We are proud to share that Prema, a resident of the Sollepura Voluntary Relocation Centre, H. D. Kote, has been honoured by yet another award given to farmers! Vijaya Karnataka, a leading Kannada daily, recently chose her as a ‘VK Super Star Raitha 2021’ (which translates to ‘super star farmer’).
Here’s a small video that sums up Prema’s journey into farming.
Watch video
Following is the English translation of the same:
'Prema, a resident of the Sollepura Voluntary Relocation Centre, H. D. Koté, does not hail from a family that was into agriculture. She has been trained by organisations to become a successful farmer today. Dwelling inside a forest before, Prema and her family hardly ventured out into towns and cities. But following the regulations of the government, they moved out of Here Haadi in the Nagarahole National Park in 2007 and arrived in the Sollepura Relocation Centre. They were given a house and three-acre land by the government.
During this time, Wildlife Conservation Society-India (WCS-India)’s H. L. Govindappa ensured to support her by offering training in farming. He would take Prema, along with other farmers, to agriculture fairs and farmer gatherings to acquire as much information about farming as possible. Inspired by all this, Prema and her family have been farming for the past 12 years. In their land, they grow ragi and other millets, and in an acre-and-a-half, they have grown 1,200 banana trees. They are also, for the past two years, growing beans in the playhouse, made possible by the Department of Tribal Welfare. To grow banana, Prema has adopted the drip irrigation system, and rely on farm ponds/pits (Krishi Honda) for water. Lemon, guava, drumsticks are also a part of her land, which is edged by 60 silver oaks. The family is also into beekeeping and own three cows, and supply milk daily to the dairy. They also have hens, goats and sheep in their farm.'