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From Struggle to Stability: Joshoda’s Garden of Hope

In the quaint village of Singapalli, in the Khollikote Block of Ganjam district, lives B. Joshoda Patra with her husband. Their two daughters, now married, visit their parents occasionally. Her husband, now 70 years old, was once a daily laborer, but arthritis and other health issues have rendered him unable to work for the past two years.

To support her family, Joshoda took on seasonal labor during the cultivation season. However, with only a small patch of land near their house and no other source of income, it became increasingly difficult to secure enough food and medicine for her husband.

In 2022, as part of a nutrition promotion program, the VHAI field team, with support from Krishi Mitra of the local Gram Panchayat, approached Joshoda. They convinced her to start a kitchen garden and provided her with vegetable seeds, seedlings, and fertilizer. They also guided her through the cultivation of seasonal vegetables and established a connection with the block-level unit of the Odisha Livelihood Mission for ongoing support and guidance.

In the first year, Joshoda successfully cultivated drumsticks, bananas, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers, earning around Rs. 15,000 by selling the produce to local vendors. Encouraged by this success, and with additional support from the agriculture department, a bore well was installed on her land in 2023. This allowed her to grow vegetables year-round, and she earned Rs. 40,000 by selling directly in the local market.

Now, Joshoda can manage her daily needs, including her husband’s medical treatment. She is deeply grateful to VHAI for their timely support and guidance, which transformed her life and brought newfound stability to her family.