Thursday, 16 November 2023 | PNS | BAGESHWAR
The people of Mankot in Bageshwar district claim to have become self-reliant in collaboration with the district horticulture department through flower cultivation under the Horticulture Technology Mission Scheme rolled out by the government. They said that if the government policies are implemented sincerely to boost development at the local levels it is bound to transform life developmentally.
They further said that the sincere implementation of this scheme is proving particularly helpful for the youth. “We are now cultivating marigold flowers in about three hectares of land and every farmer has started earning money to the tune of Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year just from flower cultivation,” said one of the villagers.
They claimed that the horticulture farmers have earned around Rs 5 lakh on the festival of Deepawali. “Adequate quantities of flowers are available in the district for weddings and other religious events and festivals. Earlier, flowers were brought in from Haldwani, Bareilly or Ramnagar. But the scenario has changed completely now. We are in a position to send flowers to other districts and States,” said a villager engaged in flower farming.
A flower producer from Mankot, Rajesh Choubey said that he had cultivated marigold flowers on twenty nalis of land. “And I have sold flowers worth over Rs one lakh on Deepawali festival. More importantly, taking inspiration from my work, my cousins Manoj and Bhagwat Chaubey have also started flower farming. Both are now growing flowers on 50 nalis of land,” he added.
The people of this region say in unison that if the farmers get advanced seeds, agricultural technology and equipment at the right time farming can generate abundant employment opportunities even in the mountain villages. “If this happens it will fulfil the Prime Minister’s vocal for local call,” said a Mankot villager.
While commenting on flower farming proving instrumental in transforming life in mountainous areas, the district horticulture officer RK Singh said that the production volume of hybrid marigold flowers keeps increasing with time. “As a result, the income of the farmers is looking up,” he said and added that the climate of Bageshwar, Garud, Kafligair and Shama areas is very conducive to marigold flower cultivation. “Marigold can be grown on ridges along with other vegetables and it also acts as an insecticide,” Singh said.
