Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Sujata Bhuyan, a woman from Odisha’s Sambalpur district, during the 132nd episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, highlighting her inspiring journey in fish farming as an example of self-reliance and innovation in the fisheries sector.
Bhuyan, initially a homemaker, took up fish farming in the Hirakud reservoir to support her family. Within just two or three years, she transformed the initiative into a thriving business.
Modi cited her success alongside other examples of grassroots innovation in fisheries and seaweed farming, noting how such efforts are driving change and boosting livelihoods in rural India. He commended all the people associated with the sector, saying their efforts are strengthening the nation’s economy.
Sujata expressed immense happiness after receiving appreciation from the Prime Minister. “The Prime Minister’s words of encouragement will inspire me to move forward in my entrepreneurial journey,” she stated.
Bhuyan began her fish farming venture in 2022 after availing a loan from the state’s Fisheries Department. What started as a small initiative has now turned into a thriving business. She produces between 25 to 30 tonnes of fish annually and supplies her produce to markets in Raipur, Kolkata, and Andhra Pradesh.
She achieved a notable milestone with a successful harvest of around 6 tonnes of Tilapia through ‘Cage Culture’ in the Hirakud reservoir. The fresh catch was supplied to markets including Vijayawada, demonstrating the commercial viability and scalability of her aquaculture venture.
The enterprising farmer revealed that her annual income from the business ranges between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 7 lakh.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi shared a clip of the episode and wrote: Prime Minister mentioning Sujata Bhuyan’s success in the national programme is a matter of great pride for the entire state of Odisha. “Her inspiring journey will undoubtedly encourage other women in the state to become Atmanirbhar (self-reliant),” he added.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀ ତାଙ୍କର ‘ମନ୍ କି ବାତ୍’ (#MannKiBaat) କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ସଫଳ ମହିଳା ମତ୍ସ୍ୟ ଉଦ୍ୟୋଗୀ ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ସୁଜାତା ଭୂୟାଁଙ୍କ ସଫଳତା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରିଥିବାରୁ ମୁଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆନ୍ତରିକ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ ଜଣାଉଛି। ଏହା ସମଗ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଗୌରବର ବିଷୟ।
ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଭୂୟାଁ… pic.twitter.com/AOJ1URlcuN
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) March 29, 2026
