Story of a successful Assam farmer and entrepreneur - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Utpal Bora is a young farmer and entrepreneur from Jorhat, Assam. After completing his graduation, he failed to get a job. He then took up pisciculture and today he sets educates unemployed youths in the state on how to be self-reliant. Behind every successful venture,however, there is a lot of hard work. Utpal Bora of Bhatimora Gaon in Jorhat is the main supplier of fish seeds like Major Crab, Katla and Rau to various parts of Assam and neighbouring states. His ventures promote economic stability and sustainability and are an example for locals to emulate. "By starting their own business they will not only earn for themselves but can give employment to other educated youth. In fact this will also keep them away from anti-social activities and help in creating a stable society and ultimately contribute to the development of the state, said Utpal Bora. " Utpal Bora allows me to work as a casual worker and now I am a full time employee on his (Utpal's) fish farm. I have been working on this farm for the last 2 years and through my monthly salary, I am looking after my aged parents and family very well and we are living a very comfortable life. All this has happened because of Utpal's generosity," Baba Gowra, a worker. After completing his B.Com, Utpal took up a job in a tea garden and simultaneously studied for competitive exams, only to struggle for the next two years without any success. He then decided to start his own business. With a loan of Rs 1 Lakh from by his father, and another loan of Rs 70,000 from the State Bank of India, he bought land and dug up four ponds. A decade later he has added nine more ponds and now employs 15 people. This year he has made an investment of about 10 Lakh rupees to start a pig farm. "Seeing my performance, the fishery department has granted me 90 percent financial assistance under AACP Scheme to start a new Fish Hatchery tank. I am very proud of myself for my achievement. (INSERT)," Bora said. "I am also providing employment to 13 workers. My annual income is in between 3-4 lacs. I want to advise the young educated youths to start their own business like piggery, dairy farming and horticulture, he added. Bora's father Darubheshwar said : "I am very happy with my son (Utpal) for employing poor educated youth of this village on his fish farm. So, I want this generation's youth to take up this kind of self-employment very seriously." Utpal's decision to start his own business has worked. Others too can follow in his footsteps as the demand for fish and dairy products is growing in Assam and in other parts of the country.