Dr. Banarsi Lal
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with an immense natural beauty. It is considered as the paradise on the earth because of its natural glamour. It located between 32.17 and 37.06 North latitude and 73.2 and 80.36 East longitude in the Himalayan region. J&K has 1069mm average annual rainfall in sub-tropical Jammu region and 660mm in temperate valley respectively. The average temperatures of these two regions are 24.5 and 13.3 centigrade respectively. J&K is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, climatic condition, diversity, topography, rich natural flora etc. which are conducive for the cultivation of a wide range of flowers. J&K has undergone many changes through the ages, influenced by the different kinds of cultures, religions and rulers during various periods of history. Floriculture sector is gaining momentum across the globe because of change in the lifestyle of the people, increasing concern over environment and improving purchasing power of the people. Many youths are coming forward to start the entrepreneurship in floriculture by using the modern technologies. The aesthetic value of flowers, their increasing use in the social events and potential of generating more money are attracting many new entrepreneurs towards floriculture industry. This sector has been considered as a viable sector recently because of increasing urbanization and changing socio-economic status of the people. The demand for cut flowers and loose flowers is increasing and there is need for the researchers and extension agents to concentrate on the future of this sector.
It is this scenic beauty and bountiful nature that lured the people and they are highly impressed by the natural beauty of many gardens in the valley along with their main sites and journey routes. Beautiful gardens in J&K are being enjoyed by the tourists across the globe. Keeping the demand of flowers in view there is need to increase the flower production and quality in J&K. With the strenuous efforts of Government organizations awareness on floriculture industry has been created among the farmers and some farmers especially from the young generation are showing keen interest in floriculture. Union Territory of J&K has huge potential in floriculture industry due to varied agro-climate and ecological conditions. Different types of commercially important flowers can be produced in the region and J&K can lead in quality flowers production in India because of congenial atmosphere for floriculture. Jammu is said to be the city of temples and there is a good numbering of floriculture consumer. Floriculture sector in J&K can strengthen the economy of J&K and some new employment and income opportunities can be created especially for the youth in the region. More efforts are needed to transform the burgeoning floriculture industry in J&K. Presently the contribution of India in world floriculture industry is about 0.6 per cent which is meager at international level. This industry is growing annually at a rate of 7-10 per cent. There is great scope of orchids, gladiolus, marigold, rose, gerbera, lilium, tulip, chrysanthemum etc.in J&K. Some model units of floriculture need to be established in J&K and those units should be replicated in other areas. In J&K every year new farmers are added up in the floriculture industry and their numbering is increasing year-by-year. The competition is also increasing annually because of the quality of flowers. There is need to make some proper marketing channels for flowers. Markets should be regulated for the floriculturists of the region. Additional efforts are needed for the value addition in the floriculture and some new innovations need to be adopted by the floriculturists to make this sector more lucrative. Presently farmers are doing the commercial farming of marigold and gladiolus in Jammu region but some other floriculture crops can also be taken as enterprises by the farmers. There is scope in increasing the productivity of flowers and for that purpose latest technologies need to be adopted. There is uneven performance of floriculture sector in J&K because of promotion of floriculture in certain specific pockets of the region. Off-season flowers can also be produced by the adoption of protected cultivation technique. In Jammu region of J&K area under marigold and gladiolus is rapidly increasing annually because of high net returns. Farmers need more information on production technologies and marketing management under floriculture crops.
In monkeys affected areas floral crops can prove as the viable crops to enhance the income and employment among the farmers. Floriculture requires higher level of information, economics and technology, the consultancy services in preparing the project reports, to prepare the market survey report, evaluation studies etc. National Horticulture Board under the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced many new schemes to encourage the floriculture industry. J&K has lot of scope of floriculture industry. It has been observed that flowers have high demand within and outside of J&K.J&K has good soil and weather conditions which are conducive for the growth of flowers. All these factors indicate that there is an immense scope of floriculture in J&K. Now the farmers are becoming more aware about this rising industry. If we look our economy, our agriculture, horticulture and floriculture have attracted the attention of big investors. In Reasi, Jammu and Samba districts of J&K, marigold crop is highly concentrated and farmers grow it at commercial level. Farmers are needed adequate credit facilities so that they can purchase quality inputs and get assured irrigation in their crops for better returns. Soil and water testing techniques facilities should be provided to them. Adequate power supply is also required to irrigate their fields and for other power related field activities. Broad research and extension activities also need to be intensified to promote the floriculture industry in J&K. Cold storage facilities also need to be increased to get better returns from this industry. Literature in local dialect should also be provided to the farmers to upgrade their knowledge on commercial floriculture. Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) should also be increased so that farmers can get the information of scientific floriculture. During training programmes projected aids can be utilized to create more impact of the activities. Through this technique more interest on floriculture can be created among the rural youths and flowers production can be increased. This will help to enhance the income of the farmers. Specific trainings on seed production should be imparted to the farmers so that the cost of cultivation can be reduced in the floriculture sector. Adequate staff is also required to impart the technical skill and assess the feedback of the farmers in this sector. Public Private Partnership (PPP) can also be initiated in this sector. Special projects on floriculture should be launched. Proper packaging and post-harvest techniques should be provided to the farmers. Special exposure visits for the floriculturists should be arranged so as to learn new technologies under this sector. Rural migration should be discouraged so that the labour can be made easily available in the rural areas. Support prices should also be there for the flowers crops.
The govt. organizations should demonstrate some advance floriculture farms to the farmers through exposure visits. There is need to promote the cold storage facilities for the floriculture industry. For high quality of floriculture we primarily need the high quality plants which can give quality flowers. For this purpose we need to develop quality nurseries in the villages which will help to create the employment in the rural areas. Market is another aspect in floriculture industry. The trade of flowers and their products are fastly increasing annually. Certain areas have been specified which are considered conducive for the certain varieties of flowers. Expertise should be utilized to produce more and more seeds. J&K has favourable weather conditions for floriculture and has a good opportunity for exporting the flowers. To produce the quality flowers there is need to grow them under the controlled conditions. For this purpose we can use the green houses/polyhouses. Green house is a framed structure made up of either cane wood or steel. The transparent and translucent plastic materials are used. In such green houses the temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide are fully controlled which creates the conducive atmosphere for the growth of the plants. The advantage of green house is that only the congenial radiation which is required for the plant is passed through the sheet while the harmful radiation is trapped. Those farmers who are interested to grow the flowers under green houses should consult with the qualified floriculture experts having good knowledge of plant engineering, production and market aspects also. We need to have more high tech floriculture projects in operation all over J&K. If we look at the potential of floriculture industry in J&K, it can be said that there is need of skilled and unskilled persons right from planting the plants, plucking the flowers, their storage and their transportation in different local, national and international markets so that ultimately flowers can be reached to the consumers. The process involved in the floriculture industry requires the latest technologies. For this purpose the farmers who are interested to flourish this industry should be trained and necessary infrastructure facilities should be provided to them. Looking at the scope of floriculture industry special trainings are imparted at the village level by the government organizations which help the farmers to start the floriculture projects. These kinds of projects will create new income and employment opportunities for the rural people and ultimately the economic status of the farmers can be improved.
(The writer is Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK Reasi, SKUAST-J).
