Micro Agri Enterprise Empowers Malati Mohanta

<p>Malti Mohanta, an emerging agri-entrepreneur from Champajhar village in Thakurmunda blcok of Mayurbhanj district, lives with her husband, Deepak Mahanta, in a joint family that cultivates paddy for their own consumption. They didn't know how to increase their income through diverse agricultural activities and market sales until CYSD introduced the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) program with BRLF.</p> <p>Malti joined the Chindigiri Producers Group and attended several capacity-building programs by the CYSD APC team, in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture. These programs covered vegetable cultivation techniques and entrepreneurship models, such as seed line preparation and value addition. Inspired by the training, Malti adopted soilless nursery models for vegetable seedling production.</p> <p>Seeing her potential, the CYSD team supported her and coordinated with various government departments. The Horticulture Department, under the RKVY scheme, supported Malti's venture. By August 2023, she launched her project, contributing Rs. 2,84,782 while receiving Rs.3,71,532 from the RKVY scheme, covering a total project cost of Rs. 6,56,314.</p> <p>Throughout the process, the CYSD program team provided technical guidance in seedling preparation, seedbed management, pest and disease control, and marketing. Initially, Malti invested Rs. 10,000 in seeds for brinjal, tomato, chilli, cabbage, cauliflower, and cherry tomato. After selling her first batch of seedlings, she made a profit of Rs. 15,000.</p> <p>Within a month, the seedlings were ready for sale, and the profit I earned was quite satisfying, Malti remarked cheerfully. Malti's success has inspired other women farmers in her community.</p>