Strawberries to rose, how Odisha farmers are breaking traditional crop barriers

Odisha's farmers are redefining agricultural possibilities by embracing unconventional crops such as strawberries, dragon fruit, marigolds, and roses. Once reliant on traditional farming methods or even illegal cultivation, these farmers are now finding economic stability and lifetime prosperity.

Strawberry Success in Kandhamal and Malkangiri

In Kandhamal and Malkangiri, tribal women have successfully introduced strawberry farming despite the state's typically warm climate. Women from the Annapurna self-help group (SHG) in Kandhamal’s Raikia block, supported by state initiatives, cultivated and harvested strawberries on over two acres.

Similarly, in Malkangiri’s Bonda Ghati region, families who initially hesitated have now embraced strawberry farming after witnessing its lucrative returns.

With market prices reaching up to Rs 500 per kilogram, these ventures are not just reviving agriculture but also attracting tourists eager to buy fresh produce directly from the farms.

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Dragon Fruit: A Game Changer for Kandhamal’s Farmers

Kandhamal’s farmers, previously struggling with meagre earnings or forced into bonded labour and illegal ganja farming, have found a lifeline in dragon fruit cultivation.

With support from the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), they received training; and today, once-barren lands are thriving with dragon fruit plants. Farmers, who once struggled now earn lakhs annually, now transforming their lives and inspiring others to follow suit.

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Marigold Fields Bring Prosperity to Bhadrak

In Bhadrak, farmers Uday Nanda and Madan Mohan Das have turned a five-acre plot into a marigold hub, yielding up to 500 quintals of flowers.

Initially experimenting after learning techniques from Kolkata, they now supply flowers to multiple districts, including Balasore, Keonjhar, Jajpur, and Bhubaneswar.

Rayagada’s Rose Revolution

In Rayagada, tribal women have transformed barren lands into vibrant rose gardens. With training from the Gunupur Krishi Vigyan Kendra and support from the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), they imported 13,000 saplings from Pune.

Today, these roses fetch between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per flower in local markets, providing sustainable income for women. Beyond cultivation, they have ventured into producing rose water, adding further value to their work.

A New Dawn in Odisha’s Agriculture

From strawberries to roses, these success stories highlight Odisha’s agricultural transformation. With government support, innovative farming techniques, and sheer determination, farmers are breaking traditional crop barriers and reshaping their future.

Further, these stories highlight a broader shift toward sustainable, high-value crops, transforming not just land, but lives.