After successful venturing into exotic lavender farming, which brought the purple revolution in Bhadarwah, now it is the turn of marigold which is rapidly changing the fortunes of about 500 families. With this, the farmers are not only flourishing but also making the Prime Minister's dream of doubling farmers' income true in a real sense.
The purple revolution had helped around 1,000 families during the Covid lockdown to earn their livelihood and providing others jobs during the pandemic. Five hundred families in Kellar Valley of Bhadarwah have switched from traditional maize and paddy to growing of different shades of yellow-colored marigold in a big way and are exporting at 200 quintals a day to the city of temples- Jammu since June this year.
The farmers are happy over their decision in the backdrop of ever-increasing demand. This is because, during the summers, the supply from plains gets dried up from May to November due to hot weather. In the same period, yellow flowers start blooming in the hills of Bhadarwah, which has comparatively cold climatic conditions, thereby making to the demand.
The yellow-colored marigold flower is a key ingredient of all festivals of Hindu religion. Jammu being the city of temples with a footfall of hundreds of devotees every day, there is a huge demand for the flower used in every pooja (worship).
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