Not deterred by losing their jobs amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, a few youths in Assam’s Bajali district have taken up farming as a means of livelihood.
Unable to find employment despite being educated, these youngsters have now found hope in farming.
These youths hail from Pathsala, Patacharkuchi, Muguriya, Nityananda and Tihu.
They have joined farming under the initiative of Dhruba Jyoti Dutta, a resident of Patacharkuchi.
Different vegetables like cabbage, potato, radish, tomato, sponge gourd, mustard seeds, etc. are being produced on their agricultural farms.
Dutta said, “We have created a WhatsApp group to connect with youths from various places of Bajali.”
“Instead of losing hope after the loss of their jobs, many educated youths took up farming,” he said.
So far, they have cultivated 30 bighas of land.
Dutta said that if unemployed youths take up farming, the state’s agricultural sector will become as strong as Punjab’s.
Tridip Kalita, who has done his masters in philosophy, said, “I have learned something new after taking up farming, which gives me immense joy.”
Tridip had lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dimpol Nath, a computer engineer said, “Cultivation offers me an opportunity to live in a pollution-free environment.”
Nath too had lost his job in a private company during the pandemic-induced lockdown.
Kumud Kalita, a graduate, said, “I want to become a farmer because farming requires low capital investment.”
Kumud said that also farming enables him to serve society by offering people healthy and nutritious farm products.