Jagatsinghpur: Defying age barriers, 62-year-old entrepreneur Sanjukta Das of Jagatsinghpur district has built a thriving pig-rearing and dairy farming enterprise valued at nearly Rs 11 lakh from an initial investment of just Rs 10,000.
Her venture now generates a monthly income of Rs 60,000-70,000 and provides employment to five people, including two women.
Sanjukta’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2000 when she formed the 10-member Haraparvati Self-Help Group (SHG), serving as its secretary. The group undertook several livelihood activities, including running a Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet, preparing mid-day meals and producing incense sticks, papad and badi.
Seeking a more sustainable source of income, she ventured into pig rearing and dairy farming in 2024 with financial support from her SHG. Starting with Rs 10,000, she gradually expanded operations as the number of pigs increased. Her farm now attracts buyers from Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Goa and Kolkata.
Dairy farming has emerged as another major revenue stream, with the farm producing around 150 litres of milk daily. Besides supplying local consumers, Sanjukta sells milk to women’s SHGs at concessional rates, enabling them to generate additional income through collection and marketing.
The Mahalaxmi SHG, for instance, has established its own milk collection centre and procures around 100-120 litres of milk daily from her farm, creating an additional livelihood opportunity for its members.
Beyond improving her family’s financial standing, Sanjukta’s enterprise has generated employment for five people, including two women. Her success has also drawn other rural women to her farm to learn about pig rearing, dairy management and business operations.
“I wanted to become financially independent. My larger objective, however, was to create sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities through pig rearing and dairy farming and improve the socio-economic condition of rural women,” Sanjukta said.
