Banarpal: In the industrial district of Angul, where doing a day job in an industry is the preferred mode of earning for most, Kumar Sahu – a farmer — has set precedents that farming can be equally lucrative a career as well.
Not only he has made money from his chosen vocation, but also he has received accolades and recognition in the state and beyond.
Sahu, who studied only till class-V, credits dedication, timely action and hard labour for his success.
He learnt the ropes of farming from his father Narayan Sahu, who also chose agriculture over everything else as his career. Kumar furthered the family tradition by carefully implementing certain changes such as selection of correct seeds, timely sowing, proper harvesting and storing.
He cultivates paddy in four acres of land and grows vegetables including plantain, ladies finger, cucumber, tomato, egg plant, pumpkin, papaya and potato in another two acres. They grow vegetables in such way that when some of the plants are growing, some are flowering. While some are bearing fruits, the others are getting ready for harvest. This is the reason why they have round the year crops in their field.
Every day, nearby green grocers come to his field to buy fresh vegetables. At times, Kumar also sells the vegetables in nearby markets.
All that hard work has been kind to him as he makes decent profits from the crops. His constant earning helped him start a tent house business as well. By letting out tent house articles on occasions such as marriages and birth day ceremonies, he earns handsomely.
“Had I worked at any plant or factory, I would not have led a life happier than I am now with my wife, a daughter and two sons,” he boasts.
He says but for his wife Binodini’s support, it would never have been possible for him to come this far. On any given day, the couple can be seen working in their agricultural field.
On many occasions, he took his vegetables to the exhibitions held in different districts in Odisha and West Bengal and was felicitated.
PNN