Integrated Vegetable Cultivation in Odisha: Promoting a Climate Smart Viable Business Model
Integrated Vegetable Cultivation in Odisha: Promoting a Climate Smart Viable Business Model
Authors : Pradeep Kumar Mishra and Kushankur Dey
The Integrated Vegetable Cultivation (IVC) project implemented by Patneswari Agri
Producer Company Limited (PAPCL) in Rayagada district of Odisha and initiated
in 2016-17 is unique convergence model to overcome the challenges of high upfront
investment costs while ensuring appropriate utilization of natural resources (see
operational model in Figure 1). The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) extended the credit facility under the aegis of Umbrella
Program for Natural Resource Management (UPNRM) with loan and grant funds,
revolving funds and grant from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, as well as contributions from
PAPCL and project participants. The project offered the resource poor tribal farming
households an opportunity to improve their income stream and transition their
subsistence livelihoods to sustainable levels. Under the initiative, each participating
household brought 50 decimal of their land under integrated vegetable cultivation.
Vegetable production contributes to India’s agriculture and improves the economy’s
export potential. Earlier it was cultivated as subsistence crop with cereals, pulses and
oilseeds and occupied a meagre share
of total cropped area. Increasing
urbanization, rising income and
purchasing power among middle
class as well as sizable additions to
population have augmented the
demand for vegetable. The IVC
model aimed at optimal utilization
of land and water resources available
with the farmers for improving
farm income, health and nutrition,
and sustainability, while meeting
the requirements of climate smart
agriculture.
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