For farmers as well as women from the Juang tribe inhabiting Saptasajya in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, this Durga Puja brought a green blessing. Over 600 farmers earned ₹1,500 this month from colocasia and papaya exports to Ireland, bringing them a welcome “bonus” before Durga Puja. Agriculture department sources confirmed that these farmers exported 100 kg of colocasia and 320 kg of green papaya from Dhenkanal to Ireland via the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Calcutta.
Sudipta Ranjan Biswal said that they collected the produce from their farmer-members to get them a better price. Sometimes, they even take produce from farmers who are not members because they want farmers to earn well and “not be exploited by local businessmen who offer meagre price”.This export to Ireland was their first in the vegetable category. Last year, they exported 32 tonnes of Amrapali mangoes to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UK, Germany and Italy.
Presentation -Dibyabharati Nayak