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Marigold - production & trade
The commercial cultivation of flowers, known as floriculture, has become big business in India. Flowers of all kinds are in great demand for decoration and as sources of essential oil. Marigolds are one of the most important decorative plants. In several states they are grown commercially in fields where they are claimed by some to be more profitable than any other crop. Marigold is even helping to play a vital role as a cash crop to poor farmers in the north of India.
Cultivation
Because flowers are delicate and highly perishable they don't travel well, unless refrigerated, and have a short shelf life. Cultivation tends to be located close to big cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Calcutta and Delhi. The estimated area on which flowers are grown in India is about 65,000 hectares. Major growing states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Traditional flowers, including marigolds, occupy nearly two thirds of this area.
In the north of India in Himachal Pradesh, small scale farmers are growing marigold and other flower crops for garlands and decoration. They are relatively easy to cultivate and don't require expensive packaging or processing and so are helping to bring small-scale farmers out of economic distress.
Marigold plants are propagated by planting seeds or cuttings in rows in prepared fields. The developing crops usually require regular watering. Flowers are harvested by hand when about 2 to 3 have developed on each plant. Subsequent harvests can be made at intervals of 3 to 5 weeks. Mechanical harvesters are also sometimes used but these generally limit the number of harvests to one because they can damage the plants.
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| Marigolds for sale at a market. |
Marigold plants are propagated by planting seeds or cuttings in rows in prepared fields. The developing crops usually require regular watering. Flowers are harvested by hand when about 2 to 3 have developed on each plant. Subsequent harvests can be made at intervals of 3 to 5 weeks. Mechanical harvesters are also sometimes used but these generally limit the number of harvests to one because they can damage the plants.
