DANG, Nov 4: An increasing number of farmers in Dang district are turning to commercial marigold farming, particularly targeting festivals such as Tihar.
Prem Bibas Gharti of Tulasipur, who works in the music industry, has started marigold farming in partnership with four other individuals at Jinuwagau in Tulasipur Sub-Metropolitan City-17.
"I have started cultivating marigold flowers to engage myself in the agriculture sector as well," Gharti said.
Through the Sugandhit Agriculture Group, they have cultivated the 'Karma 555' variety of marigold on five katthas of land. They have planted around 2,400 saplings and expect to produce around 10 quintals of flowers.
Marigold flower blooms for Tihar
"We have already received advance orders for more than one quintal of flowers ahead of Tihar. We have taken up marigold farming with the aim of spreading the message that flowers produced locally should also be consumed locally," he said.
Not only individual farmers and groups, but agricultural cooperatives are also becoming active in commercial marigold farming.
The Bijauri Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperative has started commercial marigold farming at Bankatta after leasing one bigha of land for five years at an annual rate of Rs 2,000 per kattha.
Cooperative Chairperson Chitra Dhital said the cooperative has set a target of earning Rs 1.2 million to Rs 1.6 million from the venture. The cooperative has been promoting its marigold farming through social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook and has been receiving orders from different places.
Similarly, Green City Multi-Purpose Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Firm, based in Tulasipur-15, has also started commercially selling marigold flowers and garlands.
Farm proprietor Ashish BC said the firm produces attractive yellow and orange marigold flowers. It supplies flowers and garlands at both wholesale and retail prices.
BC added that marigold farming, ranging from individual initiatives to large agricultural firms, has helped Dang move towards self-reliance in flower production.
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