As widely acknowledged, the best credentials to India's potential to become a major horticulture, floriculture in particular, power was a threeday show at New Delhi's sprawling Pragati Maidan. Top quality flowers of various hues and shapes, including anthurium, rose, gerbera, orchid, lily, chrysanthemum, carnation and many others, along with different fruits and vegetables (both tropical and temperate), from several parts of the country and the world as well were on display at the Int'l Flora Expo and Int'l Horti Expo 2011. The event, organised by Media Today Group, was inaugurated by Sanjeev Chopra, Mission Director, National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI. He was accompanied by Bijay Kumar, MD of National Horticulture Board (NHB) and Dutch Ambassador to India Bob Heinsch. In the word of Chief Guest, Sanjeev Chopra, the expo has done singular service in bringing together people, minds and technology. The event was hailed as "an expo of world standard" by a NHM official who went round long rows of stalls.

"We have seen the organisers' commitment for the sector in many ways, especially participating in international events, inviting foreign companies to attend this Expo of national interest ... In achieving NHB's objectives, this event is certainly helpful," complimented Bijay Kumar. On the importance of the event, Neth- erlands' Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (India and Sri Lanka) Henk Van Duijn said that Indo-Dutch bilateral trade in agri-products would cross 1 billion euros in the next 10 years. "Last year, the total trade between India and Netherlands was around 345 million euros. We are expecting and targeting to take this up to one billion euros in the next 10 years. We are now targeting to triple it in the next five to ten years' period," said Henk. He said, presently India exports horticulture products worth 300 million euros to the Netherlands, which is a major trading hub in Europe, and total imports from the European country into Asia's secondfastest growing economy amount to around 45 million euros every year. "There are possibilities of collaboration between the two countries, especially with trade in agriculture products in general and trade in floriculture and horticulture products in particular," said Netherlands' Ambassador to India Bob Hiensch. The Union Agriculture Ministry was the principal sponsor, along with NHM and Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States. Supporting organisations and bodies were NHB, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, APEDA, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj and Indian Flowers and Ornamental Plants Welfare Association (iFLORA).

Dutch connection
This year's event marked a departure from the past in that for the first time, the Netherlands extended its hand of cooperation as a partner country. In the earlier events in the series, participation by the Netherlands was confined to Dutch companies only. The Netherlands came up with an outstanding pavilion. Renowned Indian companies, especially those having a strong foothold in the floriculture sector, with Dutch connection were part of the pavilion. While top players in the floriculture field like Sheel Biotech, Florance Flora, Moerheim Roses, Rise 'n Shine, Zopar Exports, Bangalore Plants First, Bejo Sheetal, IHITC and VWS BV put up an impressive flower show, organisation like Allround Vegetable Processing was not far behind with its products and services in the horticulture field. Anthura BV, Preesman Holland, De Jong Lelies, Rijn Plant, Bloomz, Z&Z Varieties Export, Stoop Flowerbulbs Holland, Terra Nigra BV Holland, Barberet & Blanc of Spain, VCI of Netherlands, AVO Anthurium, Santamaria, Hybrida, Selecta, Albani E Ruggieri, Knost Alstromeria, Kolster BV, Armada and Dekker chrysanten among others displayed their top varieties through their associates in India. Being the centre of attraction of the event, Holland pavilion not only delivered a great show, it left both the horticulture and floriculture sectors with a wide scope for mutual cooperation between India and Holland. While participating, the country has shown interest for knowledge sharing and technology transfer for a better growth of Indian floriculture. Despite an adverse weather condition, a steady stream of visitors, including farmer delegations from 25 States could feast their eyes and enhance their knowledge on horticulture wealth of 24 states and technology and services of over 150 companies, including those of 25 Dutch companies. In all, 15 countries' products and services were on display in the event. This time, horticulture and floriculture were clubbed together on one platform to facilitate knowledge exchange and to spread the latest technologies of one segment to another for mutual benefit. The objective was to encourage all stakeholders in floriculture and horticulture to derive the benefit of relevant techniques and technology available in India and abroad. Going round the expo was a rewarding experience for many farmer delegations, said one of the farmers. The growers could gather a fund of information on latest fruit and flower varieties, growing techniques, consumer demand, input supply services and details of machinery suppliers. Since labour shortage is being increasingly felt in the agriculture sector in many states, farm machine making companies displaying their products received a number of enquiries about the utility and prices of various equipment and machinery. For the States, the expo was a good opportunity to highlight their agricultural development, especially the progress made in assistance of the schemes available with NHM and HMNEHS.

