Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 11: Flower growers from different parts of the J&K assembled today to share concerns regarding the present status of the Commercial Floriculture Industry in UT. Addressing the gathering, Tejinder Singh Wazir, Member of the J&K Kissan Advisory Board, said that floriculture is a billion-dollar industry globally and nearly Rs. 500 crore, in JK. It continues to remain under-privileged in planning and implementation by the UT administration, he added.
Referring to figures reflected in the Government budget, Wazir said that Floriculture in J&K is in a disorganised condition. He pointed out that even during the present budget session flowers were imported from other parts of the country by concerned Department, despite the slogan of “Vocal for Local.”
He further stated that every year Jammu and Kashmir remains dependent on imports of Tulips and trillions of flower bulbs. Despite the fact that various ICAR and CSIR IIM reports have identified Kashmir as a vital destination for flower bulb production in India, the region has failed to tap this million-dollar potential capable of generating billions of jobs. He said that Floriculture continues to be viewed by political leadership merely as an aesthetic activity rather than a sustainable source of livelihood.
Wazir described this as a serious concern for the viability and sustainability of the sector and called for UT-level initiatives such as a blanket ban on the import of flower bulbs for the public sector. He also urged the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah to develop theme based gardens such as Guldaudi, Lupins, and Bougainvillea gardens with the direct involvement of local flower growers/nursery men with long term planning.
He appealed to the concerned Ministry of UT to inquire on the ground as to why no dedicated floriculture marketing infrastructure has been created in the UT, how much money has been spent on post-harvest management and what outcomes have been achieved so far.
Wazir also referred to the CSIR Floriculture Mission implemented under the leadership of Dr Jitendra Singh, stating that such mission-mode scientific interventions have demonstrated how such efforts can significantly strengthen the Floriculture Sector.
He also appealed to Dr Jitendra Singh and Chief Minister of UT, Omar Abdullah to work towards coordinated efforts for strengthening the commercial floriculture industry in the UT.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel