Featured Story – Page 96 – Village Square

September 25, 2017

Gouranga Kuila’s pavilion art for a puja in Kolkata (Photo by Gouranga Kuila)

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Bengal’s farmers are behind Kolkata’s stunning Durga Puja pandals

Designing and building the temporary pavilions that house the deity during West Bengal’s biggest annual festival remains the preserve of rural artisans — chiefly farmers and folk artists — despite an increasing presence of professionals from creative arts in this field

September 22, 2017

Dongria women at a seed festival. (Photo by Susanta Dalai)

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Niyamgiri tribe revive wild harvests after Vedanta victory

Judicious use of wild uncultivated foods and revival of indigenous crops are helping the Dongria Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri to boost food security beyond their successful campaign against mining giant Vedanta

September 20, 2017

Gopalji Trivedi (right), former vice-chancellor of Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University at Pusa, convinced farmers in Mutlupur to use a barren wetland for agricultural purposes. (Photo by Mohd Imran Khan)

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Mutlupur farmers transform neglected wetland into integrated farm

A group of farmers have converted a shunned wetland to practice fish farming, agroforestry and horticulture, providing employment and livelihood opportunities to impoverished villagers

September 18, 2017

The flooding led to a watery grave for the crops. (Photo by Rajiv Palit)

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Poor flood planning is destroying livelihoods in south Bengal

Breach of riverbanks after torrential rains and water released from overflowing reservoirs flood southern portions of West Bengal, leading to loss of livelihoods and complete disruption of life