In Katepara village of Karanjia Gram Panchayat, nestled in the Jagannath block of West Singhbhum, lives Subhash Chandra Sinku—a progressive farmer known for his quick adoption of innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. His transformation began during the E-PRA planning process of the Jiwi Daah Hasa initiative under the Jharkhand High Impact Mega Watershed Project. Here, Subhash voiced his interest in developing a farm pond to strengthen his livelihood. Responding to his vision, a pond measuring 120 ft x 100 ft x 10 ft was constructed in 2023 in collaboration with the Tata Steel Foundation.

What followed is an inspiring example of integrated farming at its best. Subhash started with pisciculture, but he didn’t stop there. He maximised every inch of the pond ecosystem—cultivating vegetables along the bunds, planting Arhar on the inner slopes, installing trellises, introducing duck rearing, and creating a compost pit—all grounded in natural farming practices. Before stocking fish, he equipped himself with the necessary skills by completing a five-day pond-rearing training under the Department of Fisheries.

In March, ahead of the monsoon, he stocked around 20 kg of fingerlings. Seven months later, he harvested his first lot—15 kg of table fish, which he sold at ₹240 per kg, earning ₹3,600. While this was just the beginning of his pisciculture returns, the real value lies in the layered system he has created around the pond.