28,000 Sunflowers Draw Crowds to Kerala Agri-Show

Thousands of visitors are flocking to see 28,000 sunflowers in full bloom at a festival celebration turning heads in southern India.

Award-winning farmer SV Sujith created the stunning display at Aaravam 2026, an agri-flower show running through September 5 in Thiruvananthapuram. The spectacle sits on what was barren wasteland just months ago.

Sujith leased five acres from Marian Educity in March and converted the unused land into fertile ground. By June, he had planted sunflower seeds across two acres using precision farming techniques including mulching sheets and drip irrigation.

This marks his second successful sunflower showcase during festival season. Last year's display produced 500 kilograms of oil from the seeds, with roughly three kilograms of seeds yielding one kilogram of oil.

The show features four different sunflower varieties, each tested to determine which thrives best in Kerala's climate. They differ in flower size, petal count, blooming time, and flowering duration.

Beyond the showstopping sunflowers, visitors can admire 20,000 marigold plants in yellow, white, and orange. An additional 8,000 dwarf French marigolds bloom in yellow and red shades alongside colorful displays of bachelor's buttons and cock's comb flowers.

The Ripple Effect

Sujith's vision extends far beyond creating Instagram-worthy flower fields. He's actively recruiting young people into agriculture through hands-on internships at his farms.

This year, seven students joined from agricultural colleges and vocational schools, plus one ITI student learning plumbing. After completing their internships, all will become permanent staff at his company, Naaden Agro Farms.

The exhibit also showcases traditional farming equipment, a water wheel, and small-scale cultivation of paddy, sweet corn, watermelon, and various vegetables. Visitors can see poultry and goats, experiencing a full picture of sustainable farming.

Once the flower show ends, Sujith plans to plant watermelon and other crops on the land. He's already negotiating to lease an additional 15 acres from the college to expand vegetable production.

His existing 20-acre farm at St Xavier's College continues training the next generation of farmers while producing food for local markets. The marigolds from the current show will be sold in nearby flower markets, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Adults can visit for 50 rupees and children for 30 rupees daily from 6am to 6pm. The flower fields are drawing families who leave inspired that farming can be both beautiful and profitable.