Rangalata, a 45-year-old farmer, hails from Janheiposi village in Chakundapal Gram Panchayat, Patna block, Keonjhar district. Her family consists of her husband, Baikunth Mahanta, and their two daughters. The family depends primarily on farming, cultivating paddy, moong dal, black gram, and various vegetables throughout the year. The income generated from farming supports their household expenses and funds the education of their daughters. They take up work under the Job Card scheme whenever available. Rangalata has embraced organic farming practices to enhance sustainability. She had the opportunity to participate in Women Farmer Training organized by PECUC, which became a turning point in her agricultural journey. Inspired by the training, she decided to explore millet cultivation. She was supported with millet seeds, which she planted on 50 decimals of land. She successfully harvested 45 kilograms of millet.
Rangalata now incorporated millet into her family’s diet, preparing nutritious breakfasts such as millet pitha, roti, and kheer, significantly enhancing their nutritional intake. Encouraged by this success, she plans to expand millet cultivation on more land in the next year.