Moti Lal Banjara, a resident of the Pathalgaon block in Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh hails from a family of farmers. For generations, his grandfather and father practised traditional farming, growing crops like paddy, groundnut, and pulses primarily for their own consumption. Farming was a way of life for them, not a business venture aimed at profit. Like many young people in rural India, Moti was expected to pursue education and seek a stable job.
However, his aspirations took a different turn. He envisioned transforming agriculture into a profitable business by modernizing and mechanizing traditional farming practices. Moti Lal completed his education up to the 12th grade and realized that the true potential of farming could be unlocked with the right knowledge and methods. Determined to improve his family's agricultural practices, he began regularly visiting the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) near his village.
These visits allowed him to engage with agricultural scientists and gain insights into the latest farming technologies and techniques. It was during one of these visits that he first learned about marigold cultivation—a new and promising opportunity. The high demand for marigold flowers, particularly during festive seasons, piqued his interest, and he saw it as a potential avenue to turn farming into a lucrative business.
Moti Lal began planting marigolds in 2014 but began on a seasonal basis alone. He was planting flowers for festivals such as Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi. The returns were encouraging, but the business of flower farming was seasonal. The span of his farming income was always irregular. He kept operating this way for four years, slowly learning about floriculture.
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