Reaping gold with low cost inputs
Three young farmers of Chinna Jaggampet have adopted the mantra slashing the input costs and earned profits cultivating marigold despite the flower not commanding good price in the market. A kilogram of marigolds fetches only Rs 20. The trio earned Rs 40,000 as profit per acre from marigolds.
MARIGOLD CULTIVATION
Pithapuram: Three young farmers of Chinna Jaggampet have adopted the mantra slashing the input costs and earned profits cultivating marigold despite the flower not commanding good price in the market. A kilogram of marigolds fetches only Rs 20. The trio earned Rs 40,000 as profit per acre from marigolds.
The trio -AVG Prasad, V Veerababu, S Prasanna Kumar- had taken some land on the outskirts of Chinna Jaggampet and raised dwarf variety of marigold imported from overseas. With the market price touching rock bottom, many farmers who had cultivated marigold in upland areas incurred losses. The trio imported dwarf variety of marigold seeds from overseas due to which the per plant cost worked out to Rs 1.50. Had they used domestic seedlings it would have cost them at least Rs 2.50 per plant. Thus, they saved Re 1 on each plant.
Instead of opting for the tall variety, which is susceptible to damage because of cyclones, they opted for dwarf variety, which gave them more yield. Moreover, harvesting the flowers from the dwarf variety is easy. Further, they implemented mulching to discourage weed growth thus saving on costs of de-weeding and application of weedicides.
Instead of diesel or electricity generated agriculture pump sets they used solar pump sets which enabled them to save costs on fuel and power. The trio also practiced fertigation for direct injection of fertilizers through drip irrigation. Since Marigold has a natural resistance to pests there was no requirement for spending on pesticides. Overall the input investment worked out to Rs.50,000 on which they earned a revenue of Rs.90,000.
By Saride Nageswara Rao
