<p>But, in recent times, some farmers have taken to floriculture. This farmer from Vaddarahalli Koppal for instance. He has been growing marigold without the help of chemical fertilisers.<br /><br />Devegowda has been growing these flowers on his one-acre plot. Marigold is a perennial crop, but it is best grown in the months of May and June, because then, the crop will be up for harvest during the festive season. <br /><br />His land is fertile, which means Devegowda doesn’t have to water his plants five to six times a day. The only worry for this farmer, though, is that the market is flooded with these flowers, and the profits may not be as huge as expected.<br /><br />A rose is a rose...<br /><br />Meanwhile, a young farmer in Magadi taluk has taken to rose cultivation. This Mattikere farmer, Maruti, grows roses on his one-acre plot without the use of any chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Pests are known to affect flower beds more than other crops, and the general perception is that it is impossible to raise flowers without spraying pesticides. Initially, this farmer too used chemical pesticides on his rose crop, but he suffered losses because the toxic smell remained on the flowers. <br /><br />He then contacted the President of the Magadi taluk Organic Farming Mission Sadashiva, who encouraged him to take up organic farming. Ever since, Maruti has been using organic fertilisers on his rose crop. Today, his flowers are in full bloom. The flowers are sold at the rate of Rs 50 for a kilogram. <br /><br />Maruti earns profits of Rs 700 every day. Come the wedding or festive season, the demand soars. He manages to sell flowers in the range of Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kilogram. “When I used chemical fertilisers, I would often suffer from headaches. Now, my health has also improved,” says Maruti. Life indeed has been a bed of roses, for him.<br /><br />In Shimoga district’s Golikoppa another experiment in floriculture has thrived. Raghavendra Rao has been growing dahlia flowers in myriad colours in his garden. He has been growing these flowers from the last 15-20 years. <br /><br />Every plant bears as many as 400 to 500 flowers. He has a sprinkler system to water his plants. There are 50 varieties of dahlia in his garden. The flowers grow in the months of September and November. Raghavendra Rao supplies 50 flowers every day to the Aghoreshwara temple at Ikkeri.</p>
<p>But, in recent times, some farmers have taken to floriculture. This farmer from Vaddarahalli Koppal for instance. He has been growing marigold without the help of chemical fertilisers.<br /><br />Devegowda has been growing these flowers on his one-acre plot. Marigold is a perennial crop, but it is best grown in the months of May and June, because then, the crop will be up for harvest during the festive season. <br /><br />His land is fertile, which means Devegowda doesn’t have to water his plants five to six times a day. The only worry for this farmer, though, is that the market is flooded with these flowers, and the profits may not be as huge as expected.<br /><br />A rose is a rose...<br /><br />Meanwhile, a young farmer in Magadi taluk has taken to rose cultivation. This Mattikere farmer, Maruti, grows roses on his one-acre plot without the use of any chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Pests are known to affect flower beds more than other crops, and the general perception is that it is impossible to raise flowers without spraying pesticides. Initially, this farmer too used chemical pesticides on his rose crop, but he suffered losses because the toxic smell remained on the flowers. <br /><br />He then contacted the President of the Magadi taluk Organic Farming Mission Sadashiva, who encouraged him to take up organic farming. Ever since, Maruti has been using organic fertilisers on his rose crop. Today, his flowers are in full bloom. The flowers are sold at the rate of Rs 50 for a kilogram. <br /><br />Maruti earns profits of Rs 700 every day. Come the wedding or festive season, the demand soars. He manages to sell flowers in the range of Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kilogram. “When I used chemical fertilisers, I would often suffer from headaches. Now, my health has also improved,” says Maruti. Life indeed has been a bed of roses, for him.<br /><br />In Shimoga district’s Golikoppa another experiment in floriculture has thrived. Raghavendra Rao has been growing dahlia flowers in myriad colours in his garden. He has been growing these flowers from the last 15-20 years. <br /><br />Every plant bears as many as 400 to 500 flowers. He has a sprinkler system to water his plants. There are 50 varieties of dahlia in his garden. The flowers grow in the months of September and November. Raghavendra Rao supplies 50 flowers every day to the Aghoreshwara temple at Ikkeri.</p>