Banana Plantation Flourishes, Sundargarh, Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), Odisha

Banana Plantation Flourishes, Sundargarh, Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), Odisha

Problem

Poor land holding
Poor rainfall leading to land turning barren
Farmers dependent on rainfed irrigation
Subsistence economy
Lack of awareness
No livelihood opportunities

Solution

Training and capacity building
Creation of livelihood opportunity
Programme formulation
Farmers preferred banana cultivation
Release of grant
Equal involvement of men and women

Outcomes

Increase in farmers’ annual income
Encouragement for other farmers
Aggregation of land parcel
Providing market linkages
Cold room facilities
Increase in productivity

Project Details

Category: Livelihood
Project: Banana Plantation Flourishes
Organisation: Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), Odisha
Start Date: 2018
Website: https://www.ombadc.in/

In the heart of Saletikra Village, Lephripara Block, Sundargarh District, Odisha, Mahendra Sankria, hailing from a struggling farmer family of five, has witnessed a remarkable turnaround. Sundargarh, marred by the impact of expansive mining operations leading to a dwindling water table, pushed many farmers, including Mahendra, to abandon their fields for work in the mines. The arable land shrank, primarily used for meager paddy and vegetable cultivation to sustain the family.

OMBADC & Horticulture Department Intervention

However, a silver lining emerged through the support of the Horticulture Department and the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC). Mahendra’s half-acre land underwent a transformation, now flourishing with 610 fruit-bearing banana plants. The annual earnings, once a meagre sum, have soared to Rs 3,00,000. Mahendra proudly states, “We were trained by the department on planting techniques, plant spacing, and care. The initial waiting period was about 10 months, but now it maintains a bi-annual cycle. I no longer rely solely on rainfall.”

Women Empowerment & Mass Livelihood Strengthening

OMBADC-aided projects have become a catalyst for rural and tribal populations’ prosperity, with a significant impact on women’s empowerment, particularly in banana plantation and fish farming. Justice Patnaik, the Overseeing Authority of OMBADC, emphasizes the profound positive changes brought about in people’s livelihoods.

Mani Chandra Naik’s Success Story

Mani Chandra Naik faced uncertainty when he inherited his father’s land. Observing the trend towards banana plantation, he decided to venture into it. Now, the proud owner of 1,500 banana plants, he witnessed his earnings rise to Rs 70,000 in 2023, up from Rs 55,000 the previous year. Mani Chandra Naik dreams of providing a good education to his son and marrying off his daughter. The collective effort of five farmers cultivating two acres has sparked a broader movement, with several farmers making banana plantation their primary livelihood.

Integrated Natural Resource Management

In a shift from traditional soil and water conservation approaches, there’s a focus on an integrated natural resource management approach, enhancing production systems sustainably.

Impact on Livelihoods

More than 20,000 households and individual farmers in targeted districts—Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Koraput—have reaped the benefits of these livelihood interventions.

Major Project Components

Development of farms as centers for model horticulture activities.
Creation of avenues for producing Quality Planting Materials (QPM) of fruits, vegetables, and flower seedlings.
Generation of employment opportunities for rural laborers, discouraging migration.