At present, floriculture in general and marigold cultivation in particular at Katikela village in the district of Jharsuguda has become one of the best livelihood options for the farmers, as the said profession is generating good amount of revenue for them. This has become possible when four farmers of the Katikela started marigold cultivation under the Vedanta Integrated Jan Jivika Yojana (VIJJY) which in turn has created an example for others in the village to follow.
Now Marigold cultivation for them is seen as a remunerative farming practice, because now they earn more, not only by selling the flowers but also by producing and selling the seedlings. Under the VIJJY scheme, the farmers were trained with the assistance of the Horticulture Department of Government of Orissa regarding the production of seedlings through stem cuttings. For the first time, the farmers raised marigold on a commercial scale and produced seedlings from stem cuttings. A tie-up was established with the Horticulture Department to procure all the seedlings produced by these farmers at the rate of 50 paise per 100 seedlings. These seedlings were sent through the department to nearby districts like Deogarh, Sundergarh etc. Now the farmers are selling 100 flowers at Rs.20/- at Sambalpur or at Rs. 10/- while sitting at the doorstep. The farmers are quite happy over this and interested to expand the area next year.
‘Earlier we didn’t earn that much as we are earning now and this has become possible only when we started this marigold cultivation and in this Vedanta has shown us the way under it’s VIJJY scheme’ said Mr Parshuram Majhi one of the farmer of the Katikela village while narrating his success story.
“The objective of VIJJY scheme is to provide the farmers the best possible livelihood means which would make them self sufficient and floriculture in general and marigold cultivation in particular, is coming out with flying colors for them” said Mr Pankaj Khanna, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of VAL Jharsuguda while praising immensely the four farmer’s effort who have initiated the marigold cultivation in the Katikela village.
Besides this four other farmers are tied up with the Horticulture Department for demonstration of tuberose flower cultivation. They are supported with 600 seeds worth Rs. 3000/- each through Horticulture. Department and being trained on tuberose cultivation.
Now the VIJJY has indeed created a niche for itself at Jharsuguda. It has now 1229 members in its fold. Under this VIJJY 108 groups have been formed in which 250 members are already being imparted training on leaf plate making, poultry, floriculture, fishery, commercial vegetable cultivation, community farming, mushroom cultivation, vegetable vending, grocery shop, betel shop, fast food stall, cycle repair and rice trading etc.
