The State government is going all out to promote the cultivation of Gloriosa superba , commonly known as flame or glory lily, the State flower of Tamil Nadu, through several subsidy schemes.
Widely cultivated
The plant is widely cultivated in Tiruchi, Karur, Ariyalur, Dindigul, Namakkal, Erode and Coimbatore districts in Tamil Nadu.
In Tiruchi district, the plant is cultivated in more than 250 acres of land in Thuraiyur and Vaiyambadi areas.
Therapeutic quality
The seeds of the plant, which possess excellent therapeutic properties, are exported to western countries for medicinal use.
The chemical, Colchicine, extracted from the seeds, is used in treating joint pains and rheumatism, according to horticulture department officials.
The government encourages farmers to harvest flame lily by providing back-ended subsidy.
An amount of Rs.68,750 per hectare is provided by the government and Rs. 41.25 lakh has been allocated for a total of 60 hectares of cultivation in Tiruchi district. “ I’ve spent Rs. 27,000 for cultivating the plant, and the government has given me a subsidy of Rs.13,750 ,” said A. Subramanian, a beneficiary under the scheme. “There are around 350 farmers who cultivate the plant in Tiruchi district,” said P. Ravichandran, assistant director of horticulture, Tiruchi.
