DIMAPUR: Progressive woman farmer Vesalu Puro of Porba village in Phek district has received national recognition after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted her floriculture success story during the 137th episode of Mann Ki Baat on August 30.
Puro began growing flowers on a small scale in 2021 to meet local demand for weddings, church functions, festivals and other occasions. With technical support from ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Phek, under ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, and ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, Umiam, she was introduced to the gladiolus variety ‘Arka Amar’. KVK Phek provided her 6,000 corms along with technical training and guidance in scientific floriculture. From 0.25 acre, she harvested around 5,400 marketable flower spikes, generating a gross income of Rs.81,000, a net income of Rs.52,070 and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.80:1.
Encouraged by the results, Puro expanded and diversified her enterprise. She now grows around 400 varieties of fresh-cut flowers, including hydrangea, peony, delphinium, stock, eucalyptus and gladiolus. Her flowers, initially sold locally, are now supplied across Nagaland and to metropolitan markets including Delhi and Mumbai. Her enterprise has also expanded into wedding bouquets, floral arrangements and floriculture-based agro-tourism, creating avenues for income, employment and entrepreneurship.
Her success story, titled “From a Small Flower Farm to a Blossoming Enterprise: The Success Story of Vesalu Puro,” was published by the ICAR on August 21. It was subsequently featured by The New Indian Express under the headline “Small Trial Blooms into a Flower Farm” and highlighted on ICAR’s official social media platforms.
ICAR-KVK Phek Head Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Singh said the recognition was a matter of pride for Phek and Nagaland and demonstrated how passion, perseverance, scientific knowledge, institutional support and entrepreneurship could transform a modest beginning into a sustainable rural enterprise.
He said Puro had emerged as a role model for youth and aspiring entrepreneurs, with her success already encouraging young people in Phek to take up floriculture with KVK guidance. He added that the Prime Minister’s recognition would further motivate women and youth to explore high-value agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Girish Patil S, director, ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, said KVK Phek had provided technological and institutional support to farmers in Phek during the past two years under the Government of India’s NEH programme, focusing on livelihood improvement, entrepreneurship and strengthening rural economies. Puro’s journey, KVK said, highlights the potential of women-led entrepreneurship, high-value horticulture and farmer-scientist collaboration in transforming rural livelihoods in the North East.
