The tour brought together 28 participants, most of them women interested in cultivating dahlias, locally known as dere hoo Participants in the ‘Prakriti Patha’ study tour, organised by Thotagars Green Group FPO of Thotagars’ Rural Co-operative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Ltd.
The study tour, titled Prakriti Patha, brought together 28 participants, most of them women interested in cultivating dere hoo, the local name for dahlias. Mangaluru: What began as a hobby in the home gardens of Malnad is now evolving into a collective effort to preserve, promote and market the region’s distinctive dahlia varieties. Seeking to build a community of growers and flower enthusiasts, the Thotagars Green Group FPO of Thotagars’ Rural Co-operative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Ltd (TRC Sirsi) organised a study visit to a farmer’s home in Nanikatta village Monday. The initiative follows the encouraging response to the recently organised Dere Mela, which connected growers from across the region and sparked interest in taking the flowers beyond home gardens. The study visit showcased successful growers as role models and provided participants an opportunity to learn about cultivation practices, planting material and maintenance. The FPO also plans to document the region’s dahlia varieties with photographs of flowers and bulbs to help preserve and disseminate them.