From Farmer to Fame: Mitrabhanu Patel cultivates success in every acre

IN a time when corporate careers often overshadow the legacy of rural traditions, one man is quietly redefining success in rural India — not with degrees or diplomas, but with sheer determination, innovation, and a deep-rooted connection to the land.

- PBD BUREAU

Sixty-year-old Mitrabhanu Patel, a farmer from Gudigaon village in the Kolabira block of Jharsuguda district, has become a local icon, symbolizing agricultural excellence. While many in his generation have retired and younger people flock to urban centers in search of opportunities, Mitrabhanu has transformed his modest plot of land into a dynamic model of modern, diversified farming.

His orchard is a masterpiece of innovation and colour. On just one acre of land, Mitrabhanu grows an impressive variety of mangoes — Himsagar, Langda, Amrapali, Kesar, Neelam, Dashari, and more. Through the technique of grafting, he has created trees that bear up to five different mango varieties on a single trunk, an extraordinary feat that attracts both curious onlookers and fellow farmers eager to learn from him.