Keonjhar: Kadagad under the Sadar block in Keonjhar is known for its vegetable cultivation. Coriander leaves produced in this village have high demand in Cuttack market. Some farmers earn from this in lakhs every season. They do not go out to sell their leaves; traders instead come to their doorsteps to buy leaves.
Turning away their focus from traditional paddy farming, some farmers in the village have found the coriander leaf farming as lucrative, a report said.
A major portion of the leaves produced here is sent to Chhatra Bazar market in Cuttack every day. About one and a half quintals of leaves are sent by buses to Cuttack regularly.
Reports said, Chandrabhanu Dehuri is a successful coriander farmer in the village. This year, Dehuri has cultivated coriander in three acres of land.
Dehuri used to work in the mining sector. After closure of the mine, he was rendered jobless and looked for an alternative source of livelihood.
He wanted to start coriander farming. He said a kg of coriander leaf is sold for Rs 100. A bundle of coriander is now sold for Rs 10 in the market.
20 other farmers of the village have also cultivated coriander.
Chandrabhanu had earned Rs 2 lakh from selling coriander leaves last year. “Till Baliyatra, coriander leaves are sent to Cuttack. Then, we start vegetable farming like tomatoes, brinjals and palak leaves,” he said.
“Every year, we get good returns from coriander leaves for three months. For the past two years, we have been growing tomatoes, leafy vegetables, “the farmer said.
They pointed out that market rates for coriander are skyrocketing. A bundle is now sold for between Rs 5 to Rs 10.
Farmers in the village make use of the water from Sanamachhakandana creek for raising dhania leaves. They buy seeds from outside for Rs 300 a kg.
Chandrabhanu has been cultivating coriander for 20 years and running his family with whatever he earns from this. “There are good profits in coriander farming. Absence of market facility in the area is a major problem. Cold stores are needed for farmers for preservation of vegetables.
The other farmers who earn from this farming are Bimbadhar Dehuri, Khirod Amant, Nabina Amant, Chhabina Amant and Muralidhar Amant.
PNN