Vikal sharma
Palampur
CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur (HP) organized a three-day hands-on training program for “Scientific Cultivation of Floricultural Crops” to the farmers of Janakpur village in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, under the CSIR Smart Village Mission. The training was conducted from August 22 to 24, 2026, with 20 farmers in attendance.
The primary objective of the training was to familiarize farmers with modern techniques for the scientific cultivation of floriculture crops, including commercial marigolds. The curriculum covered raising quality seedlings, nursery management, nutrient management, pest and disease management, protected cultivation and post-harvest management. The program placed special emphasis on enhancing productivity, crop quality, profitability and overall farmer income, while educating participants on the broad potential and commercial viability of floriculture.
During the event, CSIR-IHBT project staff visited the nurseries and marigold fields established by the villagers based on seeds and know-how provided to them previously. Farmers were also given live demonstrations on the proper transplanting techniques for marigold saplings raised in their nurseries. Based on these insights, the experts offered site-specific scientific recommendations and appropriate management strategies, empowering the farmers to adopt improved production methods tailored to their exact environmental conditions.
Under the CSIR Smart Village Mission, this initiative serves as a significant step towards the economic empowerment of rural farmers by bringing science and technology directly to their doorstep. Further, high-quality seeds of various floricultural crops were distributed to the attendees to encourage commercial flower production through the adoption of improved varieties.
Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director of CSIR-IHBT, stated that adoption of scientific techniques at the farm level is likely to enhance productivity and profitability, as well as create new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods for farmers of Janakpur.
