Former engineer finds his calling with chrysanthemums

Defying conventional farming patterns in the dry uplands of Nellore district, a young farmer has turned chrysanthemum cultivation into a profitable venture using modern techniques under a shade net.

Sanagapu Chiranjeevi, an engineering graduate from Mudigedu village, left a career in private companies to pursue agriculture. Driven by market demand and an interest in horticulture, he chose to cultivate chrysanthemums (chamanthi) under controlled conditions.

On his one-acre plot, Chiranjeevi invested about ₹25 lakh in a shade net structure and an additional ₹9–10 lakh on land preparation, drip irrigation, mulching and inputs. He procured nearly 60,000 saplings at ₹3.50 each from Pune and Mydukuru. Starting cultivation in November 2024, his farm reached full bloom by January, despite initial scepticism about growing flowers in an upland region.

The farm now yields around 50 kg of flowers daily, fetching ₹100 to ₹200 per kg depending on demand. With strong demand during weddings, festivals and temple rituals, he earns over ₹5,000 per day by supplying to markets in Nellore and Podalakur.