Kashmir, land of flowers, imports 90% of its flower demand

Srinagar, Oct 21: Kashmir, a land of flowers, imports about 90% of its flower demand from other states, if official data is anything to go by.

Official figures suggest that J&K produces only 10 percent of the total flowers consumed locally. The remaining 90 percent of flowers are brought from various flower Mandis of the country.

Interestingly, at present, 8215 growers/farmers are registered with the Department of Floriculture, out of which 981 are active in the sector, official data suggests.

As per official data, in the Kashmir Division an area of 189.19 Hectares is presently under floriculture cultivation with 5.39 Hectares under protected cultivation, 12.14 Hectares under ornamental nurseries, 56.55 Hectares under aromatic plant cultivation, and 112.6 Hectares under open cultivation.

“During the year 2021-22; about 47 lacs cut spikes and 1300 metric tons of loose flowers and 485 litres of aromatic oil have been produced in Valley. An income of Rs. 19.77 crores was generated by the growers during the year 2021-22″, an official said.

Officials with knowledge of the sector maintain that Commercial Floriculture has the potential to generate employment as well as augment the income of farmers. “The potential areas of commercial floriculture are as Ornamental Nurseries, Bulb Culture, Cut Flower Production, Aromatic Plant Cultivation and Value Addition of Flowers”, they said.

Admitting that there was a shortage of cut flowers (decoration flowers) in the Kashmir valley, the official said that cut flowers are imported from outside Jammu Kashmir. “Earlier there was less demand of flowers for decoration, however, with time flower decoration has become an important component of our events, so the demand has risen tremendously, but the Department is working towards the fulfilment of that need,” Shayiq Rasool, Deputy Director Floriculture Kashmir & Nodal Officer Centrally Sponsored Schemes told KNO.

He said the Department was trying to rope in young people to grow flowers in the valley. “Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) like MIDH, RKVY, and ATMA are being implemented for the promotion of the commercial Floriculture Sector. The department is organizing regular trainings within and outside J&K for farmers/growers in order to make them aware of modern trends in Floriculture Sector,” he said. —(KNO)