Dindigul :

Marigold flowers that are in full bloom in fields in Dindigul district are bringing good returns to farmers this season.

These orange and yellow flowers are cultivated in Ambaturai, Uthupatti, Kamalapuram, Perumalkovilpatti, Jathikoundanpatti and Theppampatti near Chinnalapatti in Dindigul district. These flowers gain popularity during the wedding season and the Ayyappa season, as they are used in making garlands and in other decorations.

Women and farmers in the region enter the fields early in the morning to pluck these flowers, when they are in blooming stage, and transport them to the markets. A kilogram of these flowers is sold for Rs 50, which is a good price, according to the farmers. The flowers are taken to the markets in Nilakottai and Dindigul district. Senthil, a farmer from Ambaturai, said that these flowers are propagated through seeds, which are first sown in large numbers and later the tiny plants are planted in beds. The flowers gain their colour based on the quality of the soil in which they are grown.

The plants that were cultivated in September have started flowering in late November. The crop in one acre of land produces about 300 to 400 kilograms of flowers once a week, a quantity that most of the farmers consider to be very good.

Kumaresan, a farmer, said that the rains this season had resulted in big buds being produced and the flowering was also good. ‘We expect the price to go up by another Rs 50 as the pilgrimage season progresses,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / December 08th, 2014