Banana Plantation Flourishes: A Livelihood Revolution in Sundargarh, Odisha

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Project Details

Category: Livelihood
Project Title: Banana Plantation Flourishes
Department or District: Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), Odisha
State: Odisha
Start Date of the Project: 2018
Website: https://www.ombadc.in/

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Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: This project focuses on the tribal communities of Sundargarh district, Odisha, particularly in villages like Saletikra, located in Lephripara Block. The region is home to various Scheduled Tribes, who have traditionally depended on subsistence agriculture and forest-based livelihoods.

Keywords: ST Vendors, Infrastructure Development, Rural Market, Community Hall, MFP Scheme, Inclusive Development, GSIDC, Tribal Livelihoods, Weekly Market Revitalization Banana Cultivation, Tribal Livelihoods, Horticulture, OMBADC, Cold Storage, Women Empowerment, Sustainable Agriculture, Land Aggregation, Tribal Welfare, Market Linkages

In the mineral-rich but ecologically stressed district of Sundargarh, Odisha, the Banana Plantation project launched by the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) marks a transformative intervention in tribal livelihoods. For decades, local farmers, primarily from tribal communities, were burdened by the limitations of poor landholding, erratic rainfall, and economic vulnerability. The OMBADC initiative turned this narrative around by introducing banana cultivation as a sustainable and income-generating activity. Through targeted training, capacity building, and market linkage support, the project has empowered local farmers—both men and women—and reduced their dependency on mining or seasonal migration for income.

The Project

The Banana Plantation project was conceived as a response to the urgent need for alternative and sustainable livelihoods in tribal-dominated areas affected by mining. With extensive support from the Department of Horticulture and OMBADC, the project focused on converting barren and underutilized land into productive banana farms. The intervention included providing quality planting materials, technical training, irrigation solutions, and post-harvest infrastructure like cold storage. In villages like Saletikra, farmers such as Mahendra Sankria and Mani Chandra Naik have become success stories, showing measurable improvements in annual income and social mobility. What started with individual farmers has grown into collective movements covering multiple acres and influencing surrounding communities to adopt banana cultivation as a primary livelihood.

Problems that it Intends to Solve

The initiative aimed to resolve several interrelated challenges. Firstly, the poor holding capacity of arable land, worsened by inadequate rainfall and declining groundwater levels due to mining, left farmers with minimal options beyond subsistence farming. Secondly, dependency on rainfed irrigation made the already vulnerable tribal agriculture more precarious. Thirdly, there was a chronic lack of livelihood alternatives, especially for women and landless laborers. Fourthly, awareness regarding improved horticultural practices and institutional support was very low. Collectively, these conditions forced many tribal individuals to seek unskilled labor jobs in mines or migrate seasonally in search of work.

What was the Need

There was an acute need to create durable, local, and sustainable livelihoods that could restore community dignity and reduce economic migration. Given the ecological impact of mining and limited irrigation options, banana cultivation emerged as an ideal solution due to its semi-perennial nature, relatively low water requirement, and high market demand. The project was also timely, aligning with the government’s broader push toward tribal welfare and rural entrepreneurship. Moreover, the inclusion of women and marginal farmers ensured equitable participation and helped uplift entire communities rather than a few individuals.

What Hindered its Introduction

Introducing banana cultivation in tribal communities was not without its barriers. Initially, there was skepticism among farmers due to unfamiliarity with banana as a cash crop. Many tribal farmers had limited exposure to horticulture and preferred subsistence crops like paddy and vegetables. Infrastructure for irrigation and cold storage was lacking, and the aggregation of fragmented land parcels required coordinated efforts. The remoteness of villages and poor transport connectivity also hindered market access, discouraging commercial cultivation. Another challenge was mobilizing financial resources and grants to initiate the project on a scale sufficient to demonstrate success.

Process Followed for Implementation

The process began with an assessment of soil suitability and the identification of interested farmers. Community meetings were held in villages to introduce the concept and gather feedback. Training and capacity-building workshops were conducted by the Department of Horticulture, where farmers learned about planting techniques, plant spacing, irrigation methods, and post-harvest care. Grants were disbursed to facilitate land preparation and purchase of banana saplings. Special emphasis was placed on the inclusion of women farmers. Cold storage facilities were either constructed or made accessible to prevent post-harvest losses. Regular monitoring ensured that farmers adhered to quality practices and maintained their orchards through the growth cycle.

