Sonepur: In an age, when youths are more inclined towards employment, success stories of first-generation entrepreneurs are always inspiring. Such stories draw more attention especially if the individual/s is/are from rural pockets of India.
A case in point is the story of Hrudyanand and his close friend Parikshit. Natives, of Bikalpur village of Subarnapur, the duo had no knowledge of farming, but they have become trendsetters today, at least in their district.
This neo-farmer-duo is reaping wonders from the cultivation of Marigold flowers. This bright and yellow flower has made them self-reliant and helped another five families with regular income.
Formal education could not fetch them jobs, but they were the last to sit back home and brood over fate. These enterprising individuals of Odisha turned to YouTube and discovered what was best for them as a startup. The two friends narrowed down on Marigold farming, and there was no looking back.
“We learned about the technique of marigold farming from social media platforms and started our own venture with a small investment on one and a half acres of land,” they said.
Now once every three months, the plucking activity is carried out and flowers are sold. The sale is not just limited to the local market, the demand for their produce is very high in neighboring states as well. They earn a good income from the sale.
“At present, it is sold at Rs 35 to Rs 45 per kilo, while the flower is being sold at Rs 55 during the off-season. The income was about Rs 3 to 4 lakh in three months. Without any external assistance, the two friends have become self-sufficient by farming organically at their own expense,” the farmer-duo said.
“We have provided employment to five families and our employees are also happy working in this flower garden,” they added. Once upon a time, flowers were imported to Subarnapur from outside the state, but now the flowers from here are going out of the district. Such an effort by the two friends has been widely appreciated.
The story of Hrudayananda and Parikshit is inspiring. After all, it is all in the mindset, one has to take a step towards success. There are risks involved but ships were not meant to be parked at the ports!
