A small district of Jharkhand, once associated with illegal opium cultivation is now emerging as a model of sustainable agriculture in Jharkhand. In Khunti district, commercial marigold farming has become a reliable source of income for tribal families, with nearly 1,500 farmers across Khunti, Murhu and Arki blocks adopting floriculture as an alternative livelihood. This season, the distribution of 15 lakh marigold saplings has begun to further expand cultivation in the district.
Also Read: Students Continued Indefinite Protest Over JPSC-JSSC Recruitment Row, BJP Demanded CBI Probe
Higher Income Through Floriculture
The transformation has been driven over the past one and a half decades through the joint efforts of PRADAN and the Khunti Mahila Krishi Bagwani Swawlambi Cooperative Society Limited. By promoting commercial marigold cultivation, the organisations have encouraged farmers to shift towards a crop that requires relatively low investment while offering better market returns.
Also Read: India Crossed One Billion Tonnes of Coal Production After Commercial Mining Reforms
According to the implementing agencies, marigold cultivation has significantly improved farmers’ incomes and created a sustainable livelihood model in remote tribal villages. The crop’s growing popularity has encouraged more families to take up organised farming, reducing dependence on uncertain sources of income while strengthening the local rural economy.
Also Read: SIR 3.0 Deleted More Than One Crore Names, More Revisions Expected
Farmers Saw a New Path to Self Reliance
The sapling distribution programme was attended by PRADAN representatives Preeti Bora, Nidhi Singh, Swarup Jana, Amit Kumar and Kuldeep Munda, along with Farmer Producer Organisation chairperson Sunita Devi and Sunita Kumari. Farmers described the initiative as a meaningful step towards higher earnings and self-reliance, saying floriculture has brought both economic stability and renewed confidence to the farming community in Khunti.
Also Read: VHP Submitted Memorandum Over Social Media Post in Noamundi
2 thoughts on “1500 Khunti Farmers Turned to Marigold Cultivation for Better Income, Replaced Illegal Poppy Fields”
Comments are closed.