Makwanpur. Students of Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur have produced marigold flowers targeting Tihar. With the aim of becoming self-reliant along with studies by putting bookish knowledge into practice, they have commercially cultivated marigold flowers, have already sold one batch, and are preparing to sell the second batch. A group of 7 students studying in the fifth and fourth semesters of the undergraduate level (Agriculture) at the university have cultivated flowers by utilizing the vacant land within the campus premises. They said that they cultivated marigold flowers on two katthas of land within the college compound with money saved by cutting down their own pocket expenses. According to Mukesh Sah, involved in marigold flower cultivation, 7 students who live in rented rooms outside due to lack of space in the college hostel, thought of doing some new and productive work and cultivated marigold flowers targeting Tihar. According to Sah, more than 2,000 marigold saplings prepared in the nursery by students studying in the lower semesters of the college were purchased at Rs 5 per plant. He said that only Rs 10,000 was spent on purchasing saplings. Sah clarified that although practical training on marigold cultivation is not mandatory in the curriculum, they started cultivation seeing the seniors do it last year and based on internet and their own study-research. He said that the saplings were planted after preparing the land according to scientific methods, maintaining a distance of 60 centimeters between plants and 80 to 90 centimeters between rows. He said that the college administration also supported the flower cultivation. According to Sah, the college provided two katthas of land, a tractor for plowing, a sprayer (for spraying pesticides/fertilizers), and spades and hoes. Sah said that the students invested more than Rs 15,000 in total by raising more than Rs 2,000 per person for seeds, saplings, and fertilizers. He said that due to the rain a few days ago, the production has been damaged. He said that about 20 percent of the flowers were damaged due to the rain that occurred during the flowering season. However, he said that the first harvest was completed immediately after the rain stopped. Sah informed that about 40 kg of flowers from the first harvest have already been sold from the farm at the rate of Rs 350 per kg, and production is ready for resale. He said that with Tihar and Bhai Tika approaching, the demand for flowers has increased significantly, and they are preparing to pick and sell flowers on Friday and Saturday. He estimates that the second batch will produce at least 70 to 80 kg to 1 quintal of flowers. They are preparing to sell loose flowers as well as garlands made by themselves. As the demand is overwhelming, they have planned to prioritize the local Rampur area, college professors/students first, and for that, they will sell by setting up a stall at the main gate of the college. Sah said that the income from flower sales will be divided among themselves and used to pay for their college studies and room rent. Although there is not enough time to plant another crop immediately as the fifth-semester exams are approaching, he said that the practice of studying and earning has given them more energy to seek a future in agriculture.
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