Success Story of Shatrughna Rohidas: A Tale of Resilience and Agricultural Prosperity
Shatrughna Rohidas, son of Shashi Rohidas, aged 49, from the village of Rupabahal, Gram Panchayat – Tangarpali. He has been cultivating rice and finger millet (Mandia / Ragi) every year. He cultivates rice on his own land and rents additional land for Mandia / Ragi cultivation.
In Shatrughna’s family, his wife and two sons are involved in all farming activities. In 2020, the Odisha Millet Mission project was initiated in the Tangarpali block through SEWAK NGO. Shatrughna actively participated in this project under the guidance of Community workers. He organized a meeting in collaboration with the Project coordinator, Shri Tanasundar Gandha, in Rupabahal village, where the benefits of Mandia / Ragi cultivation were explained to the attendees, and all farmers were encouraged to cultivate Mandia / Ragi.
During the meeting, three members of Shatrughna’s family were present. After the meeting, they returned home and discussed the cultivation plans. They decided to cultivate Mandia / Ragi without delay.
In the first year, he cultivated a one-acre plot of land and harvested 2 quintals of Mandia. Though the first year’s yield wasn’t very high, only 2 quintals yielded clean produce. Shatrughna sold the clean Mandia / Ragi at the Mahulapali market for 3295 rupees per quintal and earned 6590 rupees from the sale of 2 quintals. With the profit, he purchased more Mandia / Ragi seeds at a rate of 3295 rupees per quintal.
The Chief District Agriculture Office and ATMA provided financial support to encourage him to continue Ragi cultivation using the SMI ( System Millets Intensification) method, which increased his interest in Ragi cultivation. In the second year of Kharif 2021-22, he cultivated Ragi on a 2-acre plot of land and had a good yield. He then cultivated high-quality variety Ragi the following year. Again, he received financial assistance through the SMI method. He harvested 13 quintals of clean Ragi, selling it for 4377 rupees per quintal at Mahulapali Lamps earning a total of 43,901 rupees. This cultivation not only improved his economic condition but also uplifted the living standards of his family.
