Madhavaram park wins visitors with horticulture activities

In the era of digital world, an ornamental park and demo garden—set up by State Horticulture Department in Madhavaram two years ago—has managed to draw visitors’ attention away from their gadgets and towards farm and dairy activities.

“The huge government park is now financially self-sufficient and is a weekend attraction among Chennaiites,” agriculture department secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi toldDT Next. The horticulture park earns up to Rs 30,000 as entry fee during weekends. The daily collection this season has been around Rs 10,000. The revenue comes from the sale of tickets, selling of plants and vegetables grown in the park. The park is also set to sell chocolates under the concept “bean to bar chocolate”, where visitors would be trained to make chocolate bars from cocoa paste, milk powder and sugar, Bedi said. It is also working on a garden of exclusively for crotons, fruit trees and cacti at the expense of Rs 65 lakh. “We will also grow medicinal plants worthRs 5 lakh,” the official said.   

Seasonal restoration and the periodic improvement works are carried out in the park to maintain the ground water level and keep the soil moist. Semmozhi Poonga too has been given a facelift recently to attract more numbers. Sale of plants, ornamental saplings and manure has picked up in both the parks, Bedi added.

“Madhavaram park spreads across 28.51 acres and is also focusing on offering more academic courses. Currently, we offer a two-year diploma course in horticulture to 50 students, which helps them get better job opportunities,”said an official attached to the park.

N Subbaiyan, Director of Horticulture, said, “To ensure that there is no water shortage, the artificial pond inside the park is regularly desilted and rainwater is harvested. Also, our cucumber and mushroom harvests have been impressive. The vegetable samples grown under controlled climatic polyhouse conditions has also started yielding good results.”

So far more than Rs 6 crore has been spent in the project and the park has become an attraction for people in north Chennai and northern suburbs. While kids enjoy the fountains, polyhouses, artificial water trough, play area and the view deck across the lake, for adults, it’s the polyhouse and the mushroom cultivation that is the major draw. There are also livelihood training facilities for self-help groups, sources from the park said. There is also a proposal to put up an Aavin parlour and a few eateries inside the park.

Under the farm tourism concept, bulk bookings are also encouraged for authorities planning trips for students. The farm had also started selling saplings on large scale ranging from Rs 10 to 60 based on the varieties, sources said.

Madhavaram, which is also the home to Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Research Centre on Ornamental fish, also has expansion plans in pipeline. “A state of the art fish centre to breed and sell fish is being planned. Once completed, it will be a major attraction for kids interested in livestock and fish,” said an official attached to the Tamil Nadu Fisheries University.

The staff have been receiving a lot of complaints that the park is often dotted with couples indulging in public display of love which causes uneasiness for teachers and parents accompanying kids. The staff also said that sometimes, a few couples refuse to leave when it’s closing time and argue with them.

The state horticulture department has announced a three-day horticulture training programme at Madhavaram Horticulture Park and Semmozhi Poonga near Gemini circle. The programme includes demonstrations on farming activities, vegetable cultivation, terrace garden and raising ornamental plants in apartments. According to Madhavaram horticulture farm officials the one-day programme will also teach children and youngsters on raising vegetables under controlled climatic conditions. The applicants will be introduced to a wide range of 398 types of flora ranging from trees, herbs, plants and exotic ornamental plants. Students and members of public seeking registration can contact 9715588927 (Madhavaram) and 9444805265 (Semmozhi Poonga).