Development of new lotus varieties brings Ajitha national recognition

It was a journey that began on a terrace near Thiruvalla. Just a few pots, a few stems, and above all, a fascination with the lotus. From that modest beginning, K.V. Ajitha’s passion has now flowered into national recognition. A couple of new lotus varieties developed by her -- Mayoori and Paneer Rose -- have now received registration from the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority of the Government of India. For a home grower-turned-plant innovator, it is a rare yet significant recognition.

Mayoori is distinguished by its deep pink, bowl-shaped blooms. Compact and elegant, it is well suited for small containers and ornamental ponds. Paneer Rose, by contrast, bears soft light pink flowers with multiple layers of petals and a gentle fragrance that lingers in the air. Together, the varieties hold strong commercial potential in the ornamental floriculture market.

For Ajitha, the journey has been slow but steady . Over the past seven years, she has cultivated lotus plants on the terrace of her home, with constant support from her family. Today, she maintains a collection of nearly 15 distinct lotus varieties. “With proper varietal selection and management, flowering can continue for long periods. It offers steady returns as well. It is ideal for women entrepreneurs, terrace gardeners, youth ventures and agri startups in ornamental horticulture,” she says.

Foray into online market

Her work soon extended beyond the terrace into digital spaces. A significant part of the lotus tuber trade, she notes, now happens online, while some buyers approach her directly. Social media, she says, became a bridge to a wider community of growers, enabling her to exchange tubers and experiment with new tropical lotus varieties.

Years ago, during one such online exploration, she first encountered hybrid lotus plants. At the time, they were still relatively new in Kerala, rare, expensive and much sought after. That discovery proved pivotal. She procured a prized variety, experimented with it and within a few months began selling its tubers. The early success gave her the confidence to expand further. From then on, there was no turning back.

Ajitha received technical support from ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pathanamthitta, in the process of varietal identification, documentation and registration. The morphological characterisation of the newly developed lotus varieties was carried out under the leadership of Sumangala, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru, while documentation and data collection was coordinated by Sindhu Sadanandan, Subject Matter Specialist, ICAR-KVK Pathanamthitta.

Recognition

The proposal and recommendations for registration before the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) were submitted under the guidance of V Venkitasubramanian, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Bengaluru. In recognition of her achievement, Ms. Ajitha was accorded a felicitation by ICAR Deputy Director General Dr. Ranbir Singh at a zonal workshop held in Kottayam recently.

According to C.P. Robert, Senior Scientist and Head, ICAR-KVK, Pathanamthitta, the recognition of these varieties is expected to open new possibilities in ornamental floriculture and create additional income avenues for farmers. He noted that her achievement underscores the importance of farmer-led innovation in ornamental horticulture, while also encouraging aspiring floriculture entrepreneurs to explore emerging opportunities in specialised flower cultivation.