Empowering Farmers Through Floriculture Training in Madhya Pradesh

Hands-On Training for Floriculture in Madhya Pradesh

Vikal Sharma
Palampur

In a significant initiative under the CSIR Smart Village Mission, the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, hosted a three-day training program focused on the "Scientific Cultivation of Floricultural Crops" for farmers from Janakpur village in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh. This training took place from August 22 to 24, 2026, with participation from 20 local farmers.

The main goal of this training was to introduce farmers to advanced methods for cultivating floriculture crops, particularly commercial marigolds. The program's curriculum included topics such as quality seedling production, nursery management, nutrient and pest management, protected cultivation, and post-harvest techniques. A key focus was placed on improving productivity, crop quality, profitability, and overall income for farmers, while also highlighting the commercial potential of floriculture.

During the training, project staff from CSIR-IHBT visited the nurseries and marigold fields established by the villagers, utilizing seeds and knowledge shared in previous sessions. Farmers received practical demonstrations on effective transplanting methods for marigold saplings grown in their nurseries. Experts provided tailored scientific advice and management strategies, enabling farmers to implement enhanced production techniques suited to their specific environmental conditions.

This initiative, part of the CSIR Smart Village Mission, marks a crucial advancement in economically empowering rural farmers by integrating science and technology into their practices. Additionally, high-quality seeds of various floricultural crops were distributed to participants to promote commercial flower production through the adoption of superior varieties.

Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav, the Director of CSIR-IHBT, emphasized that the implementation of scientific farming techniques is expected to boost productivity and profitability, while also creating new sustainable livelihood opportunities for the farmers of Janakpur.