A small-time farmer of East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, who once grew paddy and vegetables to make ends meet, now has around four to five farming workers toiling for him on his farm. His yields are now much in demand, not just in Jamshedpur but also in West Bengal. Meet Dhananjay Mahato, a brave farmer who took the risk of switching from cultivating paddy to marigold.

The 42-year-old farmer from Muchidih village, which falls under the Kuiyani panchayat of Bodam block in East Singhbhum, has set an example for his peers by adopting scientific farming techniques.

“I am glad that I decided to grow marigold. The fact that I chose a scientific method of farming over traditional ways has helped me get the desired results,” said an excited Mahato over the phone, from Muchidih.

Mahato ventured into floriculture way back in 2015 when some officials touring his area introduced him to the concept of growing flowers. Since then, there has been no looking back for this farmer. He was recently a “Krishi Mitra” by ATMA (Agriculture Technology Management Agency), East Singhbhum. He has even attended seminars and lectures delivered by experts to better his farming techniques.

“I try to encourage my fellow farmers to attend block-level programmes organised by ATMA. I had also been to Maharashtra on an inter-state tour organized by them. During this visit, I learned about drip irrigation and its use. My earning has increased manifold after I adopted the mulching technique to better my farm at my farm productivity,” said Mahato.

For the uninitiated, ATMA is a registered society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable agriculture development in the district.

The farmer cultivates around 150 to170 kilograms of marigold in his one-acre field, which he harvests every week.

He maintained that his blooms, which cost anything between Rs 50 to Rs60 a kilo, are also in demand in Jamshedpur. His flowers have takers also in Purulia district of Bengal. “Yes, there is a good demand for my flowers in Purulia. I now intend to supply marigold to other places in Bengal,” he said. He then paused and added, “I procure high-quality marigold seeds from Calcutta.”

Good demand for his bloom has favoured his fortune, and he now has four to five workers who plough, sow and pluck the floral yield. His family also helps him periodically in his venture. “I am highly satisfied with my success, but I need to make more progress,” said an elated Mahato.

The progressive farmer is now planning to take the neighbouring farming plots on lease from other farmers to grow marigold. “It has become a flourishing business for me. I never thought that growing flowers would make me self-reliant. I am a confident man now and want young farmers of my village to also switch over to farming marigold,” Mahato added.