Constraints faced by the farm youth in chrysanthemum cultivation

Introduction

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum) is one of the most popular and commercially significant flowers grown across India, known for its vibrant colors, long vase life and wide use in religious, decorative, and medicinal purposes. India ranks among the top producers of flowers globally, with floriculture cultivated over 309 thousand hectares and contributing around 2.3 million tonnes of loose flowers and 870 thousand tonnes of cut flowers (National Horticulture Board, 2023) [4] . Among these, chrysanthemum holds a vital share, especially in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, where it is cultivated both under open and protected conditions. In Tamil Nadu, chrysanthemum cultivation occupies a significant portion of the floriculture sector, particularly in districts such as Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem and Nilgiris where favorable climatic conditions and market access have encouraged youth participation. The increasing demand for flowers during festivals, weddings, and export opportunities has led to a steady rise in the area and production of chrysanthemum. In Salem district, chrysanthemum cultivation has gained significant momentum over the past two decades and continues to be a leading floricultural enterprise. By 2009-10, Salem ranked first among Tamil Nadu districts with approximately 804 hectares under chrysanthemum cultivation, reflecting a sustained 175 % increase since 2001-02. More recent data for 2021-22 show that Salem maintained robust production, with 1,272 hectares dedicated to chrysanthemum closely following Dharmapuri (2,362 ha) and Krishnagiri (1,335 ha). Overall, the district boasts a broad 67,800 ha under horticulture encompassing key crops like chrysanthemum, mango, jasmine, and coffee. This consistent expansion underscores Salem's vital role in Tamil Nadu's floriculture sector, providing both economic opportunity and agricultural diversification for its rural youth. The constraints faced by farmers in chrysanthemum cultivation are multifaceted, affecting both the productivity and profitability of their operations. Despite the remarkable growth and expansion of chrysanthemum cultivation in Salem district, several constraints continue to hinder its full potential, particularly for rural youth engaged in this enterprise. The objective of the study is to find out the constraints faced by the Farm Youth in Chrysanthemum cultivation.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted to assess the constraints encountered by rural youth engaged in chrysanthemum cultivation in Salem district of Tamil Nadu-one of the leading regions for floriculture in the state.

Research Design

An ex post facto research design was employed for this study, as the constraints and related socio-economic variables had already occurred and could not be manipulated by the researcher. This design is suitable for identifying existing challenges and their relationships with the profile characteristics of the respondents.

Locale of the Study

The study was carried out in Salem district, a major hub for chrysanthemum cultivation in Tamil Nadu. Based on secondary data, three blocks namely Omalur, Kadayampatti, and Mecheri with the highest area under chrysanthemum cultivation were purposively selected for detailed investigation.

Sampling Procedure

From each of the three selected blocks, four villages with the largest area under chrysanthemum cultivation were chosen, making a total of 12 villages. From each village, 10 rural youth actively engaged in chrysanthemum farming were selected, resulting in a total sample size of 120 respondents. A snowball sampling technique was used to identify and contact the target group of rural youth, especially those involved in floriculture and facing day-to-day farming challenges.

Data Collection

Data were collected through a structured and pre-tested interview schedule, which included a specific section to assess the constraints faced by the respondents.

Data Analysis

The collected data were coded and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using frequency, percentage, mean score, and standard deviation. To prioritize the constraints, mean scores were calculated for each item and ranked accordingly. This enabled the identification of the most pressing issues that require policy or extension intervention.

Results and Discussion

The constraints faced by the farm youth in Chrysanthemum cultivation were analyzed and ranked based on their mean score and presented in the Table 1. This emerged as the most severe constraint. Most farmers are compelled to sell their produce through intermediaries or commission agents who charge exorbitant fees, reducing the net income of the growers. This reflects the lack of direct market linkages and poor bargaining power of the farmers. The findings align with Vihari (2018) [11] and Gowda and Kiran Kumar (2018) [3] who emphasized the exploitative nature of middlemen in flower marketing chains.

Low Price of Flower in Market (Mean Score: 2.62, Rank II) Fluctuating and often low prices in the flower markets, particularly during peak supply seasons, make income unstable. This discourages youth from considering floriculture a reliable income source and underscores the need for price stabilization mechanisms or minimum support price (MSP) systems.

High Cost of Fertilizers and Other Inputs (Mean Score: 2.61, Rank III)

The high cost of cultivation, especially for fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs, significantly impacts the profitability of small and marginal youth farmers. These costs are difficult to absorb, particularly for those with limited financial resources. Similar to the input cost concerns raised by the respondents Sharath (2018) [9] noted that high fertilizer and input costs were key deterrents for youth in high-value crop farming

Inadequate Storage Facilities (Mean Score: 2.51, Rank IV)

Chrysanthemum being a perishable crop requires proper postharvest handling. Inadequate or lack of cold storage or temporary storage leads to post-harvest losses, forcing distress sales.

High Cost of Planting Materials (Mean Score: 2.43, Rank V) Quality planting materials are costly and not easily accessible to many youth farmers. This increases their input burden and sometimes forces them to compromise on quality, affecting yield and income.

Lack of Organized Market (Mean Score: 2.42, Rank VI)

The absence of regulated or organized markets results in dependency on unregulated middlemen, price volatility, and exploitation. This limits the marketing efficiency and profit margins for young cultivators. The lack of organized markets and storage facilities has been cited as a barrier to profitability in floriculture by Preethi et al. (2014) [8] , particularly for perishable flowers like chrysanthemum.

Availability of Quality Planting Material (Mean Score: 2.41, Rank VII)

Despite demand, consistent access to disease-free, high-yielding varieties remains a challenge. This constraint limits the productivity and sustainability of their cultivation practices. According to Chinchmalatpure et al. (2019) [2] , youth farmers often struggle with access to quality planting material and technical know-how, reflecting the medium to high importance assigned to these issues in the current study.

Transportation (Mean Score: 2.39, Rank VIII) Poor transport infrastructure or lack of affordable and timely transportation affects the timely delivery of flowers to markets, leading to spoilage and reduced returns.

High Wage Rate (Mean Score: 2.32, Rank IX) Labor wages have been increasing, especially post-COVID-19, placing a financial burden on farmers who rely on hired labor during peak periods such as harvesting and packaging.

Labour Scarcity Problems (Mean Score: 2.16, Rank X)

In addition to high wages, the availability of skilled labor is another concern. Migration and lack of interest among local youth in agricultural labor have contributed to labor shortages. The issue of labor scarcity and rising wage rates has been widely documented post-COVID-19, with Pakhmode et al. (2018) [6] reporting similar patterns among flower growers in Maharashtra. [5] .

Lack of Technical

Conclusion

References

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