feel and realise the hard labour that a farmer puts in during the time of cultivation and the joy of accomplishment after harvesting their crops, the principal of JNV Darrang encouraged a group of Class XI students to jump into a paddy field to learn the essentials of cultivation.
Giving a break to the traditional classroom learning methods, the group of students also got a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in farming and learn the skills involved in paddy cultivation.
�I can�t just express the joy we experienced spending hours amid the crops ready for harvesting and breathing the air mixed with the smell of ripe paddy, the saplings of which we had planted with our own hands,� said an excited Pranjal Deka , one of the students of the group.
Moreover, the group of students were overwhelmed as each of them earned the blessings of the land owner octogenarian farmer Guna Deka at the end of each day�s work. �I am very much hopeful that the way the students are working hard in the paddy field would definitely help them to realise the hard work a farmer puts in to achieve the desired goal, which is a very good sign for the future of the State,� Deka said.
Principal of JNV, Darrang, P Rajesh, who along with KK Talukdar (PGT Economics) guided the students, said that the main objective of such activity under the Eco Club concept is to enlighten the students to feel and realise the hard labour of a farmer.
�Let the younger generation feel how a farmer toils in the field through this type of practical experience. Moreover, as the students are harvesting the crops, they will also understand the value of food that they consume. Our main motto is to connect the students with the farmers as the farmers are the backbone of Indian economy,� the principal said.
This unique initiative of the JNV authority has drawn much appreciation from the local farmers.
