A four-acre hibiscus farm on the outskirts of Chengalpet is drawing attention not just for its vibrant blooms, but for transforming the flowers into herbal tea now being sold across Tamil Nadu under the brand name “Idhazh”.Located inside the 34-acre state horticulture farm at Athur, the organically cultivated hibiscus fields have emerged as the standout feature of the govt-run model farm that showcases sustainable agriculture and integrated farming practices. The farm, which was established in 1961, is equipped with polyhouses, shade-net nurseries, indoor plant greenhouses, vermicompost units, tissue culture laboratories and organic production centres.“The flowers are hand-picked, naturally dried using solar driers and processed at a dedicated hibiscus tea production center established by the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency. The tea powder is blended with dry ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, amla and clove before being packed and marketed through TANHODA outlets across the state,” says PA Mohan, deputy director of horticulture in Chengalpet. District rural development agencies and self-help groups are helping to promote the farm under the guidance of collector S Malathi Helen.Officials say hibiscus tea has become popular among health-conscious consumers looking for natural herbal beverages. The farm also cultivates and propagates 45 hybrid hibiscus varieties including Brackenridge, Hawaiian rose, Mount Everest, yellow red tropical, white burgundy and orange queen for commercial sale. “The farm has been developed as a first-of-its-kind integrated model in Tamil Nadu to support farmers with high-quality saplings, organic inputs and practical training in sustainable farming methods,” says Mohan.The farm produces fruit saplings including mango, guava, amla, sapota and acid lime varieties through scientific propagation techniques such as grafting and layering. Vegetable seedlings including brinjal, chilli and tomato are also raised throughout the year in modern nursery facilities.A major attraction for urban visitors is the indoor plant greenhouse which has varieties such as philodendron, aglaonema, calathea and anthurium, which are in high demand among households in and around Chennai.The facility also promotes natural farming through the production of vermicompost, panchakavya and other organic formulations prepared using dung and urine from indigenous cows reared on the campus. Medicinal plants grown at the farm are used for preparing organic pest repellents and bio-inputs.The farm has also become an educational and agri-tourism destination. About 1,200 students visited the campus last year to learn about sustainable agriculture, horticulture and eco-friendly farming practices.