Significant participation
The strong presence of North Eastern states was an indication of the rising popularity of growing flowers, fruits and vegetables as a profitable business among the farmers of those states. Interestingly, this activity in the region has promoted women's empowerment as well. Mizoram, where women's cooperatives are a big success in the production of anthurium and other flowers, put up an attractive stall to display its best export quality flowers. Beautiful anthuriums of different colours, shapes and sizes were decorated in hand-made pots, made from particular climbers, locally called 'Hruipui' and 'Tai'. Eye-catching cymbidium orchids were the star attraction in the Sikkim stall. The background walls were decorated with colourful roses and anthuriums. Assam and Manipur had lots to offer to wide-eyed visitors, with Assam displaying alluring anthuriums. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland showcased excellent quality fruits like apple, orange, pineapple, kiwi, and flowers like anthuriums and carnations. Nagaland exhibited some of the choice fruits under cultivation along with unusually big gingers. That the demand for exotic fruits and vegetables is on the increase in the country was obvious from the exhibits in various pavilions, indicating the new trend of crop diversification among the farming community to augment income. Vegetables like zucchini and longleaved Chinese cabbage, along with orchids of different colours at the Uttar Pradesh pavilion were proof of the enterprising nature of some of the farmers to capitalize on the changing demand of upper-end consumers. Zucchini and, yellow and red variety capsicums, as also many other fruits and vegetables were on display at the Andhra Pradesh pavilion as well. Stall officials explained that growing of these vegetables fetched good prices to the hard working Andhra farmers. Madhya Pradesh displayed a wide range of horticulture products, from lemon, papaya, amla, capsicum and different types of chilies to flowers like gerberas, lilies and roses. Big sized amla along with beautiful roses of yellow, red, orange, white and pink colour were special attraction at the stall. Display of amla reflected the importance being attached to growing traditional fruits, having immense medicinal value. Amla, as is well known, has a special place in Ayurveda. Maharashtra, one of the most promising States in horticulture and floriculture as well, came up with an impressive participation. The State displayed various agro products and farming techniques.

Excellent display
For lay visitors, Tamil Nadu pavilion proved very popular, since it had effectively used the art of vegetable and fruit carving to create a number of images of birds and animals, like peacock, cockerel, domestic hen, crocodile, hare and what have you, and designs of scenic beauty. Besides, the stall was surrounded by varieties of flowers grown in the state. No surprise that the stall was clicked for maximum time. Jammu and Kashmir, one of the largest producers of temperate fruits, concentrated mainly on display of dry fruits besides good quality Himalayan honey, saffron and other horticulture produce. Kerala showcased some of the exotic type flowers, like "rattle snake" flower, under cultivation in the State, besides orchids. Officials in the pavilion said the State is active in development of medicinal plants, under the programme of State Medicinal Plant Mission. Karnataka's stall was no different as it was another instance of 'riot of colours'. Apart from bi-colour chrysanthemum, roses and gerberas of red, yellow, pink, orange and magenta stole the show. Most of the flowers were of export varieties. The activities presented at the Haryana pavilion showed the importance the State has accorded to organic farming and expansion of area under medicinal and aromatic plants. A success story in Punjab is the cultivation of seed potato. The Punjab pavilion therefore sought to highlight the activities of POSCON, a confederation of elite potato-seed growers of the state. It meets 50-60 per cent of the seed requirement of India. According to a POSCON official, the turnover of this body, which encourages cultivation of quality seed, is about US$50 million. Besides potato cultivation, the confederation's initiatives include marketing, machinery use and exchange programmes. Himachal Pradesh, known as carnation state of India, send their beneficiaries' produce and highlighted the state's programmes for small and marginal farmers. While Delhi Development Department displayed the state initiatives, Uttarakhand, being an emerging floriculture / horticulture State, showcased the produce of its beneficiaries. During the show, Chhattisgarh conveyed its focus on horticulture crops apart from medicinal and herbal plant varieties. Horticulture Department of Gujarat sent their farmer delegation along with officials from Surat to display the gerbera and other floriculture produces of the State. Rajasthan highlighted the state horticulture department's initiatives and focused more on taking floriculture as a serious diversification option for farmers, especially when the state has the advantage of easy reach to the national capital markets. Additionally, the State is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in India that uses flowers extensively for decorations. Organic cultivation is another area where Rajasthan is trying to penetrate.

