NT Reporter
Mapusa
The Department of Co-operative Societies has launched a statewide campaign to promote marigold cultivation and reduce Goa’s dependence on Maharashtra and Karnataka for marigold flowers, particularly during major festivals.
Spearheaded by Registrar of Cooperative Societies Ashutosh Apte, the initiative involves distributing high-yielding marigold saplings to agricultural, dairy and allied cooperative societies across the state.
The saplings are being distributed through the department’s zonal offices in Mapusa, Sankhali, Panaji, Margao, Ponda and Quepem, giving farmers, dairy cooperative members and rural households across the talukas access to planting material.
Marigold cultivation, with the crop maturing in around 80 to 90 days, is expected to provide cooperative members with an additional source of income while meeting increased demand for flowers during the festive season.
As part of the campaign, a programme was held at the Assistant Co-operative Society office, North Zone, in Mapusa, where deputy director Manohar Kerkar, in the presence of assistant registrars Rajesh Parwar (Bardez) and Harish Naik, senior officer Mangesh Fadte and others, handed over hybrid marigold saplings to representatives of various cooperative societies in Bardez.
Senior officials said the campaign was in line with the government’s ‘Swayampurna Goa’ vision and sought to promote self-reliance in flower production while enabling cooperative societies to contribute to rural economic growth.
The department said the initiative was expected to strengthen Goa’s local floral supply chain and create new income opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
