HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, May 4: “Right from the word go, we began with the confidence of winning the game and that has already started to show as products like G-9, Malbhoog and Amritsagar have been able to grab markets of the district,” Sailen Swargiary said this with enthusiasm, adding that banana is the highest consumed fruit among others having a good market across the world. Unfortunately, though it has manifold demand, the sector is totally unorganised in the area in comparison to other parts of the region. Sailen Swargiary, a talented engineer fired with the zeal to do something worthwhile for the general uplift of his economically backward community in his own simple way, resigned from the post of DGM of BSNL from Tezpur in December 2020 for doing something fruitful towards his community. Sharing his zeal of working in the agricultural sector for ensuring sustainable economic growth among the local people and farmers of his area through agriculture along with other farm activities, the former BSNL engineer said that the easy going tribal people are more accustomed to agricultural practices and therefore delving deep into this venture and being fully aware about the commercial viability in regard to growing demand for banana, they thought that their dream of showing a way towards achieving economic development for their community could also be transformed into a reality through this lucrative practice.
That among others, banana cultivation is also a lucrative agricultural practice which can be assessed from the fact that cultivation of the common fruit in a large scale and systematic way in acres of land in parts of Sonitpur district has been able to make significant inroads into the local market in recent times which has been made possible by two local progressive farmers of Sengahiloi area under Barchala LAC in Sonitpur district. Sailen Swargiary and Prabin Daimary, two down-to-earth progressive farmers of the area had a dream of setting an example of work culture among the local youths and mission to ignite an agro-based revolution in the area as the greater area is potent in this sector. Accordingly he started the project of banana cultivation a couple of years back with the support of his co farmer Pravin Daimary covering an area of 20 bighas of land.
“We started with the expenditure of Rs 5 lakh capital, the project now starts bringing a ray of hope for a number of educated unemployed youths who sit idle despite having potential in this regard. Presently we are selling Amritsagar at Rs 30 per kg, G-9 Rs 20 while Malbhoog at Rs 50 and till date we have supplied over 40 quintals banana to our local markets,” Sailen said and added that many youths go outside seeking livelihood, but if one dedicatedly gets involved in this sector it is sure that one could run his life with a comfortable economic condition.
