EDITORIAL
Local marigold output is growing, but irrigation, storage and market gaps remain
There’s some good news for Goa on the floriculture front. For long, Goa has been talking about cultivating different varieties of flowers on a commercial scale. Over the years, there has been massive demand for marigold flowers during festivals, especially Dussehra. The state Agriculture Department said that marigold cultivation has increased by 30% compared to last year. This is a big jump and an achievement.
Marigold fields can be seen in the state’s hinterlands. Harvesting was done in time for Dussehra, and it is expected to continue for some weeks beyond Diwali. Though Goa received 31% deficit rainfall, marigold cultivation did not suffer, according to the Agriculture Department, indicating that the varieties selected by the department have withstood the dry weather. Seedlings of two varieties – Ashtagandha, an orange variety, and Tennis Ball, the yellow variety – were distributed to farmers. Five lakh seedlings, nursed locally under the Indo-Israel Agriculture project at the Centre of Excellence, Codar, had been sold by the department to farmers at just Rs 1 each. This was welcomed by farmers, as it removed the upfront financial risk.
The Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and local Zonal Agriculture Offices (ZAOs) have effectively engaged self-help groups and farmers in clusters in Dharbandora, Sattari, Bicholim and other areas. They have also encouraged small farmers towards multi-cropping, officials say. That means farmers don’t have to depend solely on marigold cultivation. They could use part of their agricultural land for marigold cultivation and simultaneously carry on with other crops. The total area under marigold cultivation is officially around 120 hectares. The boost has come about under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s Swayampurna Goa initiative.
The government’s objective in promoting marigold cultivation among farmers was not only to get more people involved in floriculture but also to reduce dependence on imports. Truckloads of marigold flowers parked at market junctions used to be a common sight during Dussehra. The Revolutionary Goans Party had raised the issue, alleging illegal vending and price undercutting. The imported flowers may be cheaper compared to the local ones, but if local business is to be promoted and sustained, Goans may have to pay a little extra.
Despite the 30% jump in production, the gap is still huge. Local production may meet up to 20% of the state’s total requirement of approximately 2,500 tonnes per annum. Peak consumption during Dussehra, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, weddings and the tourism season remains heavily dependent on imports from neighbouring states.
The sudden spurt in marigold cultivation in the state will inspire other cultivators to take up floriculture. People who have abandoned cultivation could also be encouraged to try marigold farming, as it doesn’t require a continuous supply of water. No doubt, irrigation facilities are required, which could be arranged from a nearby stream or farm wells if drip irrigation is not possible.
Post-harvest gaps also pose an issue. Flowers are perishable, and a lack of cold-storage facilities near farming clusters forces farmers into panic-selling, accepting distress rates. Another aspect for which farmers need assistance is marketing. They could be linked to the tourism industry, where local flowers could be given preference by government-run hotels. The government must also make it a policy to encourage home-grown marigolds at its events and other programmes. Mega events organised with budgets of crores of rupees must see benefits percolating to cultivators. Consistent government support to transition marigold farming from an intermittent festive crop into a self-sustaining commercial sector will ensure Swayampurna Goem’s success.
