Krishna Oram, residing in Bheluadihi village in the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district of Odisha, now makes more than Rs3 lakh each year from growing maize. However, just three years ago, he used to cultivate paddy and vegetables, bringing in a modest income of Rs20,000 annually.
Krishna made the switch to maize farming after Bimal Lakra, the founder of Gangpur Ventures Private Limited (GVPL), enlightened him about the advantages of cultivating maize. Maize is utilized in making silage, a type of animal feed.
Fodder refers to dried hay or straw, whereas silage is a moisture-rich feed created by compressing and fermenting fresh green fodder. It has the advantage of being storable for extended periods under airtight conditions.
Boosting earnings through the cultivation of maize
Krishna, a member of the Oram tribe, shares his journey, “In the past, my yearly income from cultivating paddy, vegetables, and maize on just 0.4 acres ranged from Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 across 2.5 acres of land. However, after leasing an additional six acres and following GVPL’s suggestion to cultivate maize for silage, my fortunes changed.”
Krishna enthusiastically mentions, “Now, I yield 38 tonnes of maize forage per acre during the six months of Rabi and Kharif seasons.” Notably, 45 other farmers have joined in, making maize their primary crop and witnessing a more than tenfold increase in their income.
GVPL collaborates with a total of 97 farmers from Oram, Kisan, Khadia, and Munda tribes. These tribal farmers are spread across 21 villages in the Rajgangpur, Kutra, and Bargaon blocks of Sundargarh.
In the past, farmers would sell maize seeds, known as “makka manji” in Odia, in the local market, fetching varying prices ranging from Rs 3 to Rs 10 per kg. However, there’s been a positive shift as they now generate a significantly higher income by selling their forage to GVPL at Rs 3 per kg.
GVPL is making a meaningful impact by creating opportunities for livelihoods among tribal communities in Odisha. Additionally, they are addressing the shortage of fodder and silage in the dairy farming industry. Maize silage proves to be a cost-effective, high-energy, and starch-rich feed for cattle.
The startup, GVPL, supports commercial dairy farms by bringing tribal farmers together in producer groups to cultivate maize crops. GVPL then purchases the maize at Rs3 per kg.
Minati Nag, a Munda woman farmer in the village of Kukuk under Rajgangpur block, shares the positive impact, “In our village of 80 households, only four farmers were cultivating maize on six acres before. Now, 30 farmers, including 20 women, are involved in farming over 17 acres.”
Minati proudly mentions her earnings, “I make over Rs. 1.75 lakh from green maize forage in my three acres, which includes 2.5 acres I’ve leased at Rs 5,000 per acre. Each acre yields an impressive 35 tonnes annually.” She adds, “We obtain seeds from GVPL at Rs 330 per kilogram, and GVPL deducts this from our sale proceeds.”
Looking ahead, Bimal, a member of the Oram tribe, outlines their future goals, “Our aim is to involve 200 farmers in Odisha and 50 in Jharkhand by the year 2024.”
Launching a venture focused on silage.
Bimal, the son of a former SAIL employee from Rourkela, originates from the village of Barilapta in Sundargarh and currently resides in the steel city. The concept for his startup emerged in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic while he was working with the NGO Kshamta Foundation in Rourkela. This organization focuses on agriculture, animal husbandry, and dairy farming.
Bimal’s interactions with farmers during his time at the NGO made him aware of the shortage of silage, inspiring him to establish a venture that produces silage from maize forage.
Taking a break from the NGO during the pandemic, he founded GVPL in 2021.
The tribal entrepreneur shares his academic journey, saying, “After graduating with honors in Botany from Government Autonomous College, Rourkela, I started working at the NGO as an executive. I later took a break when I became its managing director. During this period, I completed my MBA in HR and marketing in 2016.”
Reflecting on the establishment of GVPL, he mentions, “I initiated GVPL with an investment of Rs 47 lakh, which included my savings of Rs 12 lakh. The remaining amount was secured through a bank loan.”
Closing the gap in fodder supply
In the fiscal year 2022, GVPL had three dairy farmers as clients, and now that number has increased to 17. Previously, these dairy farmers used to get their silage from Punjab and Maharashtra, and some had to rely on silage producers in the Koraput and Bolangir districts of Odisha.
Highlighting the situation, Bimal explains, “We sell our product at an average rate of Rs 6.30 per kg, while silage sourced from Punjab or Maharashtra costs around Rs 11. That’s why all our silage is sold within six months of production.”
Addressing the fodder deficit in Odisha, as reported by the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), GVPL is actively working to bridge the gap in both green and dry fodder, which stands at 48 percent and 24 percent, respectively.
In the financial year 2021-22, GVPL achieved an annual turnover of Rs 36 lakh. Remarkably, it experienced a substantial growth, reaching nearly Rs 2 crore in 2023-24, with expectations to further increase to Rs 5 crore in 2024-25.
The agri entrepreneur shares insights, stating, “Our annual production is currently at 2,000 metric tonnes, and we anticipate doubling it to 4,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2024.”
Discussing the economic impact, he explains, “The cost for dry fodder, concentrate feed, and minerals for bovine consumption is about Rs 320 per animal per day. However, this amount decreases to Rs 261 when supplemented with silage.”
According to NABARD, while Odisha’s milk production was 8.75 lakh metric tonnes in 2000, it has now risen to 24 lakh metric tonnes. However, the per day per capita milk availability in the state is only 144 grams, compared to the national average of 444 grams.
Explaining the benefits, the agri entrepreneur notes, “With silage, the milk production of a cow that yields about 15 litres a day goes up by 10 to 15 percent on average. This can also enhance milk availability in the state.”
Supporting this perspective, Assistant Fodder Development Officer Swapnananda Mohapatra from the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services in Odisha adds, “Moreover, solids not fat (SNF) in milk, which is used to make cheese, increases by five to seven percent.”
Consuming silage not only enhances the disease-fighting ability of cattle but also lowers the expenses on veterinary medication. Bidhu Bhusan Rath, a dairy farm owner in Brahmagiri of Puri district, concurs, saying, “The cost of preventive and curative measures for a Jersey breed ranges between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 per month. However, it decreases by nearly 20 to 30 percent after silage consumption. It’s crucial, though, that the silage is free of fungus afflatus; otherwise, it can be fatal.” Bidhu, who manages 45 cows on his farm, emphasizes the importance of ensuring silage quality to avoid any potential harm.
Plans for the future
Bimal is gearing up for business expansion and intends to secure a loan of Rs 1.80 crore through the state government’s Mukhyamantri Krishi Udyog Yojana (MKUY). This move will make him eligible for a 50 percent subsidy.
Explaining the future plans, Bimal shares, “We are looking to collaborate with NABARD under the Livelihood and Enterprise Development Programme to train 120 tribal women in silage entrepreneurship in Sundargarh district.”
Elaborating on the broader mission, he states, “Our goal is to address the issue of fodder shortage in Odisha. Additionally, we aim to create a reliable source of livelihood for tribal communities by commercializing the rural value chain.”
