Odisha’s strawberry revolution: Tribal farmers find new fortunes

The state of Odisha is experiencing an agricultural transformation as strawberry farming takes root successfully in its warm climate, traditionally considered unfavourable for this fruit, sources said on Sunday.

According to the sources, innovative cultivation techniques are yielding economic benefits and reviving local agriculture in tribal-dominated Kandhamal and Malkangiri districts.

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Women members from the Annapurna self-help group (SHG) in Raikia block of Kandhamal have spearheaded this notable change. Supported by State government initiatives, they have cultivated strawberries over two acres, with the expectations of a bountiful and profitable harvest just a few months into their venture.

Equally inspiring is the success story from Malkangiri’s Bonda Ghati region, where the tribal women have been growing strawberries for the past two years. Witnessing its financial rewards, numerous families have adopted this cultivation, finding it a lucrative addition.

The local climate has proven to be conducive for strawberry farming, facilitating yields between five to ten quintals per acre. 
Encouraged by market prices as high as Rs 500 per kilogram, more farmers are venturing into this new cultivation.

Beyond economic upliftment, these strawberry farms have started attracting tourists and buyers eager to purchase directly from producers, adding another dimension to their success story.

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Odisha’s foray into strawberry cultivation, traditionally associated with cooler climates like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, marks a new and promising chapter for the State’s agricultural landscape.

“We are immensely happy for the strawberry cultivation. This year, we have planted around 40,000 saplings. The plants started bearing fruits within two months. Now, we are more interested in this crop,” a woman farmer Chandma Pradhan stated to OTV.

Reported By: Ajit Nayak, Jitendra Rout