NALBARI, Dec 20 - During the recent lockdown, a progressive woman farmer named Padmabati Boro of Chengnoi village in Nalbari district seemed to have become helpless as she failed to prepare her land for sowing sesame as tractors or power tillers were not available during that period. Finding no other alternative, Padmabati prepared a 2.5 katha plot of land by singlehandedly tilling the soil with a hoe and subsequently sowed sesame seeds on the land.
As the days progressed and she tended the fields regularly, today she expects to reap a bountiful harvest, all by the sweat of her brow. A tribal woman, Padmabati stands out as a role model for other farmers as well as the women community. She not only cultivates sesame, but mustard, potato and vegetables as well. She also has a small farm with dairy, piggery and poultry. A self-dependent woman, Boro has been leading her family comfortably.
Additionally, Padmabati has all along been extending overall support to her two daughters, namely Uruna Devi Boro and Priyanka Boro, who have since completed their graduation. As her husband is bed-ridden, hence she has been maintaining the family with great dexterity, besides looking after the agricultural farm and livestock.
She admitted that her husband had extended all kinds of help in the agricultural field when he was well.
Significantly, the success of this tribal woman in the farm sector has in the meantime inspired several other women to emulate her example. A good number of women in the district have today come forward for agricultural and entrepreneurship development.
In a trail-blazing achievement, if it may be termed so, Padmabati Boro secured the second best farmer award in 2018-19 at the national level. By dint of her perseverance and back-breaking toil, Padmabati Boro of remote Chengnoi village brought laurels to the district with her agricultural activities.
It may be mentioned here that Nalbari KVK had taken initiative to bring the woman farmer to the limelight by providing her financial assistance under the Central Government�s scheduled tribe sub-plan. Accordingly, scientists of the KVK extended all possible technical support and necessary training to uplift her. When this Correspondent visited her agricultural field on Monday, she was gleefully harvesting sesame, besides planting potato in another isolated field. She admittedly purchased seeds and fertilizer with the amount she received under the Prime Minister�s PM Kisan Scheme.
