Guwahati: What began as a simple fascination with flowers has grown into a commercial venture for a woman farmer from Nagaland’s Phek district, with her produce now finding buyers in major cities including Delhi and Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the journey of Vesalu Puro during the 137th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, as an example of how farming interests can evolve into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Puro, who comes from a farming family, developed an interest in flowers while watching her parents work on their farm. She began cultivating flowers on a small scale in 2021.
As she explored the commercial potential of floriculture, Puro identified the demand generated by weddings, festivals and other occasions. She subsequently underwent training in scientific flower cultivation at her local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).
Armed with the new knowledge, she planted thousands of gladiolus bulbs on a quarter-acre plot. Her first crop yielded more than 5,000 flowers, Modi said.
The venture has since expanded beyond her local market. Flowers grown by Puro, which were initially sold within Nagaland, are now being transported to markets in Delhi and Mumbai.
Modi said Puro’s experience showed how passion, sustained effort and access to the right guidance can help farmers create new avenues of income.
The Prime Minister cited her story while speaking about several individuals from across the country who have transformed small initiatives, traditional practices and personal interests into enterprises and opportunities for others.