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| Having been through trying times for the last 18 years, the state of Jammu and Kashmir at present is looking forward to a revival of its commercial floriculture. Faced with such an abnormal situation, the state's commercial floriculture was not able to get necessary support for about two decades. Regarded as the 'paradise on earth', Jammu and Kashmir having a historical tradition of many a garden set up by Mughals in the present scenario is also trying to regain back the glory. Having undergone a change and with the recent launch of Tulip Garden in Jammu and Kashmir, the state is aiming towards changing the perception of people associating the production of Tulips only with Holland. With a desire of creating a brand name in Tulips, Jammu and Kashmir government is looking forward to a public-private partnership towards making investments for encouraging the production of the flower on a commercial scale. "We are looking for investments especially in pre-and-post harvest management, in developing production units for planting material and in the production of rare and exotic varieties," says Sonali Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government Agriculture Production Department, Jammu & Kashmir. The state winning the 'Best State Display Award' at the recent 4th International Flora Expo 2008, Kumar was the one who inaugurated the three day event in New Delhi. Given an opportunity in the expo, the state tried to acquaint expo participants from other states as well as visitors to the expo about its floral wealth. People associated with the floriculture sector of Jammu and Kashmir also did try to educate state entrepreneurs about the market requirements. Speaking about the expo said Kumar, "the participation in the Flora Expo 2008 was truly a world class experience for all the participants of our state." Here's a fuller report : |
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According to Sonali Kumar, the show provided information about a wide range of products and services from a large number of exhibitors from around the globe. It also gave a comprehensive picture of the latest developments and future trends in professional floriculture, including techniques, supply, trade, and services of the professionals in this sector. The expo provided a platform for a number of Indian players to meet and interact amongst themselves as well as with global players and to learn from each other. Speaking on the floriculture sector not being considered as a diversification option in the state, she said:
J&K is known as the paradise on earth with all natural advantages - like water, climate, manpower and soil. But floriculture is not known as a diversification option in horticulture in the state. What is the reason ?
Of course, favorable climate and natural resources have given our state an unmatched historical tradition in which legendary Mughal Kings laid out a number of splendid gardens here. After independence, much impetus was given to the revival of these historical gardens as well as to the creation of new recreational sites. This is reflected in the fact that for the first time in India an independent department of Gardens, Parks and Floriculture was created in J&K. Development of commercial floriculture has been one of the important tasks since then. The department established a Model Floriculture Center at Chasmashahi, Srinagar to introduce exotic plant material of commercial importance. The department also aimed at establishing a demonstration centre for the farming community. However, due to the abnormal situation in the state for the last 18 years, the project could not get the necessary support it deserved. Now we are working for the revival of commercial floriculture to the best of our abilities.
Recently inaugurated Asia's largest Tulip garden has created a new name for J&K as a tourists' attraction. Who had conceptualized this dream and after a successful completion how do you feel about it?
No doubt, the Srinagar Tulip Garden has become the latest attraction for tourists and for the film industry. For this all credit goes to our dedicated gardeners and to our former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad who provided all out support for this ambitious venture. The garden's creation has made the world aware that Tulips are not only related to Holland but Kashmir as well. From a commercial point of view, tulip crop, both as cut flowers and bulbs, have opened a new opportunity for our growers. Our experts are now busy producing tulip bulbs in larger numbers which can be made available throughout the country so that people can enjoy the beauty of tulip flowers everywhere.
You may want to tell us what has gone into making J&K a leading state in floriculture. Nature of course is bountiful in and around the state. What else has contributed to this progress ?
J&K has become a leading state in floriculture because of the salubrious climate and fertile soil. The efforts of the state and central government and the willingness of our farmers to diversify into floriculture have helped us realize this dream faster. Now some reputed floriculture companies have started their flower seeds, bulbs and corms production units directly with local farmers which augur well for the sustainability of the sector.
Unlike many other flower growing areas, J&K has got the natural advantage doing well with a significant participation of women in flower business. Do you see this participation as a stepping stone for the empowerment of women at large?
Floriculture is rightly perceived as a professional agricultural activity where all the members of a family, including womenfolk, can be employed. Thankfully a number of government organisations are working for training women in the field of floriculture. As a result young, educated women have taken a big lead in commercial floriculture in our state. Economic independence is a major step towards empowerment and this is what we hope to achieve through floriculture.
Do you see floriculture as a growing avenue that could open the doors to jobless people in the state?
Certainly development of floriculture in our state has the potential to raise the economic and social standard of living. We are producing about three million lilium bulbs annually both in public as well as in the private sector whereas the country's demand is about 10 million bulbs. Demand for the rest of the seven million lilium bulbs is fulfilled only by imports. Our state has therefore upgraded its production capacity to meet with the domestic demand on a priority basis and exports on secondary basis. On the production front, one million lilium bulbs require about 10,000 men who in turn help in earning a foreign exchange worth $ 200,000. Likewise the production of aromatic oils, flowering seeds, fillers, greens and dry flora can become a good source of generating employment for our youth.
How much investment potential has the region got in the floriculture segment ? What are the plans of the state government in promoting floriculture as a profit making area?
We are looking for investments especially in pre-and-post harvest management, in developing production units for planting material, and in the production of rare and exotic varieties which otherwise can't be grown in the rest of the country. In order to promote floriculture as a profit making area, the following steps are taken by the state government :
Area expansion programme for commercial flowers.
Dissemination of Advance technology by organizing regular work shops/ seminars and training camps.
Arranging of credit assistance Establishment of Model Floriculture Centers
Establishment of quality planting material production centers Development of infrastructure
Providing subsidy for the purchase of Poly houses, Drip/Sprinkler irrigation systems, Shade Net houses etc.
Development of local markets
Can you elaborate on how the TMNE schemes have helped J&K in the area of horticulture in general and floriculture in particular? What more can the government and the private sectors do to faster the growth of floriculture in the state?
After the implementation of the Technology Mission Programme in the year 2004, the area under commercial floriculture has increased dramatically. Likewise various new industries such as industries producing flower bulbs, seeds and aromatic oils have received a boost. Government is further going to take up the following steps to accelerate the growth of floriculture in the state:
Identification of crop specific potential areas
Import of quality planting material for its distribution among farmers.
Unification of various agencies responsible for the development of commercial floriculture in the state
Branding of state floricultural products
Development of models under public-private partnership
Declaration of the state as an Agri-export zone
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