Flowers yield higher profits in rice farming 

New Delhi: A recent survey has made it clear that farmers are getting more profit through growing flowers along with rice crops compared to other intercropping options like rice-soybean, rice-bell pepper, rice-fodder maize, rice-cowpea, and rice-radish. The demand for flowers is increasing due to their use on all occasions, so it has become a significant commercial venture in the agriculture sector.

The survey report stressed that intercropping flowers has been proving more profitable than growing cereals, pulses, vegetables, or oilseeds. The report has unveiled that support at the right time, like subsidies and crop loans, can further develop floriculture as a promising option for small and marginal farmers.

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Currently, the country’s floriculture sector has immense opportunity, getting recognition as a “sunrise sector” amid its rapid growth and export orientation as well. Business tycoons from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra have established advanced floriculture units to fulfill the demand of domestic and global markets.

The report urged farmers to move away from overproduced crops that deplete water resources and consume excessive electricity. It stressed the need for policies that promote balanced fertilizer use and encourage sustainable farming practices. Such reforms, it noted, would improve land and labor productivity while ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.

Flower cultivation has been emerging as a lucrative and sustainable alternative for farmers. Through flower farming, they can boost their incomes along with preserving natural resources.