https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

With Yellow Turmeric And Red Strawberry, Colour of Kandhmal Tribals’ Money Is Green

After turmeric, now farmers in Kandhamal are earning well from the strawberry crop Strawberry farming is being adopted by the farmers after the pilot project was a big success District administration is lending all kinds of support, from subsidy to seeds
Indian Masterminds Stories

Kandhamal Haldi is the famous brand of turmeric that has made this tribal dominated district in Odisha a household name in the state and beyond. This local haldi has even earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. With the successful branding of their turmeric, the people of the Kandhamal district are now setting their eyes on yet another branding and tagging – that of ‘Kandhamal Strawberry’.

Their strawberries are now much sought after in the state and people are lauding their quality and taste. Started as a trial project in December 2022, strawberry farming is now becoming hugely successful among the farmers of the district. More than 250 tribal Self Help Groups (SHGs) are doing strawberry farming and earning good profits.

The Kandhamal administration is giving all kinds of support to the SHGs, which include a large number of tribal women, to help them in the cultivation of strawberry and its marketing, which will help to enhance their livelihoods.

Indian Masterminds interacted with 2017 batch IAS officer Ashish Ishwar Patil, Collector of Kandhmal, to know more about the strawberry project.

IAS Ashish Ishwar Patil, Collector, Kandhmal

KANDHAMAL STRAWBERRY

Between December-January 2022, the Kandhamal administration started a pilot project for strawberry cultivation, which achieved huge success. At that time, 10 farmers got together to cultivate strawberries in about 2 acres of land, out of which, strawberries worth around Rs. 22 lakh were produced. The farmers got a profit of around Rs. 12 lakh. Seeing the success, the administration decided to take this scheme forward.

Between October-November, 2023, six places were selected for further cultivation of strawberry in six blocks of the district, which included Phulbani, Balliguda, K. Nuagaon, Daringbadi, Raikia, etc. In 10 select fields in these 6 places covering 30 acre, farmers started strawberry cultivation. District level funds were distributed to the SHGs by the administration, 5 lakhs each, for input subsidy and purchasing of plants. Apart from it, each SHG took 5 lakhs loan under the Odisha Livelihood Mission, with the support of the administration. Plants were purchased from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.

Kandhamal’s Strawberry

Experts from the horticulture department of Odisha and Maharashtra provided training to the SHGs on cultivation and soil testing.

All the SHGs consisted mostly of local tribals. They were given training in marketing too.

Mr. Patil said, “Along with cultivation training, we are also providing them marketing support. We are helping them in marketing through our government societies like Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) and Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS). At the same time, we have many producer companies and FPOs, which market the products of these SHGs in big stores.”

TRAINING

The district administration first sent its own team to Mahabaleshwar, for training. After this, soil testing was done and places with suitable climate were selected, and farming started.

The administration kept providing training to the farmers from time to time in various places.

CLIMATE

For strawberry cultivation, a special environment is required. The fruit requires hilly environment and cold climate. But, at the same time, sunlight should also be sufficient and the soil should be suitable. That is why, soil testing is very important for its farming.

BENEFITS

The strawberry season has just started, but already 25 lakh worth of strawberries have been sold. About 2 quintal of strawberries are being produced every day in the district.

Mr. Patil said, “Right now, our production is increasing every day due to flowering. Currently, it is being sold locally only. Mostly, the tourists buy it. Apart from this, some are sent to nearby cities and big stores. In the future, we will send it outside also.”

A SHG member said that they sell the fruit in the open market for Rs. 500 to Rs. 600 a kg.

MORE PLANS

After seeing the huge success of this project, the district administration is now planning various works like fruit processing etc.

According to Mr. Patil, production is increasing as per their expectations. Hence, training for processing is also being started from today. Apart from processing, training for squash, juice, dried strawberry has also been started. “There will be no wastage of the fruit. By preserving it well, we can keep selling it for a longer period. This will increase its self-life too. After turmeric, now it’s strawberry time!” Mr. Patil said in conclusion.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NALCO
NALCO Refutes Reports of Capex Deferral, Confirms Rs 30,000 Crore Smelter Expansion is on Track - Know the Matter
Northern-Coalfields-Limited-NCL-Resized
NCL Signs MoU to Support Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Singrauli - All Details Inside
Ruchika Chauhan IAS
Leading By Example: Gwalior DC Ruchika Chauhan Arrives At Her Office Boarding An E-Rickshaw! Delivers A Strong Message On World Environment Day
KVIC Khadi and Village Industries
KVIC Disburses Rs. 300 Crore Margin Money Subsidy Under PMEGP to Boost Self-Employment - Details Inside
HUDCO New Logo
HUDCO Champions Green Urban Development on World Environment Day 2025
Mayur Dixit IAS
Who is IAS Mayur Dixit, the New DM of Haridwar? Uttarakhand Bureaucracy in Buzz Amid Land Scam Fallout
Prime Minister’s Museum & Library, Delhi1
IRSME Ashwani Lohani Appointed Director of Prime Minister’s Museum & Library, Delhi - Know More About Him & the Historic Institution
World Environment Day
PSUs Observe World Environment Day 2025 with Strong Commitment to Sustainability and Green Practices - Check Here!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Divyanshu Pal Nagar IFS
5 Years, 5 Mains, 4 Interviews: How Divyanshu Pal Nagar Stumbled in CSE, Triumphed in IFS - A Lesson for Every Aspirant
Divyanshu Pal Nagar’s inspiring five-year UPSC journey shows how perseverance, disciplined self-study,...
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
Social Media
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ravindra telang
Ravindra Telang: The Calm Force Behind Sikkim’s Next Leap Forward
NALCO
NALCO Refutes Reports of Capex Deferral, Confirms Rs 30,000 Crore Smelter Expansion is on Track - Know the Matter
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT