STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Ruing Government apathy towards commercial floriculture, Flower Growers Association on Sunday sought implementation of various central government schemes to rejuvenate this sector.
In a meeting of flower growers of Jammu province held under the leadership of Tajinder Singh President Flower Growers Association, the members expressed concern over the pathetic scenario of commercial floriculture.
Tajinder Singh alleged that due to the callous attitude of the State government machinery the production of flowers has dipped manifold. The meeting recalled the golden years from 2009 to 2014 which saw an upsurge in flower growing since that was the time when flowers from Jammu were exported to other States. “However, the last two years have seen a steep decline in flower growing particularly in Jammu region due to poor technological support, poor implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, etc”, the meeting asserted.
The members stated that despite Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s keen interest in the development of commercial floriculture, the ground situation is very pathetic as the assets created for grooming this sector including cold room, refer vans, green houses and nurseries under plan budget are proving worthless and unproductive.
The disarray and unaccountability among the dispensation has ruined the growing sprits of flower growers, the meeting rued.
They appealed to Chief Minister for monitoring the implementation of commercial floriculture schemes and provide a full time
director for rejuvenating this sector.
Flowers growers however, welcomed the initiative of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for promoting Indo-Dutch collaboration to boosting floriculture. They also urged Priya Sethi Minister of State for Floriculture and Daljeet Singh Chib Vice Chairman J&K Kissan Advisory Board to use their good offices for promotion of commercial floriculture in J&K State.