In Thakurmunda area, while a number of villagers are desperately migrating to nearby towns due to lack of job opportunities during this lean season and Covid-19 pandemic,  Kasturi Mohanta, a 45 years old farmer, has created job in her village by utilizing available resources like rainwater and degraded land. “I am not interested to go outside for my livelihood and in exchange invite Coronavirus, says Kasturi”.

Kasturi lives in Bhairanibeda, a remote village in Khandabandha GP under Thakurmunda block of Mayurbhanj district with her husband, one son and one daughter. Her family was leading a miserable life in spite of having around 4.5 acres of cultivable land. Five years ago, both the husband and wife were doing daily labor and sometimes collecting Sal leaf to stitch plates, but the total income was hardly meeting their family needs. But, Kasturi had a special interest on vegetable cultivation from her childhood. After completion of 10th Standard education, she used to support her father and brother in vegetables cultivation.

In 2004, CYSD’s Child Development Project intervene in Bhairanibeda village including other adjacent villages of Khandabandha GP. Taking into consideration the poverty situation of the people along with the exploitation by money lenders, CYSD strategized to empower the women on priority basis and promoted formation of Self-Help Groups and Farmers Groups imparting capacity building programme and providing input support, like seeds and plants.

Kasturi, after initiating several experiments for a sustained livelihood, like stitching Sal leaf plates, goat rearing, poultry farming, etc. did not get satisfied result.  In 2005, she joined as a member of ‘Duarasuni SHG’ and got the opportunity to undergo various training programmes on vegetable cultivation in phases conducted by CYSD.  Next year, she availed a loan of 5,000/- from the SHG and started vegetable cultivation and benefited to a great extent.  Her husband supported her to enlarge the vegetable cultivation continuously for couple of years and gradually they got out of the poverty shackles. Last year, she was able to earn Rs. 70000/- from Brinjal cultivation. “In current year, we have covered 4.5 acres of land under vegetable cultivation and as of now we have earned 39000/- from the crop having a target of earning around Rs.200,000/-“, said Kasturi. From her profit, she has develop some essential infrastructures like digging of a bore-well for irrigation purpose and installion of a motor pump for lifting of water. Presently, brinjal, cucumber, bitter guard, rich guard & maize cultivation have become her major source of income.

Kasturi’s innovation in cultivation and dedicated effort has brought glory to her as a leading farmer in vegetable cultivation.  Seeing the prosperity of Kasturi, around 30 families have followed her path and seeking regular guidance from her. Now, Khandabandha Panchayat has become a centre of vegetable cultivation and trucks of maize, brinjal, pumpkin, ladies finger are being supplied to different destinations of Orissa. Kasturi’s leadership quality, honesty and hardworking has brought her a great success. Kasturi, being a successful ari-entrepreneur, now her family leads a happy and joyful life with dignity breaking the cycle of poverty.