India, March 18 -- Odisha's farmers are redefining agricultural possibilities by embracing unconventional crops such as strawberries, dragon fruit, marigolds, and roses. Once reliant on traditional farming methods or even illegal cultivation, these farmers are now finding economic stability and lifetime prosperity.

Strawberry Success in Kandhamal and Malkangiri

In Kandhamal and Malkangiri, tribal women have successfully introduced strawberry farming despite the state's typically warm climate. Women from the Annapurna self-help group (SHG) in Kandhamal's Raikia block, supported by state initiatives, cultivated and harvested strawberries on over two acres.

Similarly, in Malkangiri's Bonda Ghati region, families who initially hesitated ha...