Plan to boost 'attar' trade by promoting rose cultivation

Kanpur: In order boost the trade of 'attar' and other aromatic products, the horticulture department of Kannauj is set to promote rose cultivation by imparting training to farmers and increasing the area under cultivation.
The farmers will be sent to Etah and Hathras districts, famous for rose cultivation, where they will undergo training on the latest technology in cultivation of roses.Kannauj has nearly 10 hectares of agricultural land, where roses are grown.
In the district, there are two categories of farmers, one who cultivate rose shrubs exclusively in their plots and have made it their main occupation, while others grow rose bushes in their agricultural lands for extra income.
"We have instructed the horticulture depart to prepare a list of farmers interested in learning advanced techonology in rose cultivation. The agriculture department will bear all the expenses. We will assure farmers there is a good return and encourage them to undergo training in Etah and Hathras districts from where rose buds are being currently supplied to local 'attar' manufacturers," the district horticulture officer said.
Training and pruning of crop is one of the most important practices which influence flower production significantly.
"In roses, this practice will be recommended from mid-December to mid-January in which farmers can get good yield. In the district, there are few, who have adopted an innovative practice of 'alternate year pruning'. In this practice, the crop is trained and pruned one year and kept unpruned in second year. Through this practice, second year crop gives higher number of branches and flowers," deputy director, agriculture, Rajesh Kumar said.
This technology is cost effective and more remunerative in areas like Kannauj, where distillation of flowers is commercially done for extracting essence and its marketing. The farmers could save the money and increase his profit, he added.
"Also, we will increase the area under rose cultivation which at present is 10 hectare. The aim is also to introduce diversity in agriculture so that farmers can choose from value crop instead of usual cash crops like paddy, wheat, potato or jowar," another officer of the agriculture department said.