Sundargarh: Potato cultivation is turning out to be a blessing in disguise for many families in this district. Tribals and women are earning a sustainable livelihood through potato cultivation, sources said Tuesday. Success has been achieved during the second phase of the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDPII). A total of 556 households of the Ujalpur field management unit (FMU) under the Sundargarh Forest division are participating in this programme. Potato is the most preferred food in this tribal-dominated district and as a result, its demand is quite high.
However, even though, potato cultivation is a profitable source of earning, many farmers do not take it up. This is because most of them are not aware that potato cultivation is a profitable business. Also, the lack of funds to acquire seeds and fertilizers acts as a hindrance. In such a situation, potato farming by members of the Van Surakhya Samitis (VSS) has brought smiles to the faces of poor tribal farmers and helped them earn lakhs. The 556 families belonging to 20 VSS now are a happy lot as they are managing to lead a comfortable lifestyle.
Under the guidance and counseling of NGO ‘Sewak’, farmers undertook potato cultivation on 117 acres of land in the last Rabi season. They were also helped by officials of the Horticulture department. Ujalpur team leader Digambar Upadhyaya informed Tuesday that more than 2,500 quintals of potatoes have been produced so far.
However, the figure will go up as the total data is yet to be collected, added Upadhyaya. The official also stated that in 2022, five farmers who undertook potato cultivation earned hefty profits. This year 20 farmers are expected to reap rich rewards by spending time on tuber cultivation. Success in potato cultivation has given a new lease of life to the VSS members and traditional tribal dwellers. When contacted, divisional forest officer (DFO) Pradeep Mirase said thousands of families residing under Sundargarh forest division are benefiting from various activities being undertaken as part of inter-departmental convergence of OFSDP-II. Due to various income-generating programmes, the tribals are slowly decreasing their dependence on forest products.
