From an acre to seven: Flower power to boost local Onam market

Thiruvananthapuram: To boost local flower production for the Onam festival, the panchayats of Maranalloor, Vilappil, and Malayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram have collaborated to cultivate flowers across six acres of land. Two months ago, chrysanthemum saplings, locally known as Jamanthi, were planted on various farms within these panchayats. Last year, one acre of land yielded nearly a tonne of flowers. This year, with an increased area under cultivation, the anticipated yield is over seven tonnes.The panchayats plan to sell these flowers locally at a price lower than the market rate, using Kudumbashree workers for the distribution. The final price per kilogram will be set based on current market rates.A collective comprising ward members, Kudumbashree workers, and farmers has been formed to oversee the project. "Farmers carried out the cultivation with support from Kudumbashree workers, while Krishi Bhavan officials provided guidance. Harvesting will begin on Friday and continue in stages until all the flowers are collected. While some local merchants are interested in purchasing the entire harvest, no decision has been made yet," said Vasudevan Nair K, a ward member from Malayinkeezhu.The panchayats intend to sell the flowers directly to the public to avoid price increases caused by seasonal demand. Building on the success of their initiatives this year and last year, the collective plans to explore further ventures, such as vegetable cultivation, making ‘olakuda' and Mahabali ornaments in the future. "This year, we encouraged vegetable cultivation on unused land, although not extensively. We plan to expand these initiatives next year," added Vasudevan.All profits from the flower sales will be distributed to the landowners and Kudumbashree workers.