Balasore: Giving up a job, an engineering graduate of Rupsa area of Odisha’s Balasore district made a foray into farming. He scripted success in the new venture and set an example for others.
Rupak Behera of Samilhasanpur was working in a private company after completing his engineering degree. Covid-19-induced situation had taken a heavy toll on the company, forcing Rupak to quit the job.
He reportedly decided to something new that can give him decent source of living and a new identity.
“I thought of getting into farming. I along with some of my friends started farming of mushroom, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkins and vegetable. Initial profits from the farming motivated us to do it on a larger scale,” Rupak said.
This year, he has grown watermelon on an acre of land by investing Rs 4 lakh. “I expect an earning of Rs 7 to 8 lakh from sales of watermelon. I have already harvested two quintals of watermelon while three more quintals will be produced,” he added.
He is supplying watermelons to areas like Gadabeda, Paunsakuda, Khargpur, Midnapore and various other parts of neighbouring West Bengal.
“A quintal of watermelon is locally sold for Rs 1500 while its prices range between Rs 1800 to Rs 2000 in West Bengal. Hence, there is more profits from selling the produce to the neighboring state,” he reasoned.
Rupak has now planned to further expand his farming to production of high yielding berries, Kashmir apples, papaya, guava and Thailand berries on his farm.
The success of Rupak in farming has shown the way for the youth who are wearied running after jobs or sitting idle.