Show stoppers
Apart from the States, large and eyecatching pavilions which attracted a number of visitors were those of APEDA and NHB, both of which acted as information centres on various government schemes to promote floriculture, horticulture and of course, Indian products. APEDA's participation definitely sent positive message to the horticulture and food sectors. During the show, APEDA conveyed its traceability concept to foreign buyers and trade visitors. NHB divided its pavilion into four parts where it displayed horticulture produce of its beneficiaries. It also took initiative to involve its beneficiaries into conversation with domestic as well as foreign buyers and traders, which, undoubtedly, helped the participating growers at the NHB pavilion to understand the market and share some useful information in this regard. Other government agencies that participated were National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), National Seeds Corporation, National Bee Board, National Centre of Organic Farming and National Committee on Plasticulture Application in Horticulture (NCPAH). Honey Bunch, a Tamil Nadu-based company, displayed hanging plant pots made of coconut fibre. The pots looked quite similar to those of coconut shells, only difference was size. These pots were 10-15 times bigger in size than coconut shells. More interestingly, these pots were flexible in nature, thus could not be broken easily. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., a market leader and second largest micro irrigation company in the world, promoted a whole range of precision products, services, engineering designs and agronomic support solutions besides hi-tech greenhouses, water management accessories and solar water heater systems. Jiffy Products International launched their exclusive range of quality rooting products, which are environment friendly, during the show. The company's product range includes preforma plant plug system, Jiffypot, Jiffy-7 Forestry, pellets and growblocks for modern horticulture industry. Champion Agro Ltd., a leading Gujaratbased retail company launched Top Greenhouses of Israel. The company provides a wide range of turnkey solutions apart from contract farming, packhouses and manufacturing of various agriculture water pumps. Large size cold rooms were exhibited at the Bader Al Mulla & Bros. Company WLL stall. At a time when cold chain logistics poses a burning problem to the entire horticulture industry, Al Mulla's participation will hopefully show some way in this direction. Finolex Plasson Industries Ltd. a JV between Finolex Group and Plasson of Israel displayed the solutions for corporate farming, horticulture, floriculture, greenhouse and automation systems apart from a product range for water management. Apart from these companies, other major exhibitors were A A Politiv Ltd., Green House Solutions, Agri Plast, Atlantic Prints, Baijnath Plastic Product Pvt. Ltd., B l u e Stallion Equipments Pvt. Ltd., Falcon Garden Tools (P) Ltd, Gharana Exports Pvt Ltd, Gover Plantscapes India Pvt. Ltd., Great Sports Infra Pvt. Ltd., Ginegar Plastic Products, GTC International, Indo-American Hybrid Seeds (I) Pvt. Ltd., Kimya Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Metrics Trading Company, Parry Enterprises India Ltd Tuflex India Division, Plantsman's Seeds, Rajdeep Agri Products Pvt. Ltd., Sri Satya Narayana Nursery, Coromandel International Ltd., Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd., Sri Veera Hanuman Nursery, Surge Systems India Pvt. Ltd., Sutton & Sons (India) Pvt. Ltd., Vardhaman Fertilizers & Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Varsha Enterprises, Automat Irrigation Pvt. Ltd., BCS India Pvt. Ltd., Bee Chems, Best Engineering Technologies, Gandhi Automations Pvt Ltd, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd., India Pesticides Ltd., Neem India Products Pvt. Ltd., Omnivent Techniek BV, Patkol Public Co. Ltd., Prakruthi Agro Tech/ Shree Sadguru Packaging Industries, R.D.M. Care (India) Pvt Ltd, Rana Machines India Pvt. Ltd., SCS Agribusiness Consultants Pvt. Ltd., State Bank of India and Vishakha Group. The organisers received much praise from participants, visitors, delegates and government officials for putting up such 'a grand show under one roof'.