Tiruchirappalli, March 28 -- Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, flower farmers in the Tiruchirappalli district have put forward several demands.

They have been consistently urging the government to establish a dedicated flower research centre in the Srirangam area, similar to those functioning in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The farmers say that setting up such a research facility would help in the early identification of pest attacks and plant diseases, enabling timely treatment and improving overall yield.

Additionally, the farmers have sought the establishment of a perfume extraction unit in the region. According to them, this would provide an alternative market for surplus produce, allowing farmers to sell flowers for value-...