Malkangiri

Malkangiri district is located in the south-western part of Odisha. It is predominantly a tribal district with 57.42% of ST population notable among who are Bondas, Koyas, Porajas and Didayis. Administratively, Malkangiri comprises of 1 sub-division, 7 blocks, 7 tehsils, 111 Gram Panchayats, and 1,045 villages. With a total population of 6, 13,192, Malkangiri’s economy is primarily agrarian, with 91.92% living in rural areas. Agriculture forms the backbone of Malkangiri’s economy, with major crops including paddy, sesame, ragi, black gram, groundnut, horse gram, maize and green gram, while livestock rearing and NTFP collection supplement rural incomes. 351 MSMEs and 1 handicraft industry have been established in the district in 2021-22. Terracotta craft, sisal fiber craft and bamboo craft are the main handicraft products.

Harsha Trust began operations in the district in 2012 through collaboration with ITDA, Malkangiri under Mukhya Mantri Janajati Jeebika Mission in Mathili block. The initiative aimed to promote poultry farming in the proposed project areas. In 2016 we associated with ITC for the Mission Sunehra Kal project focusing on livelihood promotion activities through agro-forestry plantation in Kalimela and Podia blocks; and with SDTT for promotion of tribal livelihoods in Mathili block. From 2018 to 2021, Harsha Trust worked with OLM on “Mo Upakari Bagicha” in Malkangiri Sadar, Mathili and Khairput blocks. During the same time, we also associated with NABARD-CBBO program under Central Sector Scheme for promotion of FPOs. At present, one of our main interventions is promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship through a Value Chain Approach with the support of the EY Foundation. Currently, Harsha Trust’s initiatives span all 7 blocks, engaging with more than 5,880 households of 147 villages focusing on enhancing livelihoods, ensuring nutrition security and boosting income levels.

• 7 FPOs in 7 blocks of Malkangiri played a key role in strengthening the value chain of turmeric, little millet and groundnut in 3 blocks (Chitrakonda, Khairput and Korukonda). This initiative was supported by NABARD and EY Foundation. The finished products expected to be produced are turmeric powder, polished turmeric, little millet rice, peanut and ground nut oil.
• Collaboration with ITDA, Malkangiri was initiated under Mukhya Mantri Janajati Jeebika Mission with an aim to improve the income and living standards of tribal communities through region-specific interventions in agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, forest-based livelihoods, income-generating activities, and the creation of community institutions for enhanced economic and social outcomes.
• Collaboration with EY Foundation was initiated to promote 10,000 women entrepreneurs in Chitrakonda, Khairput and Korukondablock through Agriculture and Livestock Production Clusters and value-chain approach over a period of three years. The proposed steps are:
  •  Identification of value added products.
  • Identification of potential markets.
  • Marketing of produces through FPOs.
  • Collectivization of farmers in PG and linking to FPO as shareholders.
  • Development of value chain document.