{"id":46509,"date":"2025-07-07T17:27:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T17:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/46509\/"},"modified":"2025-07-07T17:27:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T17:27:17","slug":"this-college-dropout-earns-rs-50-lakh-per-month-in-marigold-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/46509\/","title":{"rendered":"This College Dropout Earns Rs 50 Lakh per Month in Marigold Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a quiet corner of West Bengal\u2019s East Midnapore district, Kolaghat blooms with life every morning. Its\u00a0flower market<\/a>, filled with the bright yellows of marigolds and the soft pinks of roses, buzzes with gentle energy. Amid this colourful bustle, young Arup Kumar Ghosh grew up, finding inspiration in the beauty and rhythm of the trade that connects flowers to homes across India.<\/p>\n

In 2010, Arup dropped out of college after completing just one year of his commerce degree and began interacting with local flower vendors to study the market. His keen interest in flowers led him to Hyderabad in 2011, where he worked at one of the flower shops in the Gudimalkapur Flower Market.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job involved assisting in the sale of\u00a0flowers like marigold strings<\/a>\u00a0and tube roses,\u201d says the 33-year-old.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI was earning a sum of Rs 3,500 per month while working long hours from 6 am to 4 pm. During my time there, I learned that flowers from Kolaghat were being sent to the Hyderabad flower market. This made me realise that I could return to my hometown and start my venture in this growing industry,\u201d he tells\u00a0The Better India<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"ArupArup has employed 80 workers on his farm to look after the flowers<\/p>\n

He began his journey with a modest venture, buying vibrant marigold strings from the bustling Flower Market, Kolaghat. Each string, purchased at Rs 120, would later be sold for Rs 140-150 in local markets. The bright orange and yellow garlands, symbols of celebration and devotion, quickly found eager buyers. With every 100 strings, he earned a tidy profit of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 \u2014 a small but encouraging reward for his hard work.<\/p>\n

As months passed and his confidence grew, he envisioned something bigger. Instead of simply trading flowers, he decided to cultivate them himself. This bold step marked the beginning of his farming journey, bringing him closer to the source of the blooms that had sparked his passion.<\/p>\n

The first step into business<\/p>\n

In late 2011, Arup Kumar Ghosh took his first bold step into floriculture by leasing a two-bhiga plot of land to experiment with marigold farming. Keeping his investment modest, he spent around Rs 12,000 to lease the land,\u00a0purchase saplings<\/a>, and manage transportation costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially, I bought local marigold saplings from the Kolaghat market, but the flowers that grew were small and of poor quality. They didn\u2019t meet the market\u2019s standards, and I was earning losses,\u201d he admits.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe orange and yellow marigold flowers have a high demand in the market.<\/p>\n

Determined not to give up, the entrepreneur visited Thailand to learn about high-quality marigold varieties. He spent six months at the Bangkok Blossom Market, undergoing training that changed his approach to farming. \u201cI learnt about a high-quality flower called the Tennis Ball marigold variety. This is prized for its bright, round flowers and its ability to withstand long-distance shipping without being damaged,\u201d says the 33-year-old farmer.<\/p>\n

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Arup brought back 25 grams of seeds from the yellow and orange Tennis Ball marigold variety and began cultivating marigolds on the two bigha land he had leased. He also applied the knowledge he gained during his training to produce his own seeds and\u00a0saplings from the crops<\/a>\u00a0he grew.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe flowers were of better quality, and I could ship them to different cities like Gujarat, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Delhi, Ayodhya, Allahabad, and Rajasthan. The market responded positively, and soon, farmers from across India began approaching me for seeds and saplings,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the early stages of farming, I had to experiment with different fertilisers and treatments to find what worked best. It was all trial and error,\u201d he recalls. \u201cBut gradually, the results began to show. The flowers flourished, and the demand for them grew too.\u201d<\/p>\n

