THE SUN FLOWER MAGIC
A profit of Rs. 35,000/- per hector in 50 hectors of land plays magic and more farmers in more land are ready to invest in scientific and modern cultivation of Sun Flower. Such a result was hatched when widespread stress, degeneration and impoverishment affected crop fields; people in large numbers start migrating from their ancestral land to townships and distant cities and no youth was interested in adopting farming for civilization to sustain. An opportunity is created by Pilot testing of Sun Flower in 4 villages in the flood-ravaged Bhogarai block of Balasore district in Odisha whereby 145 farmers reinvent hope to continue farming beyond generations.
Narayana Datta, son of Siba, a 43 year old farmer from Bahalda village/panchayata has a tale to tell. Narayana was yielding paddy twice in a year from 3.5 acres of land. It was not enough as compared to inputs cost, labour and sale prices. The issue of damage of crops owing to pest, flood and climate change had a reflection on the life of farmers like Narayana. Narayana got different inputs support, capacity building and awareness through PECUC and Bhogarai block office.
Now the harvest is over 25 days prior to the standing paddy crops and Narayana yields a sum of profit of Rs. 14,000/- from one acre of land. The profit so generated is going to add value to his quality of life and he could be able to spend more on the education of his two children. The move by Narayana is a sweet surprise to fellow farmers and they are ready to adopt sun flower cultivation next time.
Concerned officers feel satisfied!! They state – sun flower is a drought resilient, viable alternative during Ravi season. Profits are high as fertilizer and other inputs costs are less. Efficiency in sun flower cultivation can be attained by large scale production and adoption of crop residue as green manure to maintain fertility of the soil.