Bant: Hoping to reap gold, members of three self help groups (SHGs) have sown 40, 000 marigold saplings at Agarpada under this block in Bhadrak district.
These three SHGs under the guidance of Matrushakti Mahasangh of Badabarchikanya panchayat have been in the business of pisciculture. While they are carrying on fish farming in a pond of Agarpada seed farm, they have presently taken the embankment of the pond on lease basis for floriculture.
With the support of Odisha Jibika Mission, the district administration, and horticulture department, Saturday the marigold saplings were planted. These varieties of saplings are said to have been procured from Kolkata. To undertake this, Odisha Jibika Mission has provided Rs 1 lakh; and they have availed the rest of the money from banks as loans.
The members are hopeful that they would have a good return. They have invested Rs 4.16 lakh in the project and, in return, they would get Rs 9 lakh from selling flowers.
Odisha Jibika Mission’s BPM Sasmita Dash, block development officer Rebeka Bilung, block chairman Debendra Kumar Jena, agronomist Udit Ray and block assistant agriculture officer Ramesh Ray inaugurated the project by sowing saplings.
On the occasion, the women were given some tips on how to take care of the saplings.
PNN