In an effort to diversify agriculture and boost rural incomes, the horticulture department is rolling out an extensive commercial floriculture initiative in Bihar's Munger district. The project seeks to transform the region into a thriving hub for flower cultivation, aiming to establish a recognized Flower Village identity. Under the Rabi Marigold Area Expansion Scheme, authorities have earmarked a target of bringing 25 hectares of land under marigold farming across selected rural clusters.
Cluster Strategy to Build an Organized Flower Hub
To ensure high production volumes and structured farming operations, the horticulture department is adopting a cluster-based development model. Under this setup, officials will either merge two neighboring panchayats or select one large panchayat to mobilize local cultivators. Organizing farmers into concentrated zones is designed to make supply chains efficient and give collective scale to marigold production. The department aims to move beyond simple land expansion, building commercial floriculture into a viable and profitable alternative to traditional field crops.
Financial Assistance and Input Support
To reduce capital barriers for participating growers, the scheme includes substantial financial backing. In-charge District Horticulture Officer Rajiv Ranjan stated that cultivating marigold over one hectare generally requires an investment of around ₹80,000. Under the current program, the government will provide a 50 percent subsidy on this estimated cost, translating to maximum financial assistance of ₹40,000 per hectare. Alongside direct fiscal aid, the horticulture department will also supply marigold saplings to the selected farmers.
Eligibility Rules for Landowning and Tenant Farmers
The horticulture initiative is designed to be accessible across different farming categories. Both landowning farmers (raiyat) and non-landowning tenant cultivators (non-raiyat) are eligible to register and receive benefits under the scheme. Strict land size parameters have been outlined to accommodate various operational scales. Interested growers can apply for cultivating marigold on plots starting from a minimum of 0.1 hectare up to an individual ceiling of 2 hectares.
