More and more women are adopting floriculture as their livelihood and prefer to grow marigold flowers in their fields to become self-reliant in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
They are encouraged by the 'Mission Floriculture' scheme of the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Union Ministry of Science & Technology under which the farmers mostly including women are imparted relevant training, and provided required guidance through workshops and free hybrid seeds.
According to Dr Iqra, Marigold farming is also good for the health of the soil and doesn't get harmed by monkeys so it is preferred in those areas affected by monkey menace. Floriculture Expert Tejinder Singh said, "It was a joint exercise. Marigold can work out to tap the potential of Batote, a good agricultural place...Last time, 100-150 farmers did marigold farming. This time, it seems that the figure is rising...".
Here women are drifting away from the traditional farming of maize etc., and taking a keen interest in marigold farming as it is convenient, lucrative, less time-consuming, and interesting as they love flowers.
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