Success Stories

The treadle pump leads the way to income generation: A journey from Despair to Optimism

"It was an uphill task; managing the farm, my family of five and the diesel pump. Though the diesel pump was rented, I continued to be under tremendous monetary pressure. In addition to the fact that I did not have access to the diesel pump as per my convenience, it required constant refueling, which was becoming an impossible task. It did not matter how long I spent at the farm, the results were always zero. Even after borrowing close to $1200 and using the diesel pump to increase my harvest, the trying days seemed never ending. I was in agony”

Says Majhi, a farmer from Orissa. Surrounded in despair and disillusionment, Majhi started looking at means other than farming to make a living.

It was during one of his visits to the market, that he came upon a farmers’ meeting. After hearing about the KB Treadle Pump that day, Majhi realised that this pump would be his friend in need. He now knew how to use water for
irrigation without any recurring cost. Though with great difficulty, but with a lot of conviction, Majhi arranged for another loan to purchase the KB Treadle Pump.

It is now two years since Majhi attended the meeting. Things are completely different and today Majhi is thankful for the impulse which lead him attend the meeting. Majhi recollects “it was marvelous to be able to draw water out from the well with such simplicity and without the constant black smoke. The farm is now my own patch of green paradise.”

As the harvest continued to be bountiful, Majhi was able to draw a regular income by selling the vegetables in the nearby market. Within two years Majhi has earned a profit of $1500. With a smiling mother, supportive father and wife standing by his side, Majhi has enrolled his son into nearby school. Having taken care of getting a regular income, Majhi now had more time at hand. He then underwent training in treadle pump repairs and is now able to draw additional income from this. He has also fulfilled another long cherished dream: of owning cattle, which has further supplemented his income.

Majhi believes that if things continue like this, he would be able to send his son to a good college as well. His father is convinced that the future generations would not have to toil as hard as he and his son Majhi have. The future does look brighter!

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