Farmers grow strawberry

Expressbuzz, Jan 17, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: For the first time in the State, tribal farmers of Kalahandi have grown strawberries at Lanjigarh. They have another reason to cheer. Two decades back, the Lanjigarh area soil was favourable for horticulture but with continuous shifting cultivation, the quality of soil deteriorated. However, this time farmers through improved agricultural techniques managed to cultivate strawberries.


Three months back, 13 farmers on an experimental basis planted 70,000 strawberry runners in 3.5 acres of land. The runners grew by November-end and during the first week of December, they started flowering. At present, the fruits have ripened. ‘‘Now farmers from outside are visiting our farms to see the way in which the strawberries have been cultivated.’’ said one of the farmers, Khataru Majhi of Rangopali village. Strawberry being a cash crop, the profits earned from it are much higher compared to any other fruit. It has increased earning of the farmers by Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 per acre.

The cultivation was taken up as a pilot project under VAL’s corporate social responsibility (CSR). The 13 farmers were given technical training on strawberry cultivation and agricultural inputs like seeds and organic manure.

‘‘After success of the project, strawberry cultivation will be extended to other villages,’’ said VAL Chief Operating Officer Mukesh Kumar