Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Dec 1: Madhu Hansda’s drive and initiative constitute a perfect success story. A resident of Gohla village in Mosabani Block, Madhu is a graduate who while working as a Rozgaar Sevak used to take time out for farming and gardening. Soon the call of the fields prevailed and Madhu Hansda gave up her job and took to farming on a regular basis. To be precise, she has taken to flower farming in a big way and today her interest fetches her Rs 10,000 per week which, as she herself said, “With this income, my family’s economic status had received an appreciable boost.”
Madhu stated that District Garden Officer Mithilesh Kalindi has continued to introduce her to better and modern forms of flower harvesting. She has also undergone specialized training in flower plantation. She received a diploma in shednet course during the session 2019-’20 and thereafter added farming Gerbera flowers. Moreover, she also plants and sells flowers that have medicinal values as also that are used for aroma therapy.
This champion farmer with a difference observed, “Earlier, I too relied on traditional farming. But the returns I got for my efforts barely got me and my family through the year. But with my inclinations shifting to flower cultivation and with the guidance of Mithilesh Kalindi, I have been seeing better days.”
She has introduced drip irrigation for providing water to her flower patches. She said, “Drip irrigation conserves water as also provides the nutrition that the plants require. Each flower fetches me between Rs 4 and Rs 5 and at the end of the week I make a profit of Rs 10,000 at an average per week.”
Madhu Hansda suggested that other farmers engaged in traditional farming should expand their horizons of cultivation and go in for alternate or supplementary farming to boost their income avenues. She said that she was fortunate to be receiving suggestions and updated information on latest flower plantation techniques.