Bhubaneswar: The mountainous terrains of Nuapada have offered a hospitable ground for cultivation of strawberries. Farming strawberries is transforming the lives of tribals encouraged by the state government.
With financial and technical support to take up cultivation of strawberries for an additional source of income. In the Sunabeda sanctuary, strawberry has been cultivated as a profitable crop.
Strawberry being a profitable crop, doubles the income of farmers. Strawberry saplings have been provided to 10 farmers of Chakotia Bhunjia community by Women SHGs. In 2021, strawberry farming took up over ten acres of land in two villages coming under the Sunabeda gram panchayat in Nuapada district.
“We provided saplings and other help to ten tribal families to raise strawberries over ten acres of land,” a senior official said. The Chuktia Bhunjia Development Agency (CBDA) was set up by the state government in 1994 for the welfare of the Chuktia Bhunjia PVTG.
Koraput and Nuapada districts are located at an elevation of around 3,000 feet above sea level, and their cool climate is suitable for strawberry cultivation.
Strawberries sell for about Rs 500 a kilo in the local markets at Nuapada, Komana, Sinapali, Khariar and other places in the district, and the farmers made a profit of around Rs 5 lakh to 6 lakh rupees per acre.
The district administration has also helped the Chuktia Bhunjia PVTG households through the Sunabeda Naturals Producer Group that markets the berries under the ‘Sunabeda Strawberries’ brand, Special Project Officer, Sudhanshu Shekhar Mahapatra said.
The farmers were briefed about the benefits of strawberry farming. Various training sessions were held to tell them the best way to go about the cultivation and supplementary support such as linking them to markets, helping them in irrigation, etc were extended to them.
