The Pulpadiyur Kudumbashree unit, located in the Padiyur panchayat, is gearing up for an Onam celebration that centers around their marigold flower harvest spanning 4.5 acres of land. As the harvest is underway, the members are anticipating a bountiful yield that will infuse vibrant hues into their festive celebrations. However, their optimism is cautious, having recently faced the setback of losing their vegetable crop to a sudden rainfall last month. Until the final flower is gathered, their hopes remain tentative.
Suhara Ashraf, a member of the unit, shared the challenges they faced, saying, “We had cultivated vegetables, including amaranthus, with an eye on Onam. But the rain that lasted a week damaged our crop. The canal near our farm overflowed and this led to waterlogging.”
The Kudumbashree unit invested Rs 2 lakh in planting the flower saplings. Suhara expressed their aspirations, saying, “If everything goes to plan, we will generate a good revenue by selling the flowers. We have been plucking the flowers with utmost care. Most of it is being sold directly to the public through a roadside stall, while the rest is sold to wholesale dealers in Irinjalakuda.” The unit is set to harvest approximately three tonnes of flowers, selling them at a rate of Rs 170 per kilogram.
