By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed 117th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and said “big changes are possible even through small beginnings. We just need determination and team spirit” citing efforts of farmers of Kalahandi in Odisha.
“ My dear countrymen, today I want to tell you about an effort in Kalahandi, Odisha, which is writing a new story of success despite a paucity of water and resources. This is the ‘vegetable revolution’ of Kalahandi. Where once farmers were forced to migrate; today, Golamunda block of Kalahandi has become a vegetable hub. How did this change come about? It started with a small group of just 10 farmers. This group together established an FPO – ‘Kisan Utpad Sangh’, started using modern technology in farming, and today their FPO is doing business worth crores. Today more than 200 farmers are associated with this FPO, including 45 women farmers,” PM Modi said.
“Together, these people are cultivating tomatoes in 200 acres and bitter gourd in 150 acres. Now the annual turnover of this FPO has also risen to more than 1.5 crores. Today, vegetables from Kalahandi are reaching not only various districts of Odisha, but also other states, and the farmers there are now learning new techniques of potato and onion cultivation.Friends, this success of Kalahandi teaches us what all can be done with determination and collective effort. I urge all of you to:-• Encourage FPO in your area• Join farmer producer organizations and strengthen them. Remember – big changes are possible even through small beginnings. We just need determination and team spirit,” PM added.
