OIL Jeevika celebrates contribution of farmers at Jeevika Harvest Festival

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 9, 2025

Under its flagship CSR initiative, OIL Jeevika, Oil India Limited (OIL) organized the Jeevika Harvest Festival at Na Motapung Gaon, Tinsukia on Wednesday. The event was a celebration of the bountiful harvest reaped by the dedicated farmers from 14 villages and 861 households of Hapjan and Guijan Development Blocks of Tinsukia district under the OIL Jeevika project, implemented by Oil India Rural Development Society (OIRDS).

The event was graced by Bhairab Bhuyan, president, OIRDS and Executive Director, Engg. Services, ShriDebashis Bora, Vice- president, OIRDS and Chief General Manager (FA), along with other senior officials of OIL and OIRDS.

As part of its diversified livelihood interventions, OIL Jeevika- Assam supports the farm-based clusters of tea, spices (turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and king chili), citrus (kajinemu and oranges) in 217.56 ha of cultivable land and non- farm based clusters like bamboo and agarbatti and vermicompost production.

The first-of-its-kind event under the CSR project featured a vibrant display of crops harvested under the OIL Jeevika project, including spices like turmeric, ginger, black pepper, king chili, citrus fruits like kajinemu and oranges and also local Agarbattimade by women from SHG of the Agarbatti unit supported under this project. The event served as a platform for recognizing the socio-economic empowerment brought about by the initiative, which has successfully blended modern agricultural techniques with traditional farming practices while also promoting the thrust on production and marketing.

With the theme ‘Sowing Hope, Reaping Thanks’, the Jeevika Harvest Festival highlighted the tireless efforts of farmers and their significant contributions to the success of the Jeevika-Assam project.  It served as an occasion to showcase the positive outcomes of the initiatives taken under OIL Jeevika, such as the formation of producer groups, establishment of demonstration plots, and adoption of integrated nutrient management practices.

The farmers shared their success stories and expressed their appreciation for the holistic support provided by OIL. Through OIL Jeevika, OIL aspires to increase household incomes, enhance farming skills, revive traditional industries, and create institutional linkages for long-term growth in rural areas.