Sohan Kumar Mandal was looking for a more reliable way to strengthen his family’s income when he joined an Entrepreneurship Development Programme under ESAF Skill LEAP by Prachodhan Development Services. The training focused on marigold cultivation and introduced him to scientific farming methods, crop management and market opportunities.

With the intention of applying his learning, Sohan started marigold cultivation soon after completing the training. His first season produced encouraging results, generating a profit of nearly Rs.50,000. Rather than using the entire income for immediate household needs, he reinvested part of it to establish a small grocery shop for his wife.

The diversification created an additional source of income for the family. In the following season, Sohan continued cultivating marigolds, and at the time of the case study had already earned Rs.20,000–Rs.30,000 from ongoing sales, with harvesting still in progress.

Sohan’s experience shows how practical livelihood training can move beyond knowledge transfer. When skills are applied with confidence and supported by reinvestment, they can help rural households diversify income, manage risks and build a stronger foundation for long-term economic resilience.