Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 22: A youth from Mottethadka here, during the last year's lockdown period, started to cultivate jasmine in his terrace. By opening up a new avenue of income when it was showing the signs of drying up, the youth attracted the attention of the entire state.

Sandeep Lobo from Mottethadka lives in a house built in his five cents site. During the previous lockdown, he planned to try his hand at jasmine cultivation. He thought of growing this flower in the vacant place on his terrace. In about 1,000 square feet of terrace, he filled gunny bags with 25 kg of mud and planted the jasmine saplings. Now, jasmine plants have grown robustly in about 72 gunny bags.

Lobo began to sell jasmine flowers from the sixth month of starting cultivation. He gets jasmine that is enough to weave six to seven chendu (rolled jasmine plaits) per day. He has so far earned a profit of Rs 35,000. He provides water and manure (dung) to the plants on a regular basis. He also grows some vegetables on his terrace. He converts waste produced at his home into manure before using. BJP national general secretary C T Ravi also hailed his initiative through a tweet a few days ago.

Sandeep Lobo, who started to cultivate jasmine on the terrace during the previous lockdown notes that the price of jasmine is fixed everyday based on Udupi market. There are volatile changes in the price depending on the seasonal demand. He says he has tasted success in jasmine cultivation. Lobo admits he was inspired by the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, a concept envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.