The Nilgiris : Farmers in Kotagiri have stopped cultivating Koi Malar and turned to growing strawberries in the cottages meant for Koi Malar. The farmers opine that it had helped them earn a better profit margin.
The Nilgiris : Farmers in Kotagiri have stopped cultivating Koi Malar and turned to growing strawberries in the cottages meant for Koi Malar. The farmers opine that it had helped them earn a better profit margin.
Tea cultivation has always been the primary occupation in Nilgiris but the past several years has seen a steep decline in the pricing of tea and hence both the economy and livelihood of local tea farmers in Nilgiris had been greatly affected.
Subsequently, many farmers set up cottages for the cultivation of Koi Malar, beans, chow chow and other mountain vegetables. Flowers that were being exported to foreign countries and sold in the local market yielded good profit. But over a period of time, the cultivation of Koi malar had been hampered, resulting in loss for the farmers.
So most farmers have stopped the cultivation of Koimalar and chose to grow strawberries instead. Strawberry plants are ready for harvest within three months if properly irrigated and maintained and yield strawberries right through the year. Since strawberries are priced at Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per kg, many farmers have now moved to growing strawberries.