Marigold is one of the commercially exploited flower crops
among the floriculture accessory, accompanying or supplementing the regular
income to small and marginal farmers of the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh
state. Meerut being a city nearby Delhi NCR region is consumption of flowers is
more, but as compared to consumption quality production is very low. However,
the major constraints or compulsion of marigold cultivation are less quality
productivity due to the lack of good quality seed, planting materials, on adoption of recommended package of
practices and lack of awareness regarding the economics of the crop as compared
to sugarcane. To solve this problem, by front line demonstration were conducted
at the farming situations of Meerut district with the participation of farmers
after the baseline survey. Marigold production practice in this context front
line demonstration (use of improved variety, proper nursery techniques, balance
dose of fertilizers, important inter culture operations practice and plant
protection measures) increased the yield by 35.13 per cent on an average over
the farmer practice. The highest extension gap was 43.56q/ha whiles the
technology index, which is inversely correlated to the feasibility of the
improved technology in the farmer’s field. The adoption of improved technology
under frontline demonstration (FLDs) resulted in highest gross returns
(Rs.251625/ha), net return (Rs.203025/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1:5.17) as
compared to farmer practice.