From a small-time flower trader to a full-fledged entrepreneur<\/p>\n

\"AsAs months passed and his confidence grew, he decided that instead of simply trading flowers, he would cultivate them himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By 2012, the budding farmer was able to harvest his first successful crop of high-quality marigold flowers. He sold them for Rs 100 per kilogram in the Kolaghat market, and local farmers soon began approaching him for his plants. This marked the turning point in his journey, allowing him to grow from a small-time flower trader into a\u00a0full-fledged entrepreneur<\/a>. \u201cI expanded my cultivation to six bighas, where I produced both seeds and saplings of the Tennis Ball marigold variety,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarigolds are in demand throughout the year, not just seasonally. Once I got the right variety, I realised that the potential for profit was huge. It turned it into a full-time business by selling flowers, seeds, and saplings,\u201d says the entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy seeds and saplings are also in high demand across India,\u201d he says with pride. \u201cI\u2019ve helped farmers who once grew crops like wheat and paddy transition to marigold farming, and they\u2019ve experienced the benefits for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

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To increase his sales, the 33-year-old entrepreneur relies heavily on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. \u201cBack when I started, social media wasn\u2019t as advanced. Now, it\u2019s so easy to connect with customers and farmers across the country. I use social media platforms to showcase my farm and sell my products,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Fighting challenges and learning from experience<\/p>\n

As the first person in his family to experiment with flower farming, Arup encountered several challenges while cultivating marigolds on his land. One of the primary concerns was managing water, particularly during the monsoon season, as excess water could damage the crops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key is ensuring the fields don\u2019t retain too much water, especially during the monsoon,\u201d he explains. \u201cI have to ensure the drainage system is effective, so the water doesn\u2019t stagnate and harm the plants.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to managing water, he also had to ensure his crops received sufficient sunlight. \u201cMarigolds need plenty of sunlight, so I make sure the land is not overshadowed by tall trees or other obstacles,\u201d he adds. Moreover, the unpredictable weather conditions, including storms and floods, were a constant threat to his crops, and he had to take precautions to protect them. \u201cI cover the field with a net so they can grow well during harsh weather conditions,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

\"ArupArup produces his own seeds and saplings from the crops.<\/p>\n

Pests were a major challenge, but the farmer tackled it with determination and natural solutions. \u201cInstead of\u00a0relying on harmful chemicals<\/a>, I use neem oil, bone dust, and cow dung manure,\u201d Arup says. \u201cThese methods are gentle on the plants and the environment, helping keep pests in check without harming the crops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another challenge was training workers to manage the expanding business. \u201cTeaching the right way to grow marigolds took time,\u201d he explains. \u201cI would train 10 workers at a time, and they would share the knowledge with others, ensuring the skills spread and the business grew stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In 2024, he sold approximately 4 crore saplings<\/p>\n

Today, Arup\u2019s farm spans 73 bighas (approximately 29.2 acres), where he cultivates various marigold varieties, including orange, yellow, and red. \u201cI have noticed the orange variety has the highest demand outside Kolkata,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In 2024, he sold approximately four crore saplings and 1,500 kg of marigold seeds. The seeds, priced at Rs 25,000 per kg, are a key revenue stream, and demand for them stretches across India, with farmers from states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.<\/p>\n

His marigold flowers also contribute significantly to his earnings. \u201cDuring the peak harvest months, my farm yields between 800 and 1,000 kg of marigold flowers daily, which are\u00a0sold to wholesale markets<\/a>\u00a0in Hyderabad, Kolaghat, and Howrah,\u201d he says. \u201cThe flowers alone generate Rs 1-2 crore during the 3-5 months of harvesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"marigoldTo increase his sales, the 33-year-old entrepreneur relies heavily on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n

Dilip Bhowmick, a flower wholesaler in Kolaghat, says, \u201cI\u2019ve been sourcing marigold flowers and saplings from Arup for the past couple of years, and I am very satisfied with the quality. The flowers are consistently fresh, vibrant, and big, which sets them apart from others in the market. He takes great care in growing and nurturing them, and that\u2019s why I continue to rely on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Arup\u2019s farm generates an\u00a0impressive annual revenue<\/a>\u00a0between Rs 6.35 crore and Rs 7.35 crore, with an average monthly income of around Rs 50 lakh. \u201cIt\u2019s a large operation now, with 80 workers supporting planting, harvesting, and maintaining the farm,\u201d he shares proudly.<\/p>\n

Looking back, Arup reflects, \u201cI could have easily stayed in the shop, but taking the leap into entrepreneurship and farming has deepened my understanding of floriculture. The success of my farm fills me with pride, and I hope my journey inspires others who dream of building a career in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n

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