Marigold cultivation has long held an important place in Indian agricultural traditions. Its demand remains consistently high due to its use in religious ceremonies, festivals, social events, and industrial applications. Now, the Bihar government is planning to leverage this sustained demand to increase farmers’ income. To encourage marigold cultivation during the Rabi season, the state government has announced the ‘Flower (Marigold) Development Scheme 2025-26’.

Read More- Gunfire at Jewish festival in Australia, 10 people killed, panic ensues

Bihar Government’s Vision for Promoting Horticulture-Based Agriculture

The state government aims to develop horticulture alongside traditional crops as a profitable business for farmers. Marigold cultivation has emerged as a strong option in this direction, as it requires less time, limited investment, and offers the potential for better profits. The government believes that commercial flower cultivation will also create new employment opportunities in rural areas.

Why is Marigold Cultivation Profitable?

The demand for marigolds remains constant in religious places, weddings, decorative purposes, and the perfume industry. Its cultivation does not require extensive technical resources, making it easily accessible to small and marginal farmers. With proper management and market access, this cultivation can become a source of high income at low cost.

Who can benefit from the scheme?

Farmers from all 38 districts of Bihar can benefit from the Flower (Marigold) Development Scheme. Applications under the scheme will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must own cultivable land. Farmers who do not own land can also participate in the scheme based on a valid agreement. The necessary format for this is available on the departmental website. If the name is not clearly mentioned in the land-related documents, attaching a genealogical record will be mandatory.

How much area is covered under the subsidy?

Under this scheme, farmers can avail of the subsidy for marigold cultivation on a minimum of 0.1 hectares and a maximum of 2 hectares of land. This will provide opportunities for small farmers as well as large-scale cultivators.

Subsidy on Marigold Cultivation

The government has fixed a unit cost of Rs. 80,000 per hectare for marigold cultivation. 50 percent of this amount, i.e., Rs. 40,000 per hectare, will be given to farmers as a subsidy. This subsidy will directly help in reducing cultivation costs.

Subsidy on Transport Vehicles

Marigolds are a perishable crop, so timely access to the market is crucial. Keeping this in mind, the scheme also includes a provision for a subsidy on transport vehicles. Only farmers cultivating marigolds will be eligible for this component. The estimated cost of the vehicle is considered to be Rs. 6.50 lakh, on which 50 percent of the estimated cost or 50 percent of the actual price, whichever is less, will be given as a subsidy.

Read More- Traveling Abroad Has Become Cheaper, These Credit Cards Will Save Thousands of Rupees

Application Process and Required Documents

The application process for the scheme is entirely online. Farmers will have to upload all the necessary documents in a single PDF file. When applying for the transport vehicle subsidy, it will be mandatory to upload the vehicle quotation, land documents, and an agreement related to marigold cultivation together.