Minister Vijay Shah inaugurated the Integrated Farming Cluster.

CNN Central News and Network – ITDC India ePress / ITDC News Bhopal: Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah inaugurated the Integrated Farming Cluster project worth ₹1 crore 36 lakh in Village Roshania of Khalwa development block in Khandwa district. Minister Dr. Shah said that with the objective of realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of “Lakhpati Didi,” an Integrated Farming Cluster is being developed in the tribal-dominated Khalwa block’s Roshania village at a cost of ₹1 crore 36 lakh. Here, women from self-help groups will be able to earn income through activities such as fish farming, horticulture, and animal husbandry, and become economically self-reliant.

Minister Dr. Shah said that the state government has launched several schemes for the economic upliftment of the tribal community, which has improved their standard of living. He informed that a Community Art Building-cum-Training Centre will be constructed in Roshania village at a cost of ₹19 crore 78 lakh. This building will also include fully equipped 50-bed women’s and 50-bed men’s hostels. The centre will provide cultural preservation and employment-oriented training to tribal youth. Tribal rural communities will be trained in folk singing, musical instruments, tribal folk dances, traditional painting, and other folk arts. A transit hostel for 50 artist trainers of various disciplines will also be constructed in this building.

Roshania becoming a model of rural development

Minister Dr. Shah said that more than 150 women associated with the Integrated Farming Cluster will be provided training in fish farming, animal husbandry, plantation, and other activities so they can successfully carry out these livelihoods. He added that cow dung and cow urine from the existing Gaushala in Roshania are being used for organic farming and nutrition gardens. Expanding this model further, an Aqua Park, fruit orchard garden, and selfie point for tourism attraction have been developed. The project is completely eco-friendly and based on a zero-waste model. Nutrient-rich water from fish tanks will be used as organic fertilizer for vegetables and fruits, while ducks will help produce natural feed elements for fish. This will reduce production costs and enable chemical-free production.

Minister Dr. Shah also said that a phased modern system for fish farming has been developed in the Aqua Park, which includes 14 biofloc tanks, a reverse aqua system, large biofloc ponds, and 120 modern cages installed in the backwaters of Aawaliya Dam. Fish seeds will first be reared in biofloc tanks at the initial stage and then gradually transferred to larger systems and cage culture as they grow. The fish produced by women groups will be supplied to Khandwa as well as other districts of the state and even outside states. A Fish Farmer Producer Organization will be formed to ensure organized markets and better prices for women.

He further said that in a 50-acre area, 160 tribal women from 16 self-help groups will engage in fish farming, duck rearing, and fruit and vegetable production, thereby increasing their income and becoming economically self-reliant.