Khajuripada/Balaskumpa: Pressed by poverty, Chhabindra Jani had tried his hand at a lot of odd jobs to eke out a living with his elderly parents. Finally, he decided to do farming and has successfully grown sunflower in Ganjam. Other farmers in the area have taken interest in this cash crop farming.
With the earning from this farming, he hopes to run his family. Chhabindra(45) is a resident of Raikhol village under Khajuripada block. He was fired by an ambition to pursue higher studies. But poverty was a major hurdle for him. He was in tears when he recalled his miserable days.
He completed his matriculation, but could not carry on his studies as his parents were unable to afford his education.
He initially started banana farming, later, jhadu farming, pulse, onion, potatoes and mustard.
This year, he switched over to sunflower farming and hopes it will earn him more than what he earned from the above-said farming.
Sunflower farming has brought him a new identity in the area, he said.
He bought 100 gm of sunflower seeds for Rs 80 from Phulbani in October, 2020. Their saplings have been planted one foot apart on his farmland.
“No agriculture officer is coming to help me for guidance,” he rued. He hopes he will get good harvest in February.
As this farming is new to the area, people often visit his farmland and are interest to know about the farming.
Chhabindra said that agriculture officials come to the farm and click photographs, but never provided technical guidance in this farming.
Many other farmers in the area say they will do this cash crop if the government provides them with financial and technical support.
PNN
