CONTEXT: The idea to switch to strawberry farming was put forward by Chuktia Bhunjia Development Agency (CBDA), a body set up by the Odisha government in 1994-95 for the welfare of the Chuktia Bhunjia tribes.

• Chuktia Bhunjia farmers in Odisha's Nuapada district have successfully transitioned to strawberry farming, improving their income significantly.
• The switch to strawberry farming was suggested by the Chuktia Bhunjia Development Agency (CBDA), a body established by the Odisha government for the welfare of the Chuktia Bhunjia tribes.
• The Sunabeda plateau's cool climate, sitting at 3,000 feet above sea level, provides ideal conditions for strawberry cultivation.
• Farmers were trained in strawberry farming basics during a visit to Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.
• With the help of CBDA and the horticulture department, farmers obtained strawberry saplings from Mahabaleshwar and implemented drip irrigation.
• Traditional crops like paddy, millets, and vegetables were replaced by strawberries, resulting in significantly higher earnings.
• Kaliram Suar, a farmer, earned around Rs 4 lakh in one year from strawberry farming, compared to Rs 70,000-80,000 from traditional crops.
• More than 25 farmers have taken up strawberry farming in over 30 acres of land, expanding from seven farmers and 10 acres in the previous year.
• Marketing the strawberry produce has been a challenge, but the Sunabeda district administration has helped farmers market their strawberries under the brand "Sunabeda Strawberries."
• The Odisha PVTG Empowerment and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (OPELIP) has developed a marketing strategy to sell strawberries produced in tribal areas.
• OPELIP aims to involve tribal farmers in the entire process, from development to marketing, and is working on improving packaging and branding.

Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Spanning 500 square kilometres, the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary is a proposed Tiger Reserve.
• The sanctuary, with its expansive plateau, canyons, and 11 waterfalls, houses a diverse range of wildlife.
• It also acts as the catchment area for the Jonk River, where a dam has been constructed to aid in irrigation.
• A wide range of wildlife, including tigers, swamp deer, leopards, gaurs, sloth bears, barking deer, and more, can be spotted here.

Chuktia Bhunjia

• Bhunjias, are an ethnic group found in India mainly reside in Sunabeda plateau in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

• According to the tribe, the term “Bhunjia” means “growing out of land” or “origin from the earth”.
• The Bhunjia have racial and cultural affinity with the Gonds of Orissa.
• There are many myths among the Bhunjia and the Gond, which speak of strong relationship among the Gonds and the Bhunjias.
• On setting in the Sunabeda plateau, the Bhunjias did not have marital relations with any tribal group, but in course of time, when the Gonds came into their area, marital relation was established with them.

Climatic conditions for strawberry farming

The ideal temperature for strawberries is between 13 and 22 degrees Celsius. To enhance fruiting and flowering, plants need a minimum of 8 hours of full light per day. Both the weather and the temperature affect plant development.