Post News Network
Daringbadi, Dec 6: Even as farmers invariably complain that paddy cultivation is no longer economically profitable to them, many in this block of Kandhamal district are earning handsomely from cultivation of hill broom grass (thysanolaena maxima), thanks to the growing demand for brooms across the state.
Importantly, young farmers, averse to other cultivation, are keen to this faring on a large scale, a report said.
Nilambar Pradhan, a broom hill grass farmer of Pattangi village in Kirikuti panchayat, said, “A broom made of hill broom grass is sold for anything between Rs 50 to Rs 55. I earn over Rs 1 lakh per annum selling hill broom grass.”
“The government is extending all help for this cultivation,” said another farmer, Basudev Pradhan.
Apart from locals, traders from Rourkela, Berhampur and other parts come here to purchase brooms, said Issac Pradhan, Joseph Pradhan and Nanda Pradhan.
Earlier, people used to collect straw or hill broom grass on hillsides, heathens and riparian areas with much difficulty. Being a minor forest produce, the forest department had imposed restriction on its collection. As result, it was difficult to collect hill broom grass aplenty to make a good number of brooms for sale.
Later, panchayats were given the rights for collection and marketing of hill broom grass. The government also thought of its cultivation with a view to create huge employment opportunities for the local populace.
In 2011-12, the government promoted hill broom grass cultivation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and provided training to some enthusiastic famers.
Initially, seeds of hill broom grass were collected from various parts and saplings were raised in nurseries. Seeds were generated in large quantum so that farmers were provided as per their needs. Now, farmers also collect seeds with help of the soil conservation department.
The cultivation was launched on a pilot basis in a couple of villages and later it proliferated in 10 out of 24 panchayats under this block.
This year, hill broom grass has been cultivated in 100 hectares of land in panchayats like Partamaha, Badabangi, Kirikuti, Tilori, Danekbadi, Dasinghbadi, Grenbadi, Budhaguda, Gumikia and Sriniketa.
Initially, farmers were provided financial assistance upto Rs 1.23 lakh per hectare. The government also provides help to build barbed barricades and supply pesticide, chemicals and fertilizer.
As per a rough estimate, over 2,500 seeds are raised in a hectare while a broom can be made out of 10 bunches of grasses.
“Once cultivated, a farmer can harvest broom grass for 10 years, if their shoots are taken care of properly every year,” said assistant soil conservation officer Banamali Patra. PNN