Flower Cultivation Gains Popularity Among Farmers in Bihar
Flower cultivation has become increasingly popular among farmers in Bihar over the past few years. It offers farmers a quick and profitable return on investment. One such flower crop that has gained interest is marigold. Farmers in Begusarai district of Bihar have also started showing interest in marigold cultivation, as it requires a minimal investment of just 10,000 rupees and provides good earnings.
Profile of Farmer Ram Kishun Mahato
We would like to introduce you to Ram Kishun Mahato, a 55-year-old farmer who has been cultivating flowers on his one-acre land for the past six years. Mahato got the idea of flower cultivation from a relative and hasn’t looked back since. Since 2017, he has been growing marigold flowers in his small fields, bringing seeds from Bengal every three months. The cost of cultivation for a three-month season is around 11,000 rupees. Mahato mentioned that marigold flowers have good blooming and are easily sold, with buyers coming directly to his fields. The market price for marigold flowers ranges from 60 to 70 rupees per kilogram and can go up to 150 rupees per kilogram during the festive season.
Benefits of Flower Cultivation for Small and Marginal Farmers
According to Ram Kishun Mahato, flower cultivation can be a great alternative for small and marginal farmers compared to traditional crops. From one acre, he harvests around two quintals of marigold flowers every week, earning up to 4,000 rupees. Flower cultivation has proven to be highly beneficial for small and marginal farmers in rural areas of Begusarai. It is worth mentioning that the Horticulture Department also provides farmers with up to 75% subsidies for flower cultivation, allowing farmers to take advantage of this opportunity.
बिहार के बेगूसराय जिले में फूल की खेती काफी लोकप्रिय हो रही है। इस खेती में किसानों को कम समय में अच्छा मुनाफा मिलता है। 55 वर्षीय किसान राम किशुन महतो ने पिछले 6 वर्षों से फूल की खेती कर रहे हैं और इसमें काफी सफलता प्राप्त की है। गेंदा फूल की खेती का आईडिया उन्हें रिश्तेदार से मिला था और इसके बाद से वह इसमें लगातार काम कर रहे हैं। गेंदा फूल की खेती में उन्हें लगभग 10 हजार रुपये की लागत आती है और वह इससे अच्छी आमदनी प्राप्त करते हैं। इसी तरह के कई किसान बेगूसराय जिले में गेंदा फूल की खेती में रुची ले रहे हैं। यह खेती लघू और सीमांत किसानों के लिए बेहद फायदेमंद साबित हो सकती है।
