In spite of Uttarakhand making big strides in floriculture, it has still a long way to go to become a major floriculture hub, catering to the global market. This is a paradox since the state, nestling on the lap of the Himalayas, is endowed with rich natural resources all year round and excellent climatic variations needed for growing a variety of flowers. Though the area under flower cultivation almost doubled from 512 hectares in 2005-06 to 900 hectares in 2008-09 and the total quantity of flowers produced increased two-fold, it made little progress on the export front. Uttarakhand Government has embarked upon an ambitious project of developing floriculture sector as a thrust area, envisaging an investment of Rs. 200 crore in this sector in the 11th plan period. After being carved out of Uttar Pradesh, the state has made significant progress in floriculture with government unabatedly showing special interest in developing floriculture as an industry. The focus now is both quantity and quality with a view to dent on the global market. The major constraint, however, is supply of quality planting material to the growers.

The potential, prospects, government policies, their implementation and all relevant issues to make floriculture industry export-oriented were discussed in detail at a Workshop organised by the Agriculture Export Development Unit (AEDU). Titled 'Export-oriented Workshop on Floriculture', it was sponsored by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Floriculture in Uttarakhand has the potential to specialize in cut flowers, planting material like flower bulbs & seeds, and essential floral oils, said Dr APS Gill, National Floriculture Consultant, addressing the workshop. Gill, a former professor of PAU, credited with having prepared a road map on floriculture for the state, spoke of the state's vast potential, thanks to abundant water and favourable topography and climatic conditions. "There are more than 300 kinds of flowers and about 50 kinds of greens which can fetch a good price in the Netherlands and Japan markets." Chief guest Aditya Kothari, vice chairman of Uttrakhand Horticulture Development Council, in his address, stressed that in order to capitalize on the climatic diversity and geographical features in Uttarakhand, the state plans to formulate measures for facilitating the commercialized cultivation of more than 300 varieties of flowers.

Having traveled a lot in different parts of state, he said, he is fully aware of the problems that the farmers are facing. He invited the participants, mostly growers, to suggest solutions to bring about improvement. He noted that the state's success story in floriculture has been written many a time, and floriculture department is willing to help the growers in sorting out their problems. With the government proactively engaged in promoting floriculture, "we hope that the state will soon become one of the top flower growing regions and play an important role in flower production." "The goal that we have set for floriculture is not difficult to achieve. Only we need to chart out some measures like making clusters of 5-7 villages to grow particular produce and to acquire the expertise and experience. The growers can then come on one platform and form a federation," he pointed out. The government would provide all help to make collection centres, refrigerated transport system, pack houses and cold storage rooms which could be run jointly by the grower's federation and department. He said successful growers must come with a proposal to enable the small and marginal farmers to sell their produce at a reasonable price, and get it channelised to larger phool mandis like C.P. Flower Market or export market. They must pass on the benefit-long experience, latest technology, strong business network and know-how of flower industry-to their less privileged brethren, so that they could contribute their best in getting the state to notch the top. Floriculture Department may play a facilitating role by making terms & conditions for everyone involved in this business, so that the small and marginal growers are not taken for a ride and their interests are safeguarded. This will certainly encourage other farmers to come and diversify into flower production.

He informed that Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' is an avid lover of flowers and is keen to see this activity blooming into a lucrative business. The Chief Minister has suggested a target of Rs. 2000 crore in floriculture trade in the state to be achieved in the next few years. For this he has offered all help to the growers. In his address, B.P.Nautiyal, Director Horticulture, dwelt on the status of floriculture in Uttarakhand and the future strategy, saying that the flower trade in the state is estimated to be Rs. 100 crore with cut flowers trade standing at Rs.32 crore, the rest coming from loose flowers. On future strategy, he said that the department has charted out a plan to increase per acre output. "Our aim is to ensure maximum per acre earnings not only in floriculture produce but in other horticulture crops. Our focus will be now on quantity and quality," he said, adding that air-transport facility is being provided for flowers which are perishable goods that need to be transported at the earliest possible time to mandis. Speaking on strategy and promotion of floriculture export, Bipin Deo, floriculture expert, said that the growers should focus not only on the quantity but also on quality. Before venturing into the export market, there is some homework that needs to be done by growers and the department. "The grower should be acquainted with the basic things like marketing trends, professional approach, flower segmentation and understanding of flower specification. Generally, growers produce flowers without taking into account the consumer's preference or market trends." As a result, their products do not fetch good price. They would do well if they analyse the demand and market trends and tailor their production to match them.

Deo said Uttarakhand stands apart for growing every kind of flower and is easily accessible to outsiders by any transport-road or air. This can be turned into a big advantage by scaling up the operation, forming cooperatives and paving the way for coordination between grower-federation and government. Department can facilitate to strengthen supply chain and delivery mechanism. He added, the growers should diversify their products by following global standards. Sharing his view with Floriculture Today, Vijay Singh, one of the biggest growers, said, "The main problem that we face is over-production, with quality being overlooked, resulting in low price realization. A large number of farmers are financially weak and uneducated. They do not understand which flowers are in demand in the market and what quantity they should grow. In addition, the growers have very poor know-how of technical packaging of flowers. Often they send their products in overstuffed cartons or boxes to phool mandi or export market. Suppose a carton having a capacity for 10 flowers capacity is used to carry 50-60 flowers, you can imagine the condition of those flowers when they reach the market! Owing to lack of education and know-how of flower trade, growers become vulnerable to exploitation by planting materials suppliers. He suggested that the state government must take up these issues of growers on a priority basis. Only then can the state emerge as a mega floriculture hub. Besides, there are many problems that occur outside the state. "The moment we come along with our merchandised goods to C.P. phool mandi, we find ourselves caught between the devil and the deep sea." Owing to lack of facility like cold storage for keeping flowers near the mandi, growers are forced to sell their products at a throwaway price. Vijay suggested that state governments must take up the issue with the Delhi state govt. to make arrangements for cold storage near the mandi, so that the growers can store their unsold flowers.

With rising demand of flower in domestic and export market, the AEDU's aim is praiseworthy. It seeks to promote and develop floriculture in the state with active participation of local hill growers and entrepreneurs through latest technological intervention and thereby creating more opportunities for augmenting employment and income. However, some experts feel that the state can make much headway if schemes and strategies, worked out in workshops and conferences held at regular intervals, are implemented with a greater sense of urgency. "Promises and promises, but little progress on ground," said a sceptic. What is needed is action.