33 farmers to take up marigold cultivation in Bardez

Farmers will be provided with seedlings of hybrid marigold

Mapusa: The agriculture department has decided to promote marigold cultivation under National Horticulture Mission, wherein 33 farmers will be provided with raised seedlings of hybrid marigold to take up cultivation in Bardez.

The agriculture department through the nursery of farmer Shiv Satelkar in Moira will provide around 30,000 raised seedlings to the farmers.  

With the aim to boost cultivation of marigold in Bardez, zonal agriculture department has shortlisted 33 farmers in the taluka, who will be provided with 700 saplings of hybrid marigold to take up cultivation in an area of around 500 square metres. These farmers will be given subsidy through the agriculture department.  

“Under National Horticulture Mission, around 30 farmers will be provided with raised seedlings to take up cultivation of marigold. These farmers will be provided  assistance through the agriculture department,” said Sampati Dhargalkar, zonal agriculture officer, Bardez.

Accordingly, Shiva Satelkar, a farmer from Moira, has raised around 50,000 seedlings of marigold at his nursery with the support of the zonal agriculture office, Bardez and also agriculture technology management agency. 

Satelkar, who is one of the active farmers, has been known for his nursery where he has been raising various vegetables like tomato, brinjal, Moira’s tendli, chilli and more. 

This year, Satelkar has raised saplings of four varieties of marigold at his nursery – Indus Marigold Spot 2, Indus Laddu, Kenko Yellow and Kenko Orange. These seedlings are hybrid, and result in high yield and farmers can get good returns.

Stating that farmers get marigold saplings from outside the state, Satelkar said that saplings raised in different conditions outside state do adapt to local conditions as a result the farmers have to suffer.

“We have raised these seedlings in local soil and Goan conditions so the farmers will not have issues as these saplings will adapt to  local conditions and can give good yield to farmers,” said Satelkar.  

He further said that he had tried marigold cultivation last year at his farm land and had got a good yield.

“Even  this year, we intend to cultivate marigold on around 3000 square metre area,” he said adding that out of 50,000 saplings, 30,000 will be distributed to 33 farmers, who are identified by the agriculture department to take up the cultivation.

“Each farmer will be provided with 700 raised seedlings, at a cost of Rs 4 per seedling, and the farmers are supposed to take up cultivation in an area of 500 square metre and these farmers will get a subsidy from the agriculture department,” he added.  

Stating that there is a huge demand for marigold flowers in the state, especially, during Dussehra and Diwali festival, Satelkar said that currently these flowers are brought from outside the state, and as a result these flowers are not fresh, however, if Goan farmers take up cultivation on a large scale it will be made available in the state itself.

“Currently, marigold flowers are sold at Rs 100 per kg, however, during the festival time price shoots up three to four times,  and hence farmers can get good returns. I appeal to the farmers to come forward and take up cultivation on a large scale, “he added. He further said that “if famers are interested in taking up cultivation, then they can approach us and we can raise seedlings in one month’s time and provide it to them at a price of Rs 4 per sapling.”

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