On the occasion of National Farmer’s Day, Livelihood Alternatives organized a workshop on “Prospects & Potential of Tissue Culture-Based Banana Cultivation” at the Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC), Bhubaneswar, on December 23, 2025. The workshop aimed to promote scientific and market-oriented banana cultivation practices to enhance productivity, quality, and farmers’ income.
The programme saw active participation from farmers representing various Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from the districts of Angul, Gajapati, and Puri. Discussions focused on advanced cultivation practices, disease-free planting material through tissue culture, innovative techniques, waste-to-wealth approaches, and strengthening market linkages for banana producers
The event was graced by the Sh. Agasti Behera, Honourable MLA, Chendipada as the Chief Guest. Sh. Sudhanshu Sekhar Khora, IFS, Chief Executive of RPRC, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha; Sh. Pradipta Kumar Sahoo, Director & CEO, Morton Foods; Mrs. Anindita Guha, State Head, NAFED; Debashish Hota, Assistant Professor, Fruit Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOA University, Bhubaneswar and Dr. C. Kali Dass, Scientist-in-Charge, RPRC were some the distinguished guests who spoke to the farmers on the occasion. Sh Sambit Tripathy, Founder Livelihood Alternatives, welcomed and felicitated all guests.
On this occasion, three progressive banana farmers Sushil Kumar Pradhan (Kaniha), Purna Chandra Dehury (Chendipada), and Rabindra Gamango (Mohana) were honoured with the “Livelihood Award” in recognition of their contribution to agriculture.
The initiative reaffirmed Livelihood Alternatives’ commitment to sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment through knowledge and technology.