Farmers under the Kodumon Farmer Producer Company in front of a Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana farm at Kodumon in Pathanmthitta. With their glossy green leaves accented by yellow stripes, the neatly arranged fields of Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana have become a defining feature of Kodumon, a village nestled in the lower foothills of the Western Ghats, these days.
It was just a year ago that this ornamental plant, native to tropical Africa, made its way into the once-barren farmlands of Kodumon. And what began as an experimental venture has now blossomed into a thriving industry, bringing significant returns to the local community.
Tapping into the booming ornamental plant market both within and beyond Kerala, the village has now also set its sights on international exports to maximize the earnings of its growers.
According to A.N. Salim, chairman of the Kodumon Farmer Producer Company, the initiative took shape last year when the collective decided to cultivate the plant on 11 acres of unused land. To kickstart the project, the company distributed 120 saplings, along with fertilizer kits, to 29 farmers free of cost.
Read more at The Hindu
