Strawberry farming brings financial prosperity to farmers in Cuttack

Farmers in the Banki area in Cuttack district are reaping the benefits of strawberry cultivation, turning it into a lucrative source of income. By shifting from traditional paddy farming to strawberry cultivation, local farmers have significantly increased their earnings. The strawberries, bright red and juicy, rival the taste of those grown in Maharashtra. Visually appealing and delicious, these berries have captured the attention of consumers.

The growing demand for strawberries has reportedly encouraged more farmers to adopt this crop, leading to considerable economic gains. This trend is particularly visible in Pathapur Panchayat under the Damapada block in the district. Moving away from conventional paddy farming, farmers are exploring foreign fruit cultivation, unlocking new avenues for higher income.

"Acting on the advice of officials from the Horticulture Department, we started strawberry cultivation for the first time in the Banki area. The harvest has now begun, and the strawberries taste as good as those grown in Maharashtra. The Horticulture Department also advised us to follow organic farming practices, and we are cultivating the crop accordingly," said Santosh Kumar Nayak, a farmer.

Typically, Banki’s agriculture-driven produce reaches various cities for sale. However, the profitability of strawberries on limited land has motivated many farmers to switch to this cash crop. Within just three months, the land yields high-quality strawberries. With a flavour comparable to Maharashtra’s berries, they enjoy strong demand not only in local markets but also from hotels and tourists.

Strawberries from Banki have now carved a niche in major markets, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, establishing a fresh identity for the region’s produce.

"People in our area have shown keen interest in strawberry farming because of its excellent taste and good market value. Although it requires hard work, the profit potential is high. We undertook the cultivation strictly as per the guidance of the Horticulture Department. The plants have already started bearing fruit, and the produce is now being sold in the market. The demand is so high that we are currently unable to meet the required supply," said Adwait Nayak, another farmer.

With the support of the Horticulture Department, farmers have started cultivating strawberries and are now earning twice as much as they did from paddy cultivation. Initially, the department provided farmers with strawberry saplings and trained them on proper cultivation techniques.

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For the first time, strawberry farming was undertaken on an experimental basis in Cuttack district, and it has already proven successful. Encouraged by the results, the department is continuing its efforts to expand this cultivation. Compared to traditional crops, strawberry farming is yielding three to four times higher income.

"Strawberry farming has been started on an experimental basis for the first time in the Cuttack district. Two farmers in the Damapada block have taken up strawberry cultivation on one and a half acres of land, while one farmer in the Banki block has started farming on one acre. Strawberry saplings were provided to the farmers free of cost by the government. The quality and taste of the strawberries grown in Banki are excellent and comparable to those produced in Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra," said Smrutirekha Das, Horticulture official of Damapada block.