Fields in Chhattisgarh are no longer just cultivating rice; the land is now blossoming with fragrance and color. Traditional farming practices are being replaced as farmers increasingly turn to floriculture. Over the past two and a half years, the area dedicated to flower cultivation in the state has increased by 3,405 hectares, and production has reached 35,866 metric tonnes. This shift is not only changing the aesthetics of farming but also bringing newfound prosperity to farmers.
Under the state’s crop diversification policy, the total area of floral crops has already reached 12,000 hectares. Farmers are now growing flowers such as gladiolus, night-blooming jasmine (rajni-gandha), and marigold, which are easily marketable. As demand remains steady, flowers are becoming a cash crop for farmers.
Under the revamped National Horticulture Mission, there is a subsidy of up to 40% for expanding the floral sector, with unit costs ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh per hectare. This means farmers receive direct assistance between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh.
According to the Department of Horticulture, funding is available for cultivating gladiolus and rajni-gandha up to a maximum of two hectares. The subsidy, amounting to Rs 1 lakh for a unit cost of Rs 2.5 lakh, applies. This year, the state aims to cultivate gladiolus over 125 hectares and rajni-gandha over 50 hectares. The target for marigold cultivation is 1,200 hectares. For marigold cultivation, a subsidy of Rs 20,000 on a unit cost of Rs 50,000 is provided. Thus, a total of 1,375 hectares of land is earmarked for floral cultivation support across the state.
In protected cultivation, the state is promoting the growth of high-value flowers such as Anthurium, Orchid, Carnation, Gerbera, Rose, Chrysanthemum, and Lily in polyhouse and shade-nets. For Anthurium and Orchid, a 50% subsidy is given on a unit cost of Rs 1,000 per square meter for up to 4,000 square meters. Similarly, a 50% subsidy is provided for Rose, Chrysanthemum, and Lily at a rate of Rs 45 per square meter.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai has stated that floriculture is an effective means to increase farmers’ income and engage youth in agriculture. The government is committed to providing subsidies, technology, and market mechanisms to make farmers self-reliant. In the coming years, Chhattisgarh will become a major hub for floral cultivation. Floriculture is now emerging as a robust source of stable income for farmers. With government incentives, market demand, and new technologies, the fragrance of flowers is spreading far and wide across the fields of Chhattisgarh.