Bantala: Once he was just assisting his father in gardening as a mere pass time. At that time he would have hardly imagined that time would pass by and one day it will stand him in good stead.
Now he is a successful floriculturist, living in Pokatunga village under Bantala police limits in Angul district.
Meet Dillip Pradhan. The 38 years old is a Plus II pass out nonetheless, has everything that anyone would desire at his age.
Reminiscing his school days, Dillip says, “Gardening was my father’s hobby. Every day after returning from school, I would assist him in garden, not by force but by will. I had an inclination towards colorful flowers.”
The seed sown in his heart during those days kept growing with time. Now that seed has flourished and his school day inclination turned into profession which has given him both name and fame in his locality.
Why he took to flowering? In his answer this question, Pradhan says, “When I saw everyone aspiring for a government job but, I made a mental note that I would do anything but something on my own. At that time I had no knowledge of floriculture, but for the experience I had had from my father and with that little knowledge, I started in 2005.”
Taking the help of his father, elder brother Papu and sister too joined in and started farming on a land measuring 10 ‘gunthas’. Initially he took up marigold, rose, gladiolus and some other varieties of flowers on an experimental basis.
Whatever flower I harvested, I would sell them in Angul market. The first year it gave me an earning of Rs 30, 000. It could have been more but some businessmen did not pay in time. Thereafter I decide to open my own shop. It was opened by the side of Amalapada Girls’ High School in 2006. Father, brother and sister helped me open the shop and I am ever grateful to them.
Since then there has been no looking back for Pradhan.
Prdhan’s business grew manifold. To meet the demand in summer season, he would procure flowers from Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Thereafter, he prepared a step forward and expanded the existing area of floriculture to four acres of his ancestral land.
Marigold and Rose each planted on one acre of land. Gladiolus on 10 ‘gunthas’, Tuberose on four ‘gunthas’ and other flowers in the remaining area.
A job seeker at one point of time, Pradhan is now providing employment to 17 workers who are assisting him in his business. District Horticulture Department is also providing all the support and assistance he requires. Starting from purveying saplings, the department has helped him get a cold store built and a pack house amounting Rs 4 lakh.
Now he has become a successful floriculturist in the district. “Minus all expenses, I am now earning something around Rs 7 lakh a year,” boasts Pradhan while directing necessary tips to his workers on his farmland.
PNN