Tikapur agriculture students put ‘Learning while earning’ into practice through marigold farming

Dhangadhi: With demand for marigold flowers rising ahead of the Tihar festival, seven students in Tikapur, Kailali, have begun selling flowers they cultivated themselves. The students, enrolled at the College of Natural Resource Management under Agriculture and Forestry University, have put the concept of “learning while earning” into practice through their farming initiative.

The students began cultivating marigolds to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to practical work. Umesh Bista, a fifth-semester student, said they had brought their flowers to the market for the Tihar festival after growing them through their own efforts and skills.

“We have begun selling the flowers, which we produced using our own effort and skills, in time for Tihar,” he said.

Another student, Anil Chaudhary, said the initiative provides not only a source of income but also an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies. He believes that connecting agricultural education with production will encourage them to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship in the future.

The students said local marigold production and sales could help reduce dependence on imported flowers while promoting domestic production.

They have urged consumers to buy locally grown flowers for decorating homes and courtyards, performing religious rituals, and celebrating the Deusi-Bhailo tradition during Tihar. The students’ marigolds are being sold near the eye hospital on the premises of the College of Natural Resource Management.

The students said they are offering fresh flowers at reasonable prices. They began the collective farming initiative after the college provided land for cultivation. The project has given them an opportunity to gain practical experience alongside their studies while generating income.