Stories
Left Engineering Job to Become Farmer: Awadhesh Success Story in Marigold Farming
- •Awadhesh Kushwaha from Firozabad worked as an engineer after completing his B.Tech, but returned to his village during COVID-19 and chose to pursue farming.
- •He started cultivating marigold flowers on just one acre of land in 2021, and over time, expanded his farming operations to cover about 16 acres.
- •The marigold crop matures in roughly 60 days, and harvesting is timed to meet the high market demand during festivals and special occasions.
- •Instead of planting his entire 16-acre land at once, he staggers the planting schedule based on festival timelines to ensure a steady supply of flowers.
- •Marigold cultivation incurs a cost of about 50000 rupees per acre, yielding a savings of around one lakh rupees per acre during the peak season.
Key Questions Answered
Awadhesh Kushwaha completed his B.Tech studies and worked as a company engineer before returning to his village in Firozabad during the COVID-19 pandemic. He decided to try his hand at farming, starting with just one acre of marigold cultivation in 2021.
Marigold crops are typically ready in about 60 days, after which flower harvesting and market sales begin. According to the farmer, the cultivation cost is around 50,000 rupees per acre, and securing good seasonal prices can yield a net saving of about one lakh rupees per acre.
The harvested marigold flowers are supplied to local markets as well as wholesale markets in Firozabad, Agra, and Delhi. To match market demand during festivals and special occasions, saplings are planted in staggered phases across his 16-acre land rather than all at once.
