Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Sept 19: After successfully venturing into exotic lavender farming, which not only brought purple revolution here but also helped around 1,000 families during COVID inducted lockdown to earn their livelihood beside providing others job during pandemic time, now it’s the turn of marigold which is rapidly changing the fortunes of 500 families as they are flourishing by making Prime Minister’s dream of doubling farmers income true in real sense.
Five hundred families in Kellar Valley of Bhaderwah have switched from traditional maize and paddy to growing of different shades of yellow coloured marigold in a big way and are exporting 200 quintals a day to the city of temples-Jammu since June this year.
The farmers are happy over their decision in the backdrop of ever increasing demand as during summers when the supply from plains gets dried up from May to November due to hot weather, in the same period yellow flowers start blooming in the hills of Bhaderwah which has comparatively cold climatic conditions there by making to the demand.
The yellow coloured marigold flower is a key ingredient of all festivals of Hindu religion and Jammu being the city of temples with a footfall of hundreds of devotees every day, there is huge demand of the flower used in every pooja (worship).
The flower growers of Gajoth Panchayat in Kellar Valley who alone supply 100 quintals of marigold every day claimed that after switching to marigold farming their income has increased 4 times and they are happy over their decision as they are not only fulfilling PM’s dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat but have also doubled their income well before the set deadline of 2022.
The progressive farmers have also formed a cooperative so that they can manage hassle free supply of the flowers to the market according to the demand and without exploitation of the mediators.
Womenfolk of Kellar Valley are a happier lot as they are not only reaping in rich benefits but also enjoy and find it easy to work in marigold fields in comparison to that of Maize or paddy fields.
The supply of the yellow flower from the hills starts from June upto Diwali festival which falls in first week of November.
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