Cultivating success through greenhouse farming: Suhasini Praghan's journey

A Legacy Rooted in Agriculture

At 43 years of age, Suhasini Pradhan hails from Janisahi village under the Daspalla block in Odisha’s Nayagarh district — a region renowned for its rich agricultural heritage. Alongside her husband, agri-entrepreneur Dharanidhar Pradhan, their son Suchitananda, and her father-in-law Damodar Pradhan, Suhasini’s family has long been devoted to cultivating the land and sustaining the rural economy of their community.

The Struggles of Conventional Farming

Initially, Suhasini focused on pulses — primarily green gram — and managed a half-acre vegetable patch. Despite relentless effort, she faced two critical challenges:

• Water scarcity: Reliance on a nearby well meant high costs and unpredictable dry spells during intense summer heat.

• Pest pressure: Frequent infestations required costly interventions, yet crop losses persisted.

Over a two-month cycle, Suhasini invested ₹4,000: ₹2,500 on water facilities and ₹700 on pest control. Yet her returns oscillated between a meager 5% profit and distressing losses up to 14%, illustrating the urgent need for more resilient farming methods.

Discovering Greenhouse Farming

Hope arrived when Jeevan Rekha Parishad (JRP), a grassroots NGO, organized a community awareness program showcasing greenhouse farming. Suhasini learned how controlled environments could:

• Conserve water through drip irrigation systems

• Shield crops from extreme weather and pests

• Shorten production cycles for higher turnover

Intrigued by this sustainable approach, she resolved to transform her farming model.

Partnership and Support

With technical guidance from JRP and financial backing from Jeevika Trust (UK), Suhasini embarked on her first greenhouse project. This collaboration provided:

• Design expertise: Tailored greenhouse structures suited to local climate

• Training sessions: Best practices for soil preparation, planting density, and integrated pest management

• Seed and input support: Quality seedlings and organic pest deterrents

The First Greenhouse Cycle

Investing ₹3,000 into her new greenhouse, Suhasini allocated:

• ₹1,200 for irrigation infrastructure

• ₹500 for pest-management inputs

Within just 45 days, she harvested a vibrant crop of cauliflower. The results were striking:

• Profit margins: Climbed to 15–18%

• Water use: Reduced by over 50% compared to open-field cultivation

• Pest incidents: Dramatically decreased, allowing for a shift toward organic methods

For the first time, Suhasini experienced consistent profitability and minimized environmental impact.

Transformative Impact on Livelihood

Greenhouse farming has since become Suhasini’s primary cultivation method. Key benefits include:

• Enhanced yield stability: Year-round production cycles buffer against monsoon variability

• Cost efficiency: Lower expenditures on water and chemical inputs

• Market advantage: Premium prices for high-quality, pesticide-lean vegetables

Her success has also inspired neighbouring farmers to explore controlled-environment agriculture, fostering a ripple effect of innovation across Janisahi.

Embracing Sustainability and Organic Practices

The enclosed greenhouse arena naturally limits pest infiltration. Consequently, Suhasini has been able to:

1. Reduce insecticide use, transitioning toward natural predators and biopesticides

2. Adopt organic cultivation principles, enhancing soil health and consumer appeal

3. Optimize resource use, positioning her farm as a model of environmental stewardship

   
   

Conclusion

Suhasini Pradhan’s journey from resource-strapped cultivator to greenhouse pioneer exemplifies Jeevika Trust’s mission: empowering rural communities through sustainable livelihood opportunities. By integrating modern technology with traditional wisdom, she has not only secured her family’s future but also championed women’s economic empowerment in her village. As Suhasini continues to refine her greenhouse techniques, her story stands as a testament to the transformative power of innovation in rural India.