<p>The economic transformation in Chakulia and Bahragora blocks over six years has been fascinating. Many like Nityanand Gope, Ganesh Gope and Chunnu Mahto, who held BPL cards, now own four-wheelers. These villagers who struggled to make two ends meet earlier have now become prosperous cashew cultivators. This became possible after the Jharkhand government launched National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in the Maoist-affected blocks, Chakulia and Bahragora, in 2006 which transformed 15,000 acres of wasteland into cashew cultivation through scientific methods of farming.</p> <p>Gope, who held a BPL card, is now the owner of 600 cashew plants in Kolbadia village. He has bought a second-hand SUV to make hios running around easier. "I bought the SUV this year since I need to go to the market very often now," said 45-year-old Gope, beaming with confidence. "I ask all the unemployed youth to grow cashew. In this area, no work can pay as handsomely as cashew production can," he added.</p> <p>Most of the cashew growers have two-wheelers now and need not toil the whole day. The situation was unimaginable even a decade ago. However, the transformation has not been easy. Bahragora and Chakulia blocks have mostly rocky land and the soil is lateritic. "This soil is not fit for any crop. It is however, suitable for cashew," said Niraj Kumar, an agriculturist.</p> <p>Cashew plantation was done through scientific methods, vermicompost and other fertilizers were used for better productivity. The place is just 30km away from Digha, the seaside resort town in West Bengal, and its aerial proximity to the sea also helped, said Kumar. The initial response was not encouraging as many families were opposed to the idea. In 2006-07, only 502 farmers converted their wasteland into cultivable. Now in 2011-12, over 3,144 farmers are growing cashew in the district.</p> <p>Farmers, for the first time in 2009-10, saw reaped the result of the exemplary move. The produce that financial year was 140 tons of cashew that increased to 200 tons in 2011-12. The huge production has attracted traders from neighbouring states, like West Bengal and Odisha. "The prices have shot up due to competition. Now I pay ` 100 for each kg of raw cashew," said Abhijit Ganguly, a trader from Jhargram in West Bengal.</p> <p>Now villagers plan for their children's future. Chunnu Mahto of Katasmara village in Bahragora, earns ` 60,000-70,000 a year. "I earn enough not only to sustain my family but also I can afford higher education for my children," smiled Mahto. Ganesh Gope of Kolbadia village has bought a new bike for ` 50,000. "It was my dream to take my wife to city on a bike. It is now fulfilled," said Gope, who owns a patch of cashew plantation in Chakulia block.</p> <p>Nandlal Mardi of Kadamdiha village in Bahragora is planning to start a grocery shop. "There is no grocery shop in the village. Everyone has to walk 5km to buy groceries," said Mardi.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) is already trying to tap its commercial viability. Debdoot Mohanty, head (rural services) of TSRDS, said, "We are trying to market the produce better. If marketed well, the cashew plantation would make villagers more affluent." This year TSRDS, implementing agency of NHM projects in the district, would constitute a committee of villagers to market cashew.</p> <p>The state government has replicated the cashew plantation model in other districts as well. Now a total of eight districts - Seraikela, East and West Singhbhum, Pakur, Godda, Dumka, Deoghar and Jamtara - grow cashew. Prabhakar Singh, state mission director of NHM, said the state is ranked among top 10 cashew producing states in the countries. "In 2006-07, only 450 hectares of land was used to grow cashew in the state. Today, a total of 13,155 hectare is used to grow cashew," said Singh.</p> <p> </p>