Discover how Colonel Sujan Mohanty embraced floriculture after retiring in 2012, turning his passion for flowers into a thriving orchid farming venture.

Colonel Sujan Mohanty, a 57-year-old retired army officer and civil engineer, built a thriving orchid farming business after 22 years of service. His farm, “Orchid n More,” located in Kantapada village near Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, just 23 km from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, generates an impressive annual turnover of Rs 15 lakh. Together with his wife, Monalisa Mohanty (53), they achieved this success in just two and a half years.

"Orchid cultivation is a challenging yet rewarding pursuit”, says Colonel Sujan Mohanty. According to him, patience and perseverance are key to making this vocation successful. “It takes two years to achieve a proper yield initially. An acre of land may start with just 60,000 flowers, but over time, that number can grow to nearly two lakhs. My training in the army has been instrumental in helping me thrive in this profession,” he shares, reflecting on the discipline and dedication required to succeed in orchid farming.

As the wife of an army man, these traits have become a part of me as well, says Monalisa Mohanty. “I take pride in being a strong support system for him, both in his personal and professional life.”

Colonel Sujan Mohanty once experimented with growing roses but eventually shifted his focus to orchids. “I chose orchids after discovering that a plucked rose lasts only two to three days, whereas an orchid vase, grown in a setup of coconut husks, can last 20 to 30 days,” he explains.

However, starting the orchid farm came with its own set of challenges. For one, Colonel Sujan Mohanty had no land or funds to bring his vision to life. Despite these obstacles, his determination to pursue floriculture pushed him to find solutions and make his dream a reality.

How “Orchids N More” Was Born

After retiring in 2012, Colonel Sujan Mohanty faced uncertainty about his next steps. While he was keen to start a new venture, he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. His true passion lay in floriculture, but he realized he needed time and experience to make a thoughtful decision.

To bridge the gap, he joined Bengaluru-based Café Coffee Day Group as the Head of Facilities for one of their IT Special Economic Zones (SEZs). This experience gave him valuable insights and time to plan his future venture, which eventually led to the birth of “Orchids N More.”

After spending a year with the Café Coffee Day Group, Colonel Sujan Mohanty transitioned to the Adani Group, where he served as the Head of Operations for a township in Ahmedabad until the end of 2016. Following this, he decided to return to his roots in Bhubaneswar, the city where he was born and raised. Once there, he joined OP&HS Infra, a civil engineering consultancy firm, as a director-partner, laying the groundwork for his eventual foray into orchid farming.

"As an army man, I can not be idle. These jobs kept me busy, but they also gave me the opportunity to research different types of floriculture," Sujan explains.

Despite his work, something felt incomplete. The persistent desire to pursue something of his own kept him occupied. He spent countless hours researching, surfing the internet, and debating business ideas with his friends and wife. Ultimately, in 2017, the Mohanty decided to focus on orchid farming as their new venture.

Determined to overcome the challenges, Sujan reached out to experts from the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and connected with various orchid growers in Huma, Ganjam district. By learning from their expertise and experiences, he gained the knowledge necessary to start his orchid farming journey.

Sujan and Monalisa 8-Month Tour to Master Orchid Farming

"My wife and I toured across India for eight months in 2018 to meet farmers and gain hands-on knowledge of the skill," Sujan shares.

Their journey took them to places like Siliguri in Assam, Shillong in Meghalaya, and Baramati near Pune in Maharashtra. Equipped with this newfound knowledge, the couple decided to take the plunge into farming.

They leased a 2,500 sqm patch from a 15-acre farm in Kantabada and secured a loan of Rs 24 lakh with a 50% subsidy from the horticulture department of Khordha district.

Dr. Debasish Mishra, Assistant Director (Horticulture) for Khordha, explains how the government scheme works: “Under the Protected Cultivation Component of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), the scheme supports various horticulture sectors, including flowers, aromatic plants, vegetables, tuber crops, roots, and mushrooms."

Sujan Mohanty Builds a Polyhouse for Orchid Cultivation

Taking full advantage of the government scheme, Sujan built a polyhouse — a specialized structure designed to create controlled climatic conditions for plant growth — on the land to house the orchid saplings.

