Impact of Marigold Cultivation on Socio-economic Condition of Farmers in Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

To study the socio-economic and socio-psychological characteristics of marigold growers. • Assessment of knowledge level of marigold growers with respect to package of practices. • To study the marketing pattern of marigold flowers. • To study the constraints faced by the marigold growers and suggestions for improving commercialization of marigold cultivation. The present study was conducted during the year 2012-13, in Meerut district of Western Uttar Pradesh. It was observed that 46.66 percent marigold growers were belong to middle age group (31-45 years), most of the marigold growers were educated, 68.33 percent belong to backward caste, 98.33 percent married, 83.33 percent living in nuclear family system, 61.67 percent having large family size above 6 members in the family, most of the marigold growers were belong to marginal and small farmers, 80 percent respondents were using one irrigation source, 86 percent having pakka house, 86.67 percent having electric connection at home, 56.66 percent using below 5 numbers of farm machinery and equipments, 91 .66 percent using 5-10 numbers of transport facilities, 56.67 percent respondents adopted marigoldsugarcane- ratoon-marigold crop rotation system, 45 percent having mixed shed for animals, 78.33 percent have small dairy, above Rs. 1 lac annual income of 70 percent marigold growers, 46.67 percent respondents were using commercial bank for credit, 51 .67 percent respondents were using 5-10 communication resource for obtain information, 40 percent taking low risk in the cultivation of marigold flowers and 100 percent marigold growers were adopted grading and packaging practices. Most of the marigold growers were have high knowledge regarding ploughing, F.Y.M. mixing, picking of weeding, pre-irrigation, seed rate, flat nursery raising method, sowing time, transplanting, planting distance, top dressing of nitrogenous fertilizers, balance using N.P.K. manually weeding, irrigation, plucking and packaging and plant protection measures, most of the marigold growers were having low knowledge about soil treatment, seed box nursery raising and raised bed nursery raising, mechanically and chemically weeding and soil drenching. Most of the marigold growers were selling marigold flowers to retailers, whole sellers and village traders. Most important constraints of marigold growers were more risk involvement, lack of training facilities on expertoriented production and post production technology, unavailability of skilled labours, lack of storage facilities, short life of flowers, poor linkage among scientists, extension workers and farmers, unavailability of scientific information at proper time, unavailability of quality seed, other Agricultural inputs at proper time and harvesting of marigold by hand etc.