A sunflower field steals the show this Onam in Thiruvananthapuram

Sunflowers in full bloom on the campus of Marian Engineering College, Menamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram at Aaravam 2026, the agri-flower show | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN It seems sunflower is the star this Onam season in Thiruvananthapuram, with residents making a beeline to the sunflower field on the campus of Marian Engineering College, Menamkulam, located 20-odd kilometres from the city. The flowers are in full bloom at Aaravam 2026, an agri-flower show, which is an initiative of agripreneur SV Sujith’s startup, Naaden Agro Farms. Sunflowers in full bloom on the campus of Marian Engineering College, Menamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram at Aaravam 2026, the agri-flower show | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN Sujith, a Kerala State Farm Award-winning farmer, has planted 28,000 sunflower plants and this is his second successful attempt at setting up sunflower field during the festival season. Last year, it was on the campus of St Xavier’s College, Thumba, where he already has a vegetable farm on 20 acres. “We have extracted 500 kilograms of oil from the sunflower seeds collected last year. You get one kilogram oil from 3 to 3.5 kilogram seeds,” he says.It was in March this year that he leased five acres of waste land from the Marian management. “We converted it into cultivable land and planted sunflower seeds on two acres in June. Open precision farming method has been used, which incorporates mulching sheets and drip irrigation,” he says.Currently four varieties of sunflower are grown here. “They differ with regard to size of the flower, number of petals, time taken to bloom, duration of flowering etc. We brought in these varieties to check which of them is suitable for our climate.” Agripreneur SV Sujith at Aaravam, the agri-flower show on the campus of Marian Engineering College in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN Besides sunflowers, Aaravam showcases around 20,000 marigold plants in three colours — yellow, white and orange. Added attraction is the 8,000-plus plants of the dwarf French marigold, with flowers in shades of yellow and red. Magenta and pink varieties of Bachelor’s button (vadamalli) and cock’s comb (kozhippoovu/Celosia) in four bright colours also grab eyeballs, . Marigold blooms on the campus of Marian Engineering College, Menamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram at Aaravam 2026, the agri-flower show | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN He plans to extract oil from sunflower seeds this year as well, while the marigolds will be sold in local flower market.Sujith has also grown paddy on two cents of land. Also on display are a water wheel and several equipment used in farming. He has cultivated sweet corn, watermelon, vegetables and greens, including snake gourd, bittergourd, brinjal, coriander, palak, and amaranthus. Poultry such as hen, duck, and geese and a pair of goats are also on display. A cock's comb variety at Aaravam | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran “This agri-show is an attempt to attract youngsters to farming. We have been giving internships to college students at our farm at St Xavier’s. This year we have recruited four students from College of Agriculture, Vellayani, one from Mitraniketan, and two Vocational Higher Secondary students. In addition, we have taken one ITI (Industrial Training Institute) student for plumbing work. After internship, they all will become staff at Naaden.” Four varieties of cock's comb at Aaravam on the campus of Marian Engineering College, Menamkulam, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Once the flower cultivation is wound up, he will start planting vegetables and fruits, starting with watermelon. “Plans are on to take another 15 acres from the college on lease and expand vegetable cultivation,” says Sujith.Aaravam 2026 is open till September 5, from 6am to 6pm on all days. Entry fee is ₹50 for adults and ₹30 for children. Published - August 20, 2026 10:00 am IST