Bright Blooms, Brighter Incomes: Success of ‘Arka Bhanu’, a  Hybrid Marigold

Bright Blooms, Brighter Incomes: Success of ‘Arka Bhanu’, a Hybrid Marigold

Ramya H. R., Balakrishna B., T. Usha Bharathi., P. Naveen Kumar, and Senthil Kumar R.

Background

In many parts of Karnataka, small holder farmers depend heavily on monocropping systems, which limits income opportunities, increases vulnerability to market fluctuations, and leads to soil fatigue over time. Continuous cultivation of the same crop also aggravates soil-borne problems, particularly nematode infestation, which severely affects crop vigour, yield, and overall profitability. Farmers in Nayanahalli village were no exception, as repeated cultivation of vegetables had resulted in significant nematode incidence and declining crop performance.

To address these dual challenges of restricted crop diversification and nematode-related yield losses, ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, under the DST–Vigyandhara 4305 Project, promoted marigold cultivation as a strategic intervention. Marigold is not only a profitable commercial flower crop but is also known for its nematode-suppressing properties. Thus, the introduction of marigold served a dual purpose: enhancing income through diversification into a high-demand flower crop, and biologically managing nematodes in the field.

In this backdrop, Arka Bhanu hybrid marigold was introduced to women farmers, integrating scientific cultivation practices and eco-friendly technologies to improve both soil health and livelihood security

Farmer’s Profile

Smt. Pushpavathi, a resident of Nayanahalli village in Chikkaballapur district, is a progressive woman farmer who manages horticulture as the sole breadwinner of her household. Despite limited resources, she has been keen to adopt scientific practices to improve her family’s livelihood. With her dedication to farming and openness to innovation, she was selected to demonstrate the cultivation of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu under the project.

Adoption of Intervention

Pushpavathi was provided with seeds of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu, a yellow colour, high-yielding F₁ hybrid developed by ICAR-IIHR. The intervention went beyond seed supply and included a comprehensive technology package to ensure holistic adoption. This comprised Arka Microbial Consortium (AMC) for improving soil health and nutrient availability, Arka Vegetable Special as a foliar micronutrient spray to enhance flowering and vigour, and Arka Neem Soap and Arka Pongamia Soap for eco-friendly pest and disease management.

She also received continuous technical handholding from IIHR scientists, covering aspects of nursery raising, transplanting, spacing, nutrient management, integrated crop protection, and special horticultural practices like pinching of the tip of the plant on 10 days after transplanting to promote profuse branching and flower yield. Importantly, the crop was planted in a manner that harvesting coincided with local festivals, ensuring premium prices in the market—an example of market-led extension.

Results

Table 1. Performance of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu in Smt. Pushpavathi’s Field

The results demonstrated excellent adaptation of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu to local conditions. The flowers were compact, bright yellow, with higher shelf life and uniform size, attracted strong demand in the market. With reduced pest incidence and lower cost of crop protection, the overall profitability was high.

Nematode Management through Marigold Cultivation

Beyond income gains, marigold roots release compounds like α-terthienyl that suppress root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Thus, cultivation of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu not only provides attractive flowers and higher profits but also contributes to soil health and eco-friendly nematode management in flower and vegetable-based systems.

Farmer’s Experience

Reflecting on her experience, Pushpavathi shared:

“Arka Bhanu adapted well to our climate and gave me good income. Its flower quality and market price have been very encouraging. The package of technologies from IIHR made cultivation easy and profitable. With harvesting timed to festivals, I could sell at better prices and increase my earnings.”

Dissemination and Impact

To share her success and inspire other farmers, a Field Day was organized at Nayanahalli village, under the DST project by the ICAR-IIHR team. Fellow farmers, extension personnel, and local officials witnessed the performance of marigold hybrid Arka Bhanu in Pushpavathi’s field. The event created awareness about the benefits of adopting public-sector hybrids along with eco-friendly inputs and market-oriented planning. Several women farmers expressed interest in cultivating Arka Bhanu in the coming season, highlighting the potential for scaling up the intervention.

Conclusion

The case of Smt. Pushpavathi illustrates how integrating improved marigold hybrids like Arka Bhanu with a comprehensive technology package and market-led extension strategies can significantly enhance the income and livelihood security of smallholder women farmers. By combining science-based inputs, eco-friendly crop management, and smart marketing, her success story stands as a model for wider dissemination across Karnataka and similar agro-climatic regions.

Source: ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru {DST-funded project titled “Enhancing Livelihood Security of Small-Holder Farm Women of Karnataka through Horticultural Interventions using Pluralistic Extension Approaches” (DST-Viganhara-4305)}