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More and more women are adopting floriculture as their livelihood and prefer to grow marigold flowers in their fields to become self-reliant in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
They are encouraged by the 'Mission Floriculture' scheme of the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Union Ministry of Science & Technology under which the farmers mostly including women are imparted relevant training, and provided required guidance through workshops and free hybrid seeds. According to Dr Iqra, Marigold farming is also good for the health of the soil and doesn't get harmed by monkeys so it is preferred in those areas affected by monkey menace. Floriculture Expert, Tejinder Singh told ANI, "It was a joint exercise. Marigold can work out to tap the potential of Batote, a good agricultural place...Last time, 100-150 farmers did marigold farming. This time, it seems that the figure is rising...". Here women are drifting away from the traditional farming of maize etc., and taking a keen interest in marigold farming as it is convenient, lucrative, less time-consuming, and interesting as they love flowers. The marigold flower crop gets ready earlier than maize and other traditional crops and there is no problem with marketing as the flowers are sold quickly in Katra where the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is situated and also in Jammu city which is called the 'City of Temples'. Most members of the all-women Self Help Group-'Sehar Ki Duniya' in Batote tehsil have adopted marigold farming and encouraged other women to do so. A farmer told ANI," I am a floriculturist...It is very pleasing to the eyes. It is easy to work with it. We used to cultivate maize with a lot of hard work. We were facing problems in its cultivation. Now there is ease." "We sell the flowers in Jammu and Katra as we have temples...The Department of Agriculture is providing free seeds to us and its officials give us training and frequently visit the spot, " she added. The officers of the Department of Agriculture in Ramban and scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Dhalwas, Ramban have been motivating and guiding these women to get prolific marigold crops and maximum profit from their produce. (ANI)
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