News » 24.09.2025 - India: Growing marigolds while securing a future

In Murdongri's marigold fields, just 12 kilometers from Kanker town, rows of golden-yellow blooms shine bright kissed by the rays of sun. Among them, women bend with baskets in hand, reaping not only the orange and yellow flowers of their hard work.

For years, the women who were happy quietly working in their fields and homes, now look at entrepreneurship through self-help groups (SHGs) under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Guided and trained, they are cultivating Kalakatiya (Kolkata) marigolds, earning well and securing their future.

In Murdongri, six SHGs, including the Ram Rahim group of Pidhapal, Jai Ambe of Bhirawahi, Maa Danteshwari of Kokpur, Pooja of Murdongri, Saraswati of Kirgoli, and Jai Ambe of Bardevri, have together started marigold farming on about one acre of land.

They sought bank loans and sourced seedlings from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and the Horticulture Department. Later, they planted nearly 20,000 saplings spread across 10-20 decimals of different gardens in May and June. Today, after three months, their fields are in full bloom and demand from the local markets is also growing.
 

Source: www.floraldaily.com

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