J&K flower growers welcome Gul-e-Dawood initiative; appeal to CM Omar Abdullah on commercial floriculture

Jammu: The Flower Growers of Jammu Division convened on Saturday under the leadership of Tejinder Singh Wazir, Member of the J&K Kissan Advisory Board, to address the pressing needs and challenges faced by the floriculture sector aacross J&K.

While welcoming  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Minister for Floriculture, Wazir expressed heartfelt gratitude for initiatives such as the establishment of the Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood and the Polo View Nursery in Srinagar, a statement issued to Ziraat Times said.

He noted that these projects represent significant steps towards sustainable, local production of indigenous flowers, bulbs, and plants by involving J&K’s local flower growers and nursery owners.

Wazir highlighted the persistent demands of the sector over the past decade, including the need for local production of flower bulbs and the formulation of a concrete policy to promote commercial floriculture in J&K. Despite the region’s favorable climate and immense potential for tulip bulb production, billions of rupees continue to be spent on imports. “Our growers can propagate Gul-e-Dawood locally to meet domestic demand under the Vocal for Local initiative,” Wazir emphasized. He further urged the administration to involve local farmers in the Gul-e-Dawood Garden project and create similar theme-based gardens in Jammu province to tap into the untapped potential of flori-tourism in the region.

Wazir also acknowledged the pivotal role of the CSIR Floriculture Mission, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, in revitalizing commercial floriculture in J&K and empowering over 3,000 farming families. He shared that the mission has established a sustainable model for year-round flower production, enabling local farmers to generate Rs. 25 crores worth of flowers over the last three years. Farmers in Jammu division have notably developed a self-reliant model to meet the growing demand for flowers used in religious offerings, significantly reducing dependency on imports from other states.

Appealing to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology, Wazir called for further strengthening of the CSIR Floriculture Mission. He urged the government to develop indigenous propagation mechanisms for tulips and bulbous crops and explore opportunities to export cut flower bulbs to other parts of the country. Wazir also proposed organizing a “Pushp Kranti Mela” to encourage flower growers, florists, and farmers to harness the commercial potential of floriculture in J&K.

He stressed the importance of synergizing farmer-centric initiatives like the CSIR Floriculture Mission and the Holistic Agriculture Development Program to maximize benefits for flower growers across the Union Territory. “The collective effort of these initiatives will ensure a brighter future for floriculture in J&K,” Wazir concluded.