Mail News Service
Saraikela, Feb 12: A humble farmer dedicated toi farming and animal husbandry, Best Citizen and Best Farmer Awardee Rajesh Kumar Sahu is a much loved and respected model farmer who has created a pleasing, cool and effective rural ambience in the heart of Saraikela Township. Spread across 6.5 acres of land in Indratandi in Saraikela, Rajesh Kumar Sahu rears goats and cows of different breeds, has a duck farm and rears fish apart from the usual farming. Indeed the farm has all ingredients of being a hi tech model.
Feeding stray cattle and providing them with food are indeed good deeds and show human compassion as cows are referred to as mothers and service to these bovines begets heavenly blessings. But all these occasional deeds amidst man’s busy schedule seem ordinary when one finds these cows being bathed twice daily with artificial rain, provided fans and coolers and given fodder containing glucose, protein and added calories for optimum care. This is indeed special.
Rajesh Sahu, in a ruminated, “I was and still remain an ordinary farmer but I have always tried to do something innovative so that the vistas of income and reliance through farming spread through to other families especially those in the economic bottom rung. In 1997, my mother, late Jamwanti Devi who was very religious, asked me to serve cows. I started off with three cows and today my cattle shed boasts of 55 cows of various breeds and I get 350 liters of milk every day.”
His farm showcases an array of livestock starting from guinea pigs and includes assorted breeds of goats, poultry birds, ducks and in a developed pond, fishes. He has a round-the-year coconut trees, other fruit trees, rice and wheat crops and vegetable farm. Cultivation is done in a scientific and updated method to get high yields. Members of 65 families maintain the entire activities of this Indratandi model farm of Rajesh Kumar Sahu who is referred to as Bhaiya or elder brother. “There is no owner-worker here. We are one, big family, sharing common wellbeing. The produce of the farm pays for their hearths and homes of all of us,” clarified Sahu.
He pays particular attention to the upkeep of cows. “The 365 liters of milk are sold on the spot to local people. My only intention is to provide them pure and healthy milk. The income generated from the sale of milk is invested back in maintenance of the cows. The costs also include payments to the people who serve these mothers (cows).”
Another novel concept of Rajesh Kumar Sahu is he has opened a bank in the farm and all income accruing from farm sales go into the bank. This is later distributed equally among all the farm hands. He observed, “My intention is very clear. It is service oriented in the sense that cows are provided best possible comfort and care as also service to mankind.”
He is a member of the Narayan Seva Sansthan of Jaipur where he contributes regularly. “The Sansthan cares for the poor by providing medical assistance and financial help to families for their daughters’ weddings.”
During the period 2011-’12, Rajesh Kumar Sahu was honoured by the then Jharkhand Choief Minister Arjun Munda for his efforts towards ensuring the highest quality milk production. The district administration gave him the recognition of ‘Best Farmer’ in 2014 and ‘Best Citizen’ Award in 2018.
Amidst all the honour, glory, love and affection, the man behind hi tech farming in Indratandi, Rajesh Kumar Sahu ensures the fragrance of the good earth even in the busy, city milieu of Saraikela Township.
