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  • Story

·

4 min read

From Empty Land to Full Harvest: Neha’s Orchard Story

Katkona Village, Khadgawan Block, MCB District, Chhattisgarh
Orchard Development
Intercropping
Neha Jaiswal harvesting peas intercropped between her young mango saplings.

For years, Neha Jaiswal’s one acre near her house in Katkona village stayed mostly empty. “Earlier, my income was low and the land stayed empty,” she says. “Now, with mango cultivation and pea farming, my income has increased.”

  • The Challenge

Neha is a small farmer supporting a family of four. Agriculture centred on seasonal maize and small vegetable crops that mostly went toward household consumption rather than income. Despite having her own farm pond, most of the water went unused through the year for lack of exposure to better farming practices. The family’s combined annual income stood at just ₹36,000.

  • The Turning Point

In June 2025, Neha attended a village meeting organised by SRIJAN under the High Impact Mega Watershed Project 2.0. Her interest in improving her income got her selected for orchard development. In July, her 0.30 decimal plot was planted with 40 Amrapali mango saplings at 5×5 metre spacing, with an initial investment of ₹2,500. She was trained in pit preparation, plant care, irrigation, and intercropping, and in November 2025 began growing peas between the young mango trees.

  • The Change

Pea harvesting began at the end of January 2026. Over ten cycles of sale through the local haat bazaar and market, Neha earned enough to nearly double her family’s annual income after covering input costs. Beyond the income, the initiative improved land use through the year and boosted her confidence.

Outcomes at a glance
Orchard planted
40 Amrapali mango saplings
Initial investment
₹2,500
Income
nearly doubled family’s annual earnings
Intercrop
peas sold over 10 market cycles
Plot size
0.30 decimal, 5×5m spacing
“Now, with mango cultivation and pea farming, my income has increased and my family’s condition has improved.”
– Neha Jaiswal
  • Looking Ahead

Neha now plans to expand into diversified vegetable cultivation, building on the momentum from her orchard and pea harvests.

More stories from the field

Read how communities across the tribal belt are building new livelihoods.

See all stories
  • Story

·

4 min read

Fallow No More: Aghanmoti’s Rabi Harvest

Aghanmoti Rathia’s one acre used to lie fallow every Rabi season. This year it grew groundnut, sunflower, greens, and gourd.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Loss to Livelihood: Bimla’s Goat Enterprise

Bimla Rathia had given up goat rearing after disease wiped out her herd. Training and support rebuilt it into her family’s most reliable income.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Paddy to Profit: Ram Pyari’s Watermelon Story

Ram Pyari once earned about ₹23,040 a year growing paddy. Within one watermelon season, she nearly matched that in profit alone.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

Fallow No More: Aghanmoti’s Rabi Harvest

Aghanmoti Rathia’s one acre used to lie fallow every Rabi season. This year it grew groundnut, sunflower, greens, and gourd.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Loss to Livelihood: Bimla’s Goat Enterprise

Bimla Rathia had given up goat rearing after disease wiped out her herd. Training and support rebuilt it into her family’s most reliable income.

Read the story
  • Story

·

4 min read

From Paddy to Profit: Ram Pyari’s Watermelon Story

Ram Pyari once earned about ₹23,040 a year growing paddy. Within one watermelon season, she nearly matched that in profit alone.

Read the story
See all stories