Dr. (Prof) Sharat Chandra Sahoo from the Department of Fruit Science and Horticulture at OUAT explains, "Orchids thrive in a polyhouse when temperatures range between 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, with humidity between 40 to 70 percent. A micro-irrigation system is essential as orchids require minimal water. However, water requirements can vary depending on the species."

The Mohantys then sourced high-quality white and purple orchid saplings from Bengaluru, known for its best orchid varieties. They also hired around 25 local laborers to help launch their farming venture.

Sujan Mohanty Tackles Wildlife and Market Struggles

Despite the advantages of their location near Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mohantys faced threats from wild animals like elephants, boars, and deer that could damage the farm. The presence of venomous snakes was another significant concern for Sujan.

To protect the polyhouse, Sujan invested about Rs 6 lakh in a solar fence and placed pots filled with carbolic acid at the entry points to deter snakes. "I learned from the internet that the smell of carbolic acid keeps snakes away," he says. Fortunately, this solution proved effective on the farm.

Even with these measures in place, the road was still tough. The orchids took 10 months to bloom, but they were small and did not initially appeal to the flower markets in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, which have an annual turnover of over Rs 100 crore, with orchids making up nearly eight percent of that.

Undeterred, Sujan patiently waited for the orchids to grow in size and quality. Once they reached their full potential, they began selling for Rs 15 to Rs 30 per flower. Taking charge of sales and marketing, Sujan expanded the business beyond local markets to cities like Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, eventually gaining strong momentum.

Cyclone Fani and COVID-19 Disruptions

Just as the Mohantys were starting to see the fruits of their labor, disaster struck. In May 2019, Cyclone Fani hit, causing severe damage to their farm. The roof of the polyhouse was blown off, and part of the boundary wall collapsed due to the stormy downpour. To rebuild, the couple had to dip into their personal savings, spending over Rs 6 lakh.

As if that wasn”t enough, the COVID-19 pandemic followed in March 2020, bringing everything to a halt. Despite these significant setbacks, Monalisa, who manages the operations inside the polyhouse, says they refused to let these challenges demoralize them. The couple stayed determined and focused, finding ways to overcome each obstacle.

During the pandemic, the Mohantys found a way to give back to those who were risking their lives on the frontlines. "We presented our orchids to policemen, health workers, and other frontline warriors as a mark of respect for their selfless service during this trying time," Monalisa shares.

In addition, during the second wave of COVID-19, the couple created orchid bouquets and sold them for prices ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. "Though the sale proceeds were not enough, they helped cover nearly 15 percent of our management costs," she adds, reflecting on the difficult period.

Despite the challenges, the Mohanty managed to slowly recover. "We were able to sustain ourselves on my husband pension and the money we had saved. We are also grateful that we could support our staff during that crisis," Monalisa concludes.

Expansion and Diversification for the Orchid Farm

Sujan has big plans for the future of the farm. He intends to lease an additional 2,500 sqm of land next to his existing plot to expand the orchid farm. To fund this expansion, he has already applied for a loan of Rs 55 lakh, with a 50 percent subsidy.

He explains that the Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation, a state government undertaking, offers financial assistance through the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana, a state initiative to support agricultural enterprises.

While floriculture remains his primary focus, Sujan is also exploring apiculture, or beekeeping, as a new venture. When he first started the orchid farm, he invested in 15 boxes of bees and colonies, each costing Rs 4,000. He has since expanded, adding 25 more colonies to the farm.

The honey produced from the first batch of bees is selling for Rs 1,200 per litre, contributing to an annual turnover of over Rs 2.5 lakh. Sujan notes that both orchid farming and apiculture have greatly benefited from each other. "Apiculture has helped boost orchid production by 20 percent through pollination," he explains.

In addition to running the farm, Sujan and his wife now teach orchid farming and apiculture to farmers and interns at OUAT and Siksa “O” Anusandhan. "To date, we have briefed nearly 15 batches of farmers and interns," he says, proudly reflecting on how far he has come in realizing his entrepreneurial dream.

Edited by Gayathri