The project was implemented by OMBADC in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Odisha. Government support was central to the planning, funding, training, and monitoring of the initiative. It provided financial grants, expert personnel, and infrastructure development. The presence of an overseeing authority, Justice Patnaik, ensured accountability and strategic direction throughout the process.

Community participation was central to the project. Farmers contributed their land and labor, while local leaders helped with social mobilisation and trust-building. Land aggregation was facilitated through mutual agreements among farmers. Women, who were traditionally marginalised in agriculture, were actively involved and trained, thereby increasing the household-level impact of the intervention.

Solutions Implemented

The project implemented multiple interventions: capacity-building sessions for farmers, introduction of banana as a climate-resilient crop, grant-based support for planting and maintenance, construction of cold rooms, and establishment of market linkages. Equal emphasis was placed on male and female participation, ensuring the creation of inclusive livelihood opportunities.

The project was implemented in the Saletikra village of Lephripara block and scaled across other tribal pockets in Sundargarh. It is part of a larger initiative reaching more than 20,000 households across mineral-bearing districts like Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Koraput. Collective cultivation was promoted, with groups of five or more farmers managing up to two acres of banana plantations.

Innovation and Unique Features

One of the standout innovations was converting barren, unproductive land into flourishing banana orchards using minimal external inputs. The use of Quality Planting Material (QPM), combined with scientific planting techniques, ensured better yield and disease resistance. Cold room facilities, rare in remote tribal areas, added significant value by preventing wastage. Most importantly, the project mainstreamed women in commercial horticulture, creating a model for gender-inclusive economic development.

The project introduced modern horticultural techniques in a context-sensitive manner. Training was provided in local dialects, and farm visits helped build practical knowledge. Capacity building was not limited to technical training but also included exposure to market dynamics and financial planning. The project’s cultural sensitivity is evident in its participatory approach and emphasis on collective land use, a practice aligned with tribal customs.

Tribal farmers played a key role in shaping the implementation. Their local knowledge helped in deciding optimal plantation timings and identifying suitable patches of land. Farmers like Mahendra Sankria and Mani Chandra Naik became peer leaders and community role models, inspiring others to participate.

Initially focused on individual plantations, the project evolved into collective farming groups, leading to better resource pooling and risk mitigation. As confidence grew, many farmers expanded their plantation areas. Some began diversifying into related activities such as vermicomposting and intercropping.

Challenges Faced

• Before the project, farmers were constrained by fragmented land, lack of irrigation, low awareness of alternative livelihoods, and absence of market access. Institutional mechanisms for farmer support were either weak or inaccessible in tribal areas.
• Implementation hurdles included erratic rainfall, occasional pest attacks, transport bottlenecks, and delays in grant disbursement. However, the collaborative governance model allowed for quick resolution of issues.
• Irrigation support was provided through low-cost solutions. Technical support helped manage pests. Cold storage addressed perishability concerns, and district-level coordination ensured timely delivery of grants and planting materials.

Outcomes

• More than 20,000 households benefited from similar livelihood interventions across the region.
• Individual incomes increased substantially; for example, Mahendra earned ₹3,00,000 annually from his half-acre plot.
• Productivity increased due to quality inputs and systematic cultivation.
• Migration for labor reduced significantly as local employment opportunities increased.
• Women gained confidence and economic independence.
• Farmers aspired for better education for their children and invested in home improvements.
• Traditional agriculture was revitalized with modern techniques.
• Periodic field visits and data collection ensured accountability. Outcomes were measured in terms of income rise, acreage under cultivation, and reduction in migration.

Beneficiaries

Primary beneficiaries include small and marginal tribal farmers, particularly women and youth. Secondary beneficiaries include local transporters, traders, and input suppliers.

Replicability / Scalability / Sustainability

The success of the Sundargarh model demonstrates clear potential for replication across other tribal areas with similar agro-climatic conditions. The project’s use of local resources and participatory approach make it highly scalable.

This initiative aligns with national policies on tribal development, horticulture promotion, and rural employment. It offers a template for inclusion in state-level agricultural and tribal empowerment programmes.

With initial grants acting as catalysts, farmers are now able to sustain plantations independently. Cold storage and market linkages ensure stable income, making the model financially sustainable.

The project has already been extended to other tribal districts such as Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. The model is being considered for integration into broader rural development strategies.

Gallery

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