Nuapada: Groundnut cultivation has helped farmers of eight villages of the district to double their income and become self-reliant. Under the National Oilseed Mission, groundnut cultivation has been taken up in Kutribahal, Malimunda, Brindapat, Khambabahi, Lalbhata, and Jandramunda villages. As many as 1,059 farmers have cultivated groundnut on 500 hectares of land across the district, ensuring better income generation.
With support from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of both Central and State Governments, and encouragement from organizations like ICRISAT and WASSAN, farmers have taken up oilseed cultivation alongside non-paddy crops. While land under the Jadamunda Medium Irrigation Project is irrigated, upland areas were previously left fallow. With seed support, modern techniques, and scientific guidance from ICRISAT and WASSAN, farmers have successfully cultivated oilseed crops with higher productivity.
Farmers have requested the opening of groundnut procurement centers (mandis) at locations such as Darlipada in Nuapada block, Bhela and Tarbod in Komna block, Khariar in Khariar block, Khaira in Boden block, and Golla in Sinapali block to facilitate the sale of their produce.
In the current rabi season, an estimated production of 7,000 quintals is expected, out of which more than 4,000 quintals are likely to be sold through mandis.
The success of this program was supported by senior scientists from ICRISAT including Majumdar, Chakradhar Panda, Pradeepta Sethi, and Pradeepta Sen, along with scientists from the District Krishi Vigyan Kendra and the District Agriculture Officer, who provided technical knowledge and guidance.
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