Floriculture transforming lives in Himachal’s Padhar as farmers moving away from traditional crops
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MANDI: Floriculture is transforming lives in Padhar area of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh as farmers are moving away from traditional crops to embrace the promising field of flowers, especially wild marigold.
With prices for marigold flower oil reaching Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per litre, the venture is proving lucrative. This shift is fuelled by state government schemes offering substantial support, opening new paths to prosperity for local farmers.
Under state-backed floriculture promotion schemes, farmers in Mandi are receiving subsidies of up to 85 per cent to make this transition feasible. The Mehak Yojana, for instance, offers Rs 30,000 per hectare to encourage wild marigold cultivation, which is emerging as a high-value crop in these mountainous terrains.
Success story of Darshan Lal
Darshan Lal, a Padhar farmer, exemplifies this floral transformation. Cultivating wild marigold across 12 bighas of land, he has become a role model in his community. His initiative, combined with the support of a Rs 2.5 lakh subsidy under the Mehak Yojana, enabled him to build a storage shed to shield his crops from the elements. Inspired by his success, other farmers in Siun panchayat’s Kachotdhar area have also ventured into flower farming, collectively dedicating nearly 100 bighas of previously unused land to wild marigold cultivation.
“Floriculture is transforming lives in Padhar. Thanks to a newly installed oil extraction unit by the Himalayan Bioresource Technology Institute in Palampur, farmers can now process their flowers locally rather than incurring high transportation costs to Ner Chowk. Local farmers now sell marigold flowers at Rs 23 per kg to the facility, producing oil that commands Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per litre in the market. Darshan Lal’s annual income from floriculture now stands at around Rs 2 lakh, a success he attributes to the government’s visionary schemes.
Wild Marigold: Crop resistant to wildlife damage
For Puran Chand, wild marigold offers a solution to the persistent problem of crop damage by wild animals. Known for its versatility in religious, decorative, medicinal and oil-producing uses, marigold is both a profitable and resilient choice, unaffected by wildlife.
Horticulture Development Officer Kavita Sharma noted that wild marigold farming is rapidly gaining momentum in Padhar due to the region’s favourable climate and minimal labour needs. Sharma highlighted that wild marigold, unlike many traditional crops, is resistant to damage from wildlife, a critical advantage for farmers in the area.
The Mehak Yojana also extends support for other medicinal and aromatic plants like rosemary and lemongrass, offering subsidies of up to 50%. The Horticulture Department provides hands-on training, exposure visits, and pest management assistance to help ensure success in these ventures.
The government’s focus on floriculture is creating a win-win scenario for farmers and the environment. With high profitability, minimal risk, and significant government backing, wild marigold farming is transforming the hills of Padhar into a prosperous landscape, setting a model for the future of farming in Himachal Pradesh.
