From Wild Animal Attacks to Safe Farming | Keonjhar Farmer’s Kheyti Net House Success

Описание: Meet Bansidhar Mahanta from Nalabila village, Ghatagaon block, Keonjhar (Odisha) a farmer living near conserved forests where most families depend on agriculture.
For years, farming in his region was extremely difficult due to severe water scarcity, with no dams, canals, or irrigation facilities. Farmers could grow crops only during the rainy season, and even then, wild animals like elephants, wild pigs, and bears frequently destroyed open-field crops.
Through the APC project, a PG group was formed in his village, and his wife first learned about Kheyti’s protected cultivation model. After understanding the benefits, their family decided to set up a 240 sq. meter Kheyti Net House.
In just two years, Bansidhar has successfully grown six crops inside the net house:
Cucumber, Radish, Cowpea, Coriander, Amaranthus, Cauliflower (current crop)
With protected cultivation, he has earned more than ₹1.5 lakh (excluding the learning and experience gained).
The biggest advantage has been protection and reliability:
No crop damage from wild animals or insects
Drip irrigation and mulching helps manage farming even with minimal water
Off-season and year-round cultivation becomes possible
Net house crops stayed safe even during a hailstorm and heavy winds that destroyed nearby open-field crops
With the income earned, Bansidhar has also built three biofloc tanks, and his children are now studying outside. He credits Kheyti’s FSA team for regular guidance on crop practices, fertilizer and pesticide application, and even improving open-field farming.
Inspired by his success, 12 more farmers from the area have adopted Kheyti net houses.
Watch this powerful story to see how protected cultivation can help farmers fight climate shocks, water scarcity, and crop losses—while building a stronger future.
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