Kotia, Mar 9: Kotia, often claimed by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well, is emerging as a success story under Odisha’s focused development initiatives. Traditionally, local farmers in Kotia have cultivated paddy and other traditional crops for generations. However, such farming practices rarely yielded substantial profits.

Thanks to government efforts and the determination of local women, strawberry cultivation has now become a source of livelihood, fostering self-reliance among women farmers. The Odisha government has actively encouraged women in the region to adopt this high-value crop, providing modern farming facilities such as mulching and drip irrigation. Notably, the cultivation follows organic practices, with no chemical fertilisers used.

Under this initiative, women farmers were selected by the Kotia Panchayat to cultivate a one-acre plot at the foothills. Last November, the land was ploughed and prepared for planting. The government supplied all necessary modern amenities to support the cultivation process. The women farmers prepared the beds, removed weeds, and planted strawberry saplings using fully organic methods.

Currently, 10 to 15 women work daily as labourers on the farm. Within three months, the strawberry plants began bearing bright red fruits, yielding 10 to 15 kilograms of strawberries each day. The fruits are carefully harvested, packed, and sold at roadside stalls. Tourists visiting the nearby Deomali hills are buying and enjoying the strawberries, and some are also sent to nearby towns for sale.

This initiative not only benefits the local women farmers but also provides employment opportunities for labourers involved in cultivation and harvesting. Local representatives have urged the government to promote strawberry cultivation on a larger scale in the region, ensure fair pricing, and establish better marketing and export channels.

The state government has promised support, with Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Sindeo assuring arrangements for large-scale cultivation, enhanced marketing, and export opportunities to boost income for local farmers.