OREANDA-NEWS. The Tata Power team handing over a bag full of fingerlings to farmers Lonavla, Pune: Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, in another attempt towards community service in and around its areas of operation has supported 40 farmers from nine villages of Bhivpuri by distributing fingerlings under its Samridhi initiative at Maval.

Under this sustainable agriculture programme, the farmers are encouraged to take on allied farm activities like fish farming which helps them earn an additional income. The main objective of this programme is to promote suitable technology and on-farm activities which in turn improves the farmer's livelihood and earnings.

The Tata Power team from Maval organised the programme in which 40 farmers were provided with 1,000 fingerlings each of 'katla' fish. 'Katla' fish is quite popular in the local market and is also a species which gains good weight, of 1-1.5kg in a span of 8-10 months. This initiative will help each farmer earn around Rs40,000-50,000 in a span of 8-10 months, even if the survival rate is 50 percent.

Speaking on the initiative, Mahesh Paranjpe, head, hydros, said, “In line with the company's philosophy to address community needs, Tata Power has yet again introduced this sustainable agricultural programme which not only promotes technology but also improves the livelihood and earnings of the farmers living in these villages.”

The fingerlings were distributed by Mendgudle D Dhanappa (Bhivpuri divisional head), Atul Karwatkar (head-CR Maval), Deshmukh (Bhivpuri operation-in-charge) and other Tata Power company officials and gram panchayat members.