Kerala: Bison Valley turns golden as 40-acre sunflower farm replaces fallow paddy lands in Idukki
Idukki, February 13
The sunflower fields in the Bison Valley of Idukki have blossomed, with 40 acres of blooms drawing hundreds of visitors to the high ranges. The vast floral display has become a major attraction in the district, offering a breathtaking sight that fills visitors' eyes and hearts.
Jijo Joseph Puthenveettil of Bison Valley has had a passion for farming and flowers since childhood. He planted flowering plants of various colours and shapes along the roadsides. In areas where paddy cultivation was once carried out continuously, many fields have now been left fallow due to a shortage of labourers.
With the aim of reclaiming these fallow lands, Jijo leased a paddy field in Muttukadu and began sunflower cultivation on an experimental basis. As the initiative gained significant public attention and appreciation, he expanded the cultivation to one acre of his own farmland near Bison Valley.
Initially, the seeds were sourced from Tamil Nadu. However, due to unavailability this season, the required seeds were brought from Karnataka. The sunflower garden is now open to visitors. A large number of tourists arrive daily to witness the blooming sunflowers and capture photographs.
In addition to the sunflower fields, 24 varieties of bamboo collected and planted by Jijo from different places nearly 15 years ago now stand tall across the area, spreading shade and enhancing the beauty of the landscape.
Idukki is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state, India, created on 26 January 1972. This beautiful high-range district of Kerala is known for its Mountainous Hills and dense forests. For the people of Kerala, Idukki is always associated with Power Generation. About 66 per cent of the State's Power needs come from the Hydroelectric Power Projects in Idukki.
Idukki, in the Western Ghats of Kerala, is the second-largest district by area but has the lowest population density. Idukki has a vast forest reserve area; more than half of the district is covered by forests. Urban areas are densely populated, whereas villages are sparsely populated. Idukki is also known as the spice garden of Kerala.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Amazing transformation! Idukki is already God's own country, and this adds another layer of beauty. However, while I appreciate the tourism angle, I do hope the focus remains on sustainable agriculture and doesn't lead to over-commercialization of these pristine lands.
Fantastic use of land that was just lying unused. The labour shortage for paddy is a real issue across Kerala. Initiatives like this show how we can adapt. Plus, the photos are stunning! Planning a trip next weekend for sure.
This is beautiful! It reminds me of lavender fields in Provence, but with our own Indian touch. Wonderful to see such positive news from Kerala. The blend of sunflowers and bamboo varieties mentioned shows real dedication to the environment.
Good effort, but a small note of caution. Sourcing seeds from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu highlights our dependency. We need robust local seed banks and horticulture support from the state government to make such projects truly sustainable in the long run.
Sunflowers in the high ranges of Idukki! What a visual treat. This is the kind of positive, development-oriented story we need more of. It preserves the green cover, utilizes land, and creates a new identity for the area. Hats off to the farmer!
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