Hukkeri seer encourages villagers to cultivate geranium

Belagavi: Pancham Shivalingeshwar seer of Nidasosi mutt in Hukkeri taluk is encouraging the farmers in surrounding villages to grow Chinese commercial crop of geranium flowers in order to improve their financial condition.
The seer has been cultivating the crop as a pilot project in the farm owned by the mutt and the seer has already tasted success. Now, inspired by the seer, many farmers around the Hukkeri and villages have been visiting the mutt farm to gain knowledge about the cultivation of geranium plants.
The seer has cultivated more than 1,700 plants in one acre of field and now earns between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 every three months.
The seer brought these plants from Nagoori town near Hukkeri taluk six months ago. Once planted, these plant will give yield up to five years every three months. Annually, it give four yields to farmers.
The cultivation cost of this plant is very low compared to other crops like sugarcane and maize. Initially, it requires an investment of about Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 for an acre. It also requires less water, hence drip irrigation is enough.
Speaking to TOI, Shivalingeshwar Swamiji said: “I got to know about geranium flower cultivation from some friends. I felt it could help farmers in the region. Farmers can grow these low-cost crops instead of sugarcane and others.”
The Geranium flowers are used for soups, scents, drugs, and decoration. Oil is also extracted from the Geranium flowers.
Sandeep Patil from Hukkeri, who started to cultivate Geranium recently said that growing Geranium has given him good money and financial stability. “It is a crop for small farmers. It is giving good yield with low investment,” he added
Geranium is a commercial crop widely grown in China. Now, Geranium is being grown in some regions of India, particularly Maharashtra. Geranium is replacing traditional crops in villages of Satara, Karada, Kolhapur, and Nagoori in Maharashtra.