During the year, the Jamadoba unit of TSRDS conducted a study to formulate a long term agricultural plan under which in the next five years it will develop all agriculture land in the leasehold villages so as to cultivate three crops a year. The Company will create infrastructure such as Lift Irrigation Projects (using waste mine water for irrigation), check dams and irrigation drains under the long-term plan.
Activities aimed at agriculture development include providing farmers with good quality seeds and fertilisers, as well as, necessary technical knowhow by engaging scientists from reputed agriculture institutes.
- Improving crop yield: Farmers have been trained on the SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method of paddy cultivation and are encouraged to adopt it on a section of their land to compare its benefits against traditional methods of cultivation used by them.
- Promoting second and third crops: By utilising existing additional irrigation infrastructure and creating new facilities Tata Steel enables farmers to raise cropping intensity by increasing areas under second and third crops.
- Wasteland Development: To enhance the land area under cultivation the Company brings Wasteland under horticulture crops in partnership with National Horticulture Mission.
- Enhancing Irrigation Facilities: To further increase agricultural productivity, the Company created more than 100 irrigation structures including lift irrigation facilities, creation/renovation of ponds etc.