Sambalpur, Sep 8: In a landmark moment for Odisha’s agricultural innovation, the exotic North American flower Eustoma has bloomed successfully in Sanatanpali village of Jujumura block, Sambalpur.

The trial cultivation was undertaken by the Sabuja Sanatanpali Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO), which received 2,000 saplings from CSIR-Lucknow earlier this year.

The flowers were planted inside a polyhouse inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on April 14, 2025. Within just three months, the saplings have flourished, producing vibrant blooms in five varieties. Minister Pradhan celebrated the success on social media, calling it a proud first for Odisha and a promising step toward commercial floriculture.

ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ମାଟିରେ ସୁଗନ୍ଧର ବିପ୍ଳବ ! ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରଥମ ଥର ପାଇଁ ଫୁଟିଲା ଦାମୀ ବିଦେଶୀ ଫୁଲ ‘ଇଉଷ୍ଟୋମା’ । ଏହି ଅଭୂତପୂର୍ବ ସଫଳତା ଆମ ଚାଷୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆଣିଦେବ ଆର୍ଥିକ ସମୃଦ୍ଧିର ନୂଆ ସମ୍ଭାବନା । @arvindpadhee pic.twitter.com/ZbdMkH92Lj
— କୃଷି ବିଭାଗ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା (@krushibibhag) September 8, 2025

Eustoma, known for its long shelf life and elegance, is widely cultivated in Europe, Australia, Japan, and the US. Its high market demand makes it a lucrative crop, with bouquets fetching up to ₹1,500. Though the flowers are not yet being sold, the harvested blooms will be preserved for further study and seed development.

Young farmer Itish Pradhan led the cultivation efforts, overcoming initial pest challenges with guidance from CSIR experts. His success has inspired other farmers in the region to consider floriculture as a viable alternative to traditional crops.

On Friday, a team from the Odisha Agriculture Department, led by Joint Director Geetashree Padhi, visited the site to assess the results. Officials expressed optimism that Eustoma could significantly boost rural incomes if scaled commercially.

With its first bloom, Eustoma has not only added colour to Sambalpur’s fields but also opened doors to global floriculture markets for Odisha’s farmers.

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