Agartala, Feb 4 (NationPress) The state of Tripura has experienced a remarkable growth in flower cultivation and production over the last seven years, positively impacting over 59,000 farmers throughout the region, as stated by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday.

During the inauguration of the Vivekananda Flower Garden in West Tripura, the Minister emphasized the rising significance of floriculture, noting that flowers play a vital role in social, cultural, and religious activities.

“The demand for flowers is ubiquitous—from greetings and religious ceremonies to various social and cultural gatherings. The fertile soil and abundant rainfall in Tripura create an ideal environment for flower farming,” he remarked.

Nath highlighted that while flowers were previously regarded solely as decorative elements, floriculture has evolved into a lucrative source of income, with many farmers now earning substantial annual profits.

For instance, Sentu Bhowmik from Barjala makes approximately Rs 8 lakh each year from his flower crops, Pradip Sarkar from Kanchanmala earns around Rs 12 lakh, and farmers like Jayanta Dey from Chandibari and Indrajit Debnath from Baikhora report earnings between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 9 lakh.

“The rise in flower farming has considerably enhanced the livelihoods of farmers. Previously, marigold, rose, and rajanigandha were primarily cultivated in open fields,” Nath explained.

He reported that prior to 2018, flower cultivation occupied only 2,738 kani (with one kani equal to 0.34 acres) of land in Tripura, which has now expanded to 11,720 kani over the past seven years.

“The number of farmers involved in floriculture has surged from 2,190 to 59,100, while production has escalated from 1,117 metric tonnes to 2,704 metric tonnes,” stated the Minister.

He added that previously, only 35 percent of the state’s floral needs were met through local production, whereas now about 89 percent is sourced locally, with only around 21 percent coming from outside.

Nath noted that in addition to open-field cultivation, protected structures are increasingly utilized for high-value flowers such as orchids, gerbera, and anthurium.

“The number of protected cultivation units has increased from 225 to 504, and the proportion of such cultivation has risen from 25 percent to 43 percent, reflecting the growing demand for flowers in Tripura,” he commented.

Emphasizing the role of farmers, the Minister declared that agriculture remains one of the most esteemed professions globally.

“Everyone loves flowers and children. Flowers have the ability to uplift spirits and spread positivity,” he concluded.