By Prasanta Ku. Dash
Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: At a time when most of the farm-loving landlords quit traditional farming for less profitability, a Bhubaneswar-based youth has achieved fabulous profit from horticulture utilising a few decimals of land.
Green entrepreneur Sudarshan Behera of the Bhakar Sahi revenue village under the Balipatna Block limit in Khordha district has earned Rs 1.13 Lakh from pointed guard cultivation in 1 gunta (4 decimals) of land in its prime time adopting Integrated Farming System.
Before opting to the farming as a profession, Sudarshan was working as a government servant with a meager salary. However, adequate sustenance of a compound family with the limited resources impelled him think of a sustainable alternative. Thus, he made of his mind to quit the job and till the lands handed down by his ancestors. Meanwhile, he initiated farming in a low scale on a pilot basis and tried his hand in pointed gourd (Potala) farming. He selected a small plot worth 4-decimals located on the river bank enriched with alluvial soil.
He began his green venture coping up with new ways of cultivation and using scientific methods as prescribed by the horticulturists. With his industrious effort, the small plot bore good fruits that fetched a profit of Rs 1.13 lakh in a season, apart from fulfilling the requirement of his own kitchen and of his relatives.
On being inspired by the good-harvest and a sizeable profit in a first, Sudarshan invested his time and effort in agriculture in an extensive way and added paddy, cash crops, legumes and other vegetable to his project. The composite farming also recorded a good return for him.
Now, Behera is one of the renowned farmers in Odisha to credit a lot of recognitions for his own-ways of successful farm technologies. Apart from many a recognitions, he was recently conferred with the prestigious ‘Krushak Ratna Award’ a flagship honour dedicated to ace farmers from the house of SOA University and the Prameya & News7 